Advice on Lowering TA Please

[Gracie714]

I got my test kit (yay!!) and have run all of the tests (except CYA because I haven't added any yet and I need to buy some tonight). My pool water was new this year from the tap due to liner replacement. And it is beautifully crystal clear right now, but....

Here are my numbers:

FC - 0.5
CC - 0.5
TC - 1.0 (I have chlorine tablets I will add tonight for this...I plan to switch to liquid bleach when I run out of my current stock of tabs)
TA - 230
PH - 7.5
CH - 275

I used the Pool Math and it says to add 149 ounces of muriatic acid. So here are my questions:

1) Should I add this entire amount all at once?
2) Should the pump should be on or not when I add it?
3) If it should be off, how long do I wait to turn it on?
4) If I understand correctly, once I add this I will lower the PH, so I need to aerate to bring it back up. My question on that is, do I start the aeration immediately or wait a while? If wait, how long?

I have been working on the TA for a little over a week until I got my TF100 with muriatic acid and aerating with my cover pump from reading around. I started with a TA of 290, and I did have it to 180 (last checked Sunday). But my TF kit shows it at 230 now. I think....at 190 to 220 the drops would swirl a bit of red as added, but it would remain green. It took 23 drops to make a change to solid red. So did I read that number right?

Thank you for your help!

 

[Richard320]

Nope. Leave TA alone for now. No acid.

The CYA you'll add, as well as those pucks, are acidic and will keep pH steady or even drop it. They'll also reduce TA some.

Also, there's a known problem with static electricity on the tip of the R-009 which makes the drops smaller which makes it use more which gives you a falsely high reading. It'll go away in a couple weeks, It's only on brand new bottles. Wipe the tip with a damp paper towel before the next TA test. You may find the TA is lower than you think and adding acid to that amount will drive pH too low.

 

[Gracie714]

Thanks Richard! I'll get the CYA added and see where it is next week, being careful with the drops coming out of the bottle. I'll report back next weekend!

Thank you again!