Is it ok to have low TA?

[jnorris]

Now that we are kicking back into high gear with the pool, I'm testing and see that my TA is 40. I remember last year I had to add stuff a few times because my TA drifts down. Is there a reason (other than to try to stabilize PH) that low TA is bad? I have a vinyl pool, with a heater that we rarely use.

Also, someone remind me which raises PH and which raises TA (borax or baking soda). I seem to have forgotten everything over the winter!

 

[Butterfly]

You can go to the Stickies (link in my sig) and read: "BBB or What are all these pool chemicals?".

I had to re-read them, too

 

[JasonLion]

40 is quite low. I would raise it to at least 50, preferably 60.

You raise TA with baking soda, which will raise PH just a little.