Alkalinity jumped like crazy why?

[mihzyd777]

So we have 3 waterfalls on the new pool the largest being a 6' ft rain waterfall falling from 8' ft up the other 2 are 36" rain and fall from 3' ft. My Alkalinity has been holding steady for the past 2 months and that's with running the 2 smaller waterfalls. Now we have the large waterfall online and only ran it 2 days for a total of maybe 3 hours and I tested my alkalinity it was at 130!!! Where prior to the large waterfall it held at 50 all the time. I added a gallon of muriatic acid 34% over 3 pours my ph is now 7.2. Is there a way to bring down my TA down quickly or the best way? The Pool math app says to lower PH to 7.0-7.2 and then aerate the pool. Is this right? Run the waterfalls?
Thanks!

 

[mknauss]

Alkalinity is added via chemical or fill water.

 

[mihzyd777]

So I added no chemical. Also the autopilot isn't filling water in. What else could have caused it? I've only been adding muriatic acid and that's it. I have a salt chlorinator for chlorine.
What's the best way to lower it. Like I've mentioned earlier I've dumped a whole gallon of Muriatic acid 34% throughout the day. I just now tested about 3 hours since I last added and Alkalinity is now 100 , and PH 7.2
What can I do, just keep adding more acid?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Try testing the TA your fill water. It wouldn't hurt to test for pH, and CH as well.

 

[Sunnydaze]

So I added no chemical. Also the autopilot isn't filling water in. What else could have caused it? I've only been adding muriatic acid and that's it. I have a salt chlorinator for chlorine.
What's the best way to lower it. Like I've mentioned earlier I've dumped a whole gallon of Muriatic acid 34% throughout the day. I just now tested about 3 hours since I last added and Alkalinity is now 100 , and PH 7.2
What can I do, just keep adding more acid?

How are you testing? When was the last time you tested 50 prior to testing at 130?

 

[proavia]

Update your signature to reflect your current pool and pool equipment. Add what test kit you are using?

How old are the test kit reagents?
Exactly how are you testing TA?

Don't add any more acid until the pH comes up. With your current TA and running the water features, it will raise quickly.

 

[mihzyd777]

How are you testing? When was the last time you tested 50 prior to testing at 130?

Using the Taylor K-2006 test kit which has been reliable for me. Since this pool is new and I only filled it up back around April I understand there will be PH rise that occurs from the curing. However, I may have gone 2-3 days without adding anything which I think seems excessive if it is because of that. I would say the last time I saw 50 was maybe when I tested for it 2 weeks ago. I just happen to randomly test today and notice high TA, though water looks Great, it could be a tiny tad clearer.

 

[mihzyd777]

Update your signature to reflect your current pool and pool equipment. Add what test kit you are using?

How old are the test kit reagents?
Exactly how are you testing TA?

Don't add any more acid until the pH comes up. With your current TA and running the water features, it will raise quickly.

My Reagents aren't more than a year old. I'm using the Taylor K-2006 test kit and following the Alkalinity test on the documentation. So your saying not to add anymore Acid .....just curious why? I'm at 7.2 now, if I run my water features, I know it will raise my PH, but will it also raise my Alkalinity? Because I thought aerating using a waterfall would lower TA?

 

[mihzyd777]

Try testing the TA your fill water. It wouldn't hurt to test for pH, and CH as well.

I'll try that tmrw and let you know the results.

 

[proavia]

You don't want to add more acid when your pH is already in the low 7's. Aerate the water by running the water features to raise the pH. Then add more acid to again lower the pH to the low 7's. Aeration will raise the pH, but will NOT raise the TA. Adding acid will lower pH AND lower TA.

Test your fill water TA and report it here.

Lower Total Alkalinity

A lower Total Alkalinity level can help a pool owner stabalize their pH increase. We'll explain how to lower TA with a little help from muriatic acid.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[mihzyd777]

Ok I didn't forget just didn't have time. Tested my water And Alkalinity is approx 90 and chlorine at 1ppm. Tested my ph yesterday at it was 8.2 so pool math said to bring it down to 7.0 with alkalinity at 100 which is what pool water tested at to add 101 ounces of acid. This works great to bring down ph, but not so much for Alakalinity as it only lowered it to 90. I do run all 3 water features to aerate for about an hour after adding the acid.
Am I missing something here or should it be this hard to lower Alkalinity? It seems that not matter how much I add, I can lower it past 90?
Thanks!

 

[mknauss]

It is very hard to imagine that in Manteca you do not need to add fill water daily, if not every other day, at this time of year. Your fill water TA is likely higher than your pool water TA.

 

[mihzyd777]

It is very hard to imagine that in Manteca you do not need to add fill water daily, if not every other day, at this time of year. Your fill water TA is likely higher than your pool water TA.

So is there anything I can do to get my TA back down to 60 from the 90-100 it's at now?

 

[mknauss]

When your pH reaches 8, add acid to lower it to 7.4.