Advice for new owner, Alkalinity & PH, etc

[btech30]

I will be filling my new hot tub this weekend after the electrical is hooked up. I have pre tested the water using my Taylor 2006 kit.

CH: 20
TA:50
PH: 8.2-8.4? (2-3 drops acid demand reagent to bring to normal range)

I am curious if I should leave the Alkalinity alone and just focus on Lowering PH, since according to TFP, TA of 50 is OK.
Or, I originally thought I needed to raise the TA to around 80 or so before trying to Lowe PH as lowering PH might affect the TA.

Any thoughts?

Also, I bought a SpaMarvel X10 pre filter. The delivery company gave a startup kit with ProTeam Spa Metal Magic. Do I still need to use this if I have a pre Filter?

 

[pjt]

CH: 20
TA:50

I'm very jealous of your fill water.

For the TA test, are you continuing to add drops until there's no additional color change? Do you use a SpeedStir?

I am curious if I should leave the Alkalinity alone and just focus on Lowering PH

Yes, leave the TA alone. Add a whisper of MA to get the pH into the high 7s, nothing more. As water evaporates and you top up with fill water, your TA will slowly rise.

I originally thought I needed to raise the TA to around 80 or so before trying to lower pH

That's the baking soda / MA seesaw. Don't get on it.

 

[btech30]

I'm very jealous of your fill water.

For the TA test, are you continuing to add drops until there's no additional color change? Do you use a SpeedStir?

For the TA test I stop counting drops when it turns from Green to Pink.
I do not have the speed stir but am seriously considering picking one up the swirling is somewhat of a pain

Yes, leave the TA alone. Add a whisper of MA to get the pH into the high 7s, nothing more. As water evaporates and you top up with fill water, your TA will slowly rise.

Thanks for the feedback!

That's the baking soda / MA seesaw. Don't get on it.

 

[pjt]

For the TA test I stop counting drops when it turns from Green to Pink.

Keep adding drops until there's no additional color change. Final color should be Barbie pink.

I do not have the speed stir but am seriously considering picking one up

Get one, it makes testing much easier and better.