Acid

[gribbleman]

OK - so I have had this house / pool for coming up on my second year. I have had my issues - as many of you have - and I have just gotten it cleaned up a bit this season. Starting to 'get it' as they say but still learning a lot.

Here's my deal - as I read through some of these posts and familiarizing myself with the pool math page, I am seeing that I probably don't have to be spending my money on some of the more expensive products out there - like using bleach as opposed to 'Shock' etc.

So - I have this unlabeled bottle of what I presume is an acid of some type - it came with the house. I opened it and took a whiff awhile back and nearly burned all the hair out of my nose and singed my lungs.

Is there a way to definitively say which it is - Muriatic or Cyanuric?

I have been using Arm and Hammer Clear Balance tablets, and while expensive, they do seem to work - but I would rather try to save some bucks and figure out this acid thing.

Any help would be wonderful.

Thanks.

Tom

 

[JasonLion]

Welcome to TFP!

From your description, and assuming it is a clear (or just slightly tinted) liquid, it sure sounds like muriatic acid. There is a remote chance it is sulfuric acid, but that seems much less likely.

Clear Balance tablets raise PH & TA. Muriatic acid lowers PH & TA. There are used for completely different purposes.

 

[rterickson]

A quick google search shows that there are tests for muriatic/hydrochloric acid, but one of the reagents, silver nitrate is nasty, if I recall correctly. I personally wouldn't dump an unknown liquid into my pool. I would save it for the next hazardous waste pickup.

Regular MA is relatively cheap in the pool or home improvement stores. Cheaper than tablets in pretty boxes, certainly.

 

[RobbieH]

Sometimes MA can be slightly green, especially around the lid.

I'm with the above post, dispose of it and buy new.