Fairly new pool owner - took over pool maintenance 8 months ago and I rarely have to adjust my alkalanity, is this normal?

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Jlam916

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Feb 26, 2024
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Rancho Cordova / CA
I use a Taylor test kit k2600 and I took over pool maintenance around 8 months ago. Since then, I have rarely have to adjust my alkalinity and as a fairly new pool owner. I don't know if this is normal. My TA range has consistently been around 80-90 PPM. However, my PH does increase and when it gets between 7.8 - 8.0 ppm, I add around 25 - 30oz of muriatic acid.

After adding muriatic acid, I retest the next day and my PH range is 7.4 - 7.6 PPM (what I expect). However, my TA doesn't decrease. I'm not saying my TA range of being 80 - 90 PPM is an issue, but I don't understand why it doesn't decrease along with the PH. From my understanding, when you lower the PH, TA should also lower as well?

A little more info, depending on how windy it is, I have added acid 0 - 2 times a week; however, during the 8 months, I have probably only added baking soda to increase my TA around 3 times.

Thanks
 
Jlam916 said:
I use a Taylor test kit k2600 and I took over pool maintenance around 8 months ago. Since then, I have rarely have to adjust my alkalinity and as a fairly new pool owner. I don't know if this is normal. My TA range has consistently been around 80-90 PPM. However, my PH does increase and when it gets between 7.8 - 8.0 ppm, I add around 25 - 30oz of muriatic acid.

After adding muriatic acid, I retest the next day and my PH range is 7.4 - 7.6 PPM (what I expect). However, my TA doesn't decrease. I'm not saying my TA range of being 80 - 90 PPM is an issue, but I don't understand why it doesn't decrease along with the PH. From my understanding, when you lower the PH, TA should also lower as well?

A little more info, depending on how windy it is, I have added acid 0 - 2 times a week; however, during the 8 months, I have probably only added baking soda to increase my TA around 3 times.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Ideally your TA should settle around 60ppm, but if you are adding fill water to make up for evaporation, that’s likely increasing your TA. When you add acid to lower the pH, the TA will go down a tiny bit. As long as TA is above 50ppm then leave it alone. The higher you raise the TA, th me faster the pH will rise.
 
What is the pH and TA of your fill water?

Does your pool have an autofill?

TA does not go down by much if you add small amounts of acid to lower pH.

TA - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
To directly answer your question, it can be normal. I had to add MA once last season. My pH and TA were stabile at 7.8 and 80 with very little movement. I consider myself very lucky.
 
ajw22 said:
What is the pH and TA of your fill water?

Does your pool have an autofill?

TA does not go down by much if you add small amounts of acid to lower pH.

TA - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
Click to expand...
I have never tested the PH and TA of my fill water. I took over pool maintenance around September - October 2024, during the start of the colder season. From October to now, I have not had to fill the pool due to rain.
 
Jlam916 said:
I have never tested the PH and TA of my fill water.
Click to expand...

It is good to know.

Jlam916 said:
I took over pool maintenance around September - October 2024, during the start of the colder season. From October to now, I have not had to fill the pool due to rain.
Click to expand...
Rain has a pH of around 5 and a TA of 0.

Keep on managing your pH and let your TA be whatever it wants.
 
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