Can't seem to get my pH up and my TA down....Help

[Osueric27]

Hello all,

This is my second season using the BBB method. I really thought I had it down and everything worked great last year. I opened the pool about 3 weeks ago and have been fighting low pH and high TA ever since.

Inground with liner - 15,299 gallon

Current readings:
pH - 6.8
TA - 180
FC - 5

My chlorine has been holding perfect and the water is crystal clear. According to the Pool Calc they stated to add 304 oz of Borax. I did this a couple days ago and I am still getting the same reading. I have an auto cover so no rain is getting into the pool. It is supposed to be sunny tomorrow so I am going to open the cover and point the returns up to aerate.

Any other suggestions? I know adding borax should raise the pH and not raise TA, but will that lower my TA?

Thanks for the help!

Eric

 

[duraleigh]

The best way to solve your problem is aeration. build a cheap fountain, toss the kids in the pool, etc. Get some frothing and churning going on. It may take a day or two but your pH will come up and your TA will go down.

 

[Osueric27]

Thanks for the suggestion. Sun just came out and I will hook up the fountain and turn my returns up toward the surface.

 

[Butterfly]

Here's a link to the acid/aeration article in Pool School for lowering TA:

pool-school/lowering%20total%20alkalinity

Welcome to the forum

 

[Osueric27]

Here's a link to the acid/aeration article in Pool School for lowering TA:

pool-school/lowering%20total%20alkalinity

Welcome to the forum

Thanks Butterfly! I actually turned my returns straight up to break the surface and that has been running for about 5 hours. I just tested and my pH has already risen to 7.2 from 6.8. Also, my TA has dropped to 120. Going to check in a few hours again to see where it's at and then go from there. I think if I get the pH up a little more I should be good to go. FC is staying right where it needs to be.