Hi All
Starting up a new spa and having issues getting pH and Alk stabilized at the right level. Bromine reads 0 every time I test and I'm going to work on that after I get pH and Alk correct. I purchased a Taylor test kit after giving up on the test strips after a few days. Also I added 2oz sodium bromide per the instructions a week ago and am using a floater with bromine tablets.
Day 1
pH = 7.2 - 7.4
Alk = 30 ppm
Hardness = 200 - 250
Added ~8oz of sodium bicarbonate Alk Up. 2oz at a time, 30mins apart
Day 2
Alk = 110 -- YES!
Ph > 8. Demand test shows needs 3 drops
Hardness = 200-250
Added ~1.5oz Sodium bisulfate pH/Alk Down
Added 2oz hardness increaser
Day3
Alk = 90
pH >8.0 Demand test shows need 3 drops
Hardness = 275-300
I am at a loss. The Alk Up raised my pH to a level that's too high, and the Alk/pH down is decreasing my Alk but not my pH. Any suggestions? I'm getting concerned as we're using the tub nearly every day for a week now and I have not been able to maintain any sanitizer. I have shocked with 1.5 cups of bleach a few times. The only thing I can possibly think of is that I now see the Taylor manual recommends that I add the pH down over a 4 day window vs all at once. Not sure if I should wait 4 days and see what happens or if I need to do something else.
Starting up a new spa and having issues getting pH and Alk stabilized at the right level. Bromine reads 0 every time I test and I'm going to work on that after I get pH and Alk correct. I purchased a Taylor test kit after giving up on the test strips after a few days. Also I added 2oz sodium bromide per the instructions a week ago and am using a floater with bromine tablets.
Day 1
pH = 7.2 - 7.4
Alk = 30 ppm
Hardness = 200 - 250
Added ~8oz of sodium bicarbonate Alk Up. 2oz at a time, 30mins apart
Day 2
Alk = 110 -- YES!
Ph > 8. Demand test shows needs 3 drops
Hardness = 200-250
Added ~1.5oz Sodium bisulfate pH/Alk Down
Added 2oz hardness increaser
Day3
Alk = 90
pH >8.0 Demand test shows need 3 drops
Hardness = 275-300
I am at a loss. The Alk Up raised my pH to a level that's too high, and the Alk/pH down is decreasing my Alk but not my pH. Any suggestions? I'm getting concerned as we're using the tub nearly every day for a week now and I have not been able to maintain any sanitizer. I have shocked with 1.5 cups of bleach a few times. The only thing I can possibly think of is that I now see the Taylor manual recommends that I add the pH down over a 4 day window vs all at once. Not sure if I should wait 4 days and see what happens or if I need to do something else.