Low pH and TA

Jump to latest Follow Reply
M

mike.stocker

Gold Supporter
Jun 30, 2023
110
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Pool Size
26700
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Howdy TFP,

I am looking for advice on the attached test results. I opened my pool recently and my pH is 7.2 and TA is 30. Apparently the last time I measured TA was last summer and it was 50 at the time so has come down some. TFP recommends a TA of at least 50 so I am wondering if I should go ahead and raise it back up? I think I asked this last season when it was 50 as I was worried that was too low and some folks said to leave it alone since it was stable so that's where my confusion lies.

Also, you'll notice I measure borates as I added boric acid last season. I've lost around 20ppm since adding it last year and I want to bring it back up to 50ppm, will that potentially lower my pH and TA further?

Finally, I'd like to try a treatment of Ahh-some as my pool is very old and I've never tried it before. I am curious what kind of gunk it might clean out of the pipes. My water stays pretty clear but am curious if I would notice any change in clarity after a treatment. The instructions for it however state to adjust pH to 7.4-7.8 and TA to 80-120ppm. Presumably I should make those adjustments first?

Thanks,
Mike
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6414.jpeg
    IMG_6414.jpeg
    212 KB · Views: 9
Raise your TA to 60. Use baking soda.
Adding boric acid (borates) will lower pH a bit, but not much to worry about. It will not affect your TA.
There is no reason to use ahhsome in a pool. Ahhsome is for hot tubs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mike.stocker
  • Like
Reactions: mike.stocker
mike.stocker said:
TA is 30
Click to expand...
Are you continuing to add drops until there's no additional color change? For me, it typically takes another ~3 drops after the color begins to change until I reach test completion.

What's the TA and CH of your fill water?
 
  • Like
Reactions: mike.stocker and PoolStored
pjt said:
Are you continuing to add drops until there's no additional color change? For me, it typically takes another ~3 drops after the color begins to change until I reach test completion.

What's the TA and CH of your fill water?
Click to expand...
I don't recall having to add many more like that, maybe 1 additional drop but I will do another test today. The reagent is kind of old too but I think I have some newer reagent I can try as well.

Not sure so I will test that also.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pjt
mike.stocker said:
I don't recall having to add many more like that, maybe 1 additional drop but I will do another test today. The reagent is kind of old too but I think I have some newer reagent I can try as well.

Not sure so I will test that also.
Click to expand...
Just make sure to keep adding drops until the color stops getting more red.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pjt and mike.stocker
mike.stocker said:
I don't recall having to add many more like that, maybe 1 additional drop but I will do another test today. The reagent is kind of old too but I think I have some newer reagent I can try as well.
Click to expand...
Keep going until the color doesn't change any more.

If a drop of reagent makes it "more red", then count the drop and continue the test.

If a drop of reagent results in no change, then do not count the drop and the test is complete.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mike.stocker
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply