Hello,
My pool was opened about 10 day ago and I am a first time owner, 28,000 gallons, 60 CYA from previous owners using trichlor, using bleach currently to maintain clear water, FC of at least 5 and no CC's.
From the beginning of my testing the pH hasn't really been on the chart using the daily test as part of the "TFTestkit FAS-DPD Test Kit." Specifically, while the pH colors go from orange to red for higher pH, mine has always been more yellow, almost like the colors for the daily chlorine part of the test. I have assumed this means the pH is very low.
Also, there seems to be no total alkalinity. When I perform the test for TA and add drops to turn the fluid from green/blue to red (and the number of drops to turn to red determines the TA level), well the fluid is pink/red before I even put in any drops to turn it that color. I have assumed this means the TA is basically not present.
I used PoolMath to calculate adding Borax to raise pH, but I think I also need to add baking soda for TA? The initial Borax I added might have changed the pH color some, but it still really isn't on the scale (i.e. it's still more yellow than orange to red.) I think I made an error with pool math because when I now input my current values for both TA and pH it tells me to add less Borax but more Baking Soda. Previously, I accidentally had the TA level as normal in pool math, and based on that it told me to add a lot of Borax to raise the pH. When I put in both the pH and the TA at their current levels, though, then it tells me to add less Borax but a lot of Baking Soda.
Thanks for any advice.
My pool was opened about 10 day ago and I am a first time owner, 28,000 gallons, 60 CYA from previous owners using trichlor, using bleach currently to maintain clear water, FC of at least 5 and no CC's.
From the beginning of my testing the pH hasn't really been on the chart using the daily test as part of the "TFTestkit FAS-DPD Test Kit." Specifically, while the pH colors go from orange to red for higher pH, mine has always been more yellow, almost like the colors for the daily chlorine part of the test. I have assumed this means the pH is very low.
Also, there seems to be no total alkalinity. When I perform the test for TA and add drops to turn the fluid from green/blue to red (and the number of drops to turn to red determines the TA level), well the fluid is pink/red before I even put in any drops to turn it that color. I have assumed this means the TA is basically not present.
I used PoolMath to calculate adding Borax to raise pH, but I think I also need to add baking soda for TA? The initial Borax I added might have changed the pH color some, but it still really isn't on the scale (i.e. it's still more yellow than orange to red.) I think I made an error with pool math because when I now input my current values for both TA and pH it tells me to add less Borax but more Baking Soda. Previously, I accidentally had the TA level as normal in pool math, and based on that it told me to add a lot of Borax to raise the pH. When I put in both the pH and the TA at their current levels, though, then it tells me to add less Borax but a lot of Baking Soda.
Thanks for any advice.