pH off - should I go behind my PB's back?

[kellyj]

The PB just started our pool yesterday, but I wasn't there and I don't know what he did or did not add. He does have my tab feeder turned on so I am getting some chlorine and CYA. But when I do the basic tests, both last night and today at 5pm I get:

FC .5-1
pH >8.2

My instinct is to get the pH down with muriatic acid, and reason I shouldn't since the PB's pool guy is going to come in 2 days to give us our pool school?? Any reason he would want the pH that high? I'm just not sure why he didn't lower it at the time.

I may need to start my chlorine feeder sooner than I though with the FC that low...

Odd that I know what I need to do, but still need someone to tell me to do it.

Kelly

 

[duraleigh]

Yes. Lower your pH into the mid 7's with muriatic acid.

I would also suggest you add one small jug of clorox each evening until you finish the PB's pool school.

Post a full set of test results as soon as you can and you'll get all the help you want from this forum. :lol:

 

[kellyj]

Yes. Lower your pH into the mid 7's with muriatic acid.

I would also suggest you add one small jug of clorox each evening until you finish the PB's pool school.

Post a full set of test results as soon as you can and you'll get all the help you want from this forum. :lol:

OK, I added the acid per pool calculator (18 oz), then added 50 oz of chlorine and retested about an hour later and got:

FC 0.5
CC 2.0
TC 2.5
pH 8.2 (still)
TA 120
CH 150
CYA didn't test since I think it was added yesterday

The PB gave me a Rainbow basic test kit that included an "acid demand test", which after I complete and looked on their chart told me to add a quart (32oz)!! I've already added half that because I'm a bit nervous about adding a full quart.

I tested my tap water (city of Austin) which was used to fill the pool and the pH was >8.2 - seems a bit high.

The pool is screaming for chlorine too, so I'm going to try to bring it up to 5ppm tonight and hope my tab feeder will maintain tomorrow.

Thanks, Kelly

 

[bk406]

Add the amount of acid the calculator figured. If the pH is still 8, you need more acid. A new gunite pool will eat acid like candy.

On another note, are you sure the FC is 0.5 and CC is 2? That sounds backwards.

 

[kellyj]

On another note, are you sure the FC is 0.5 and CC is 2? That sounds backwards.

I think so, add the powder to water - barely turned pink, turned clear again after the first drop of solution. Added the second solution and it turned pink, took 4 drops to get it clear again. Even the OTO barely registers above 1.0 when I did it earlier today...

Kelly

 

[JasonLion]

You don't want to add any chlorine for the first 48 hours, and then only very slowly during days 3 and 4, after fresh plaster is applied (according to the National Plasterers Council).

 

[benavidescj]

Sounds like my experience when the pool guy put the hose in the pool, called me on the phone and told me to turn the water off and then took off for about a week. He never came by during that week and after reading a few things decided to give him a call. I was a little upset with him because I am a stickler for water chemistry and this being an expensive brand new pool I wanted to start off right.