I think I screwed up and I need help. First, converted to BBB method this year and I have been very happy, so maybe this is more a problem in my head:
Second test results via a TF-100 kit and results from pool store (theirs are in parenthesis)
FC = 2.0 (2.0)
CC = 0.0 (0.0)
PH = 8.2 (8.0)
TA = 7.0 (8.0)
CYA = 50 (50)
CH = 325 (_____) I guess they did not test
TDS = _____ (1,600) I don't have this test in the TF-100
Borates are +50
Water is clear and slightly cool - strange summer.
I use 12% liquid chlorine and I discovered 1 and ONLY 1 3" tab (GLB brand) helps me without raising CYA too much. I have raised CYA from 30 to 50 one tab at a time and am very pleased with the results - I got lazy after a few weeks and instead of adding 2 pints of liquid chlorine a night, I add a gallon check in 5 days, if it is down to 2 (such as now, test the water and add another gallon). Right now I have added 2 pints just to raise to sufficient level until I get the TA/PH fixed.
I do not aerate - but I have a way to do so, I can redirect water through he spa and spill-overs that are 30" above the pool. Does aeration raises PH, or does it lower TA, or does it do both?
The pool store said add 13 pounds of Alkalinity Up wait an hour and then add a gallon of Muriatic acid. This just sounded way wrong, so I came home, added the chlorine (2 pints as I said above) waited 10 minutes and for some reason thought if I only lower PH with 1.8 qt of muriatic acid (I used the chart in the test kit to get that number) and then open the valves and aerate through the spa I will cure both problems. So, I added the muriatic acid and before I turned on the pump had this sinking feeling I screwed up. So I came here to get guidance.
What do I do now?
Was my initial thought correct, I lower PH and raise TA with aeration?
Have I made things worse?
Do I just add borates and let it circulate (without aeration) overnight and run another test and come here with new data?
Subsequently, all summer long the PH keeps rising, I guess liquid chlorine causes that. But oddly enough, it climbs to 8.2 and just levels off.
Second test results via a TF-100 kit and results from pool store (theirs are in parenthesis)
FC = 2.0 (2.0)
CC = 0.0 (0.0)
PH = 8.2 (8.0)
TA = 7.0 (8.0)
CYA = 50 (50)
CH = 325 (_____) I guess they did not test
TDS = _____ (1,600) I don't have this test in the TF-100
Borates are +50
Water is clear and slightly cool - strange summer.
I use 12% liquid chlorine and I discovered 1 and ONLY 1 3" tab (GLB brand) helps me without raising CYA too much. I have raised CYA from 30 to 50 one tab at a time and am very pleased with the results - I got lazy after a few weeks and instead of adding 2 pints of liquid chlorine a night, I add a gallon check in 5 days, if it is down to 2 (such as now, test the water and add another gallon). Right now I have added 2 pints just to raise to sufficient level until I get the TA/PH fixed.
I do not aerate - but I have a way to do so, I can redirect water through he spa and spill-overs that are 30" above the pool. Does aeration raises PH, or does it lower TA, or does it do both?
The pool store said add 13 pounds of Alkalinity Up wait an hour and then add a gallon of Muriatic acid. This just sounded way wrong, so I came home, added the chlorine (2 pints as I said above) waited 10 minutes and for some reason thought if I only lower PH with 1.8 qt of muriatic acid (I used the chart in the test kit to get that number) and then open the valves and aerate through the spa I will cure both problems. So, I added the muriatic acid and before I turned on the pump had this sinking feeling I screwed up. So I came here to get guidance.
What do I do now?
Was my initial thought correct, I lower PH and raise TA with aeration?
Have I made things worse?
Do I just add borates and let it circulate (without aeration) overnight and run another test and come here with new data?
Subsequently, all summer long the PH keeps rising, I guess liquid chlorine causes that. But oddly enough, it climbs to 8.2 and just levels off.