Low Alkalinity

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Michael#123

Member
Jul 11, 2022
13
Memphis
I'm a new pool owner, and although I am using a pool service now, I'm trying to learn as much as I can so that I can take care of the chemicals myself. I use a local pool store to test my water, but it can be very inconsistent from day to day. Because my alkalinity was low, they recommended 20 lbs of baking soda. But, I've read that baking soda can increase the pH level (which is already on the high end), so i feel like I'll just be replacing one issue with another. Any recommendations? My water chemistry is listed below. On the printout from the store, there is an asterisk by the alkalinity that says "Total alkalinity has been adjusted due to the effect of CyA on tested Total Alkalinity". Thanks!

Chlorine 11.95
pH 7.7
Alkalinity 16
Calcium hardness 262
CYA 61
Iron 0
Copper 0.2
Phosphates 28
TDS 400
 
Please read "Pool Care Basics" up in Pool School. That'll get you started. One of the first thinghs you will learn is to stay out of the pool store if you undertake your pool water management. Their results are not normally accurate enough to do what we teach at TFP
 
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Time to get your own test kit. I recommend the TF-100. Pool store readings are not reliable. Start reading pool school while you get a good titration based test kit. Get the speed stir as well. You won't regret it. If your Chlorine is really as high as they report, then the PH reading is no good. Any FC reading over 10 ppm will skew the PH readings high.

The good folks here will help you out with any questions once you can test your own water.
 
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Forget about that adjusted Alkalinity which is only needed as an intermediate value to calculate the CSI. Pool Stores shouldn't report that to their customers. Unfortunately they do, as it allows them to report lower Alkalinity values to their customers which boosts their sales of overpriced baking soda.

Assuming that the test results are correct (which is questionable as you already realised yourself due to the daily test fluctuations that you observed), then the real TA would be about 36. Which is still low, but not quite as much.

Next step is to get a proper test kit (Test Kits Compared). Otherwise we can't be certain about your water parameters and can't really give you advice. And read through the Pool Care Basics.
 
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skimmerswimmer said:
Time to get your own test kit. I recommend the TF-100. Pool store readings are not reliable. Start reading pool school while you get a good titration based test kit. Get the speed stir as well. You won't regret it. If your Chlorine is really as high as they report, then the PH reading is no good. Any FC reading over 10 ppm will skew the PH readings high.

The good folks here will help you out with any questions once you can test your own water.
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Thanks!
 
mgtfp said:
Forget about that adjusted Alkalinity which is only needed as an intermediate value to calculate the CSI. Pool Stores shouldn't report that to their customers. Unfortunately they do, as it allows them to report lower Alkalinity values to their customers which boosts their sales of overpriced baking soda.

Assuming that the test results are correct (which is questionable as you already realised yourself due to the daily test fluctuations that you observed), then the real TA would be about 36. Which is still low, but not quite as much.

Next step is to get a proper test kit (Test Kits Compared). Otherwise we can't be certain about your water parameters and can't really give you advice. And read through the Pool Care Basics.
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Will do. Thanks!
 
The store readings are probably incorrect.

The pH can read false high when the chlorine is over 10 ppm.

You should monitor the CSI since you have a plaster pool.

Post your readings when you get your kit, and we can help from there.

PoolMath

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PoolMath

Discover the calculator behind the perfect pool, PoolMath. Dealing with pools has allowed TFP to become the original authors of the best calculator on the net.
www.troublefreepool.com
 

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I’ll let you know how the numbers compare to the pool store test.
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We don't really care about the pool store tests. We care about your own tests because experience has shown us that trusting the results from these really good kits made by the owner are the most accurate you can get, Let's see your results! :)
 
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