This posting is more informational than inquisitive, as I found very little previously related information while searching this forum.
Have been combating high pH levels since managing a pool for the very first time this summer and absorbing all I can about the Trouble Free Pool philosophy. Both K-1000 Basic Residential Pool and Spa Test Kit (R-0014 reagent) and 9056 Pool Test Kit (R-0004 reagent) are part of my toolkit since they each cover slightly different pH ranges. But neither provide a high enough pH scale to satisfy a curiosity of exactly where my pool pH plateaus without the constant need to add muriatic acid, so I sprung for yet a 3rd Taylor pH kit, the K-1285-6 (using cresol red reagent R-1003K) to allow pH readings above 8.2 temporarily purely as an experiment.
I recognize that 7.8 is the commonly accepted maximum pH level for pools, and I really wish to keep below this level; however, I am willing to exceed this by a bit so long as the calcite saturation index remains balanced, and that no metals are present to come out of solution to stain the plaster.
My pool chemistry (tested with TF-100 test kit/reagents) is/was:
Free chlorine: 18
Total Alkalinity: 110
Calcium Hardness: 550
Cyanuric Acid: 80
Borates: 50
Salt: 3400
Copper: 0
Yes, free chlorine at 18 as I recently emptied my remaining bleach containers into the pool since my newly installed salt water chlorine generator rendered the bleach obsolete. But because of this high chlorine concentration, I discovered its effect on some of the common pH test reagents.
The pH reading given by the commonly used K-1000 and 9056 kits/reagents was 7.8; however, the pH reading given by relatively obscure K-1285-6 kit/reagent was 7.2. The large pH variance shown by the K-1285-6 kit perplexed me to the point of contacting Taylor for an explanation.
reply from Taylor Technical Service rep:
When I then asked what is the maximum chlorine concentration that both R-0004/R-0014 are expected to provide reliable pH readings, the Taylor Technical Service rep responded:
I would like to note however, that even with this morning's fairly reasonable FC reading of 5.0, the difference in pH readings between the three kits/reagents were:
K-1000 (R-0014 reagent): 7.6 pH
9056 (R-0004 reagent): 7.6 pH
K-1285-6 (cresol red reagent R-1003K): 7.4 pH
Chlorine generator is not fully dialed in, so chlorine readings have routinely ranged between 8 and 10 since installing it. My takeaway from all of this is that the allegedly high pH readings that I (and possibly others) am combating in part stem from high chlorine concentrations interfering with pH readings provided by the two most commonly used pH reagents.
Have been combating high pH levels since managing a pool for the very first time this summer and absorbing all I can about the Trouble Free Pool philosophy. Both K-1000 Basic Residential Pool and Spa Test Kit (R-0014 reagent) and 9056 Pool Test Kit (R-0004 reagent) are part of my toolkit since they each cover slightly different pH ranges. But neither provide a high enough pH scale to satisfy a curiosity of exactly where my pool pH plateaus without the constant need to add muriatic acid, so I sprung for yet a 3rd Taylor pH kit, the K-1285-6 (using cresol red reagent R-1003K) to allow pH readings above 8.2 temporarily purely as an experiment.
I recognize that 7.8 is the commonly accepted maximum pH level for pools, and I really wish to keep below this level; however, I am willing to exceed this by a bit so long as the calcite saturation index remains balanced, and that no metals are present to come out of solution to stain the plaster.
My pool chemistry (tested with TF-100 test kit/reagents) is/was:
Free chlorine: 18
Total Alkalinity: 110
Calcium Hardness: 550
Cyanuric Acid: 80
Borates: 50
Salt: 3400
Copper: 0
Yes, free chlorine at 18 as I recently emptied my remaining bleach containers into the pool since my newly installed salt water chlorine generator rendered the bleach obsolete. But because of this high chlorine concentration, I discovered its effect on some of the common pH test reagents.
The pH reading given by the commonly used K-1000 and 9056 kits/reagents was 7.8; however, the pH reading given by relatively obscure K-1285-6 kit/reagent was 7.2. The large pH variance shown by the K-1285-6 kit perplexed me to the point of contacting Taylor for an explanation.
reply from Taylor Technical Service rep:
When I then asked what is the maximum chlorine concentration that both R-0004/R-0014 are expected to provide reliable pH readings, the Taylor Technical Service rep responded:
I would like to note however, that even with this morning's fairly reasonable FC reading of 5.0, the difference in pH readings between the three kits/reagents were:
K-1000 (R-0014 reagent): 7.6 pH
9056 (R-0004 reagent): 7.6 pH
K-1285-6 (cresol red reagent R-1003K): 7.4 pH
Chlorine generator is not fully dialed in, so chlorine readings have routinely ranged between 8 and 10 since installing it. My takeaway from all of this is that the allegedly high pH readings that I (and possibly others) am combating in part stem from high chlorine concentrations interfering with pH readings provided by the two most commonly used pH reagents.
