Alkalinity level

[paul1971]

Hi guys,

Can someone clarify the alkalinity level pls?
In the chart provided in the forum i see an ideal level at 60/80 but in many places i read about 120/140 is a good level.
Mine is currently at 140 with ph at 7.8
Should i add some muriatic?
Thanks

 

[PoolStored]

120 is recommendation from the industry to offset acidic pucks.
Manage your pH and ignore TA. When your pH rises to 8, lower it to 7.6.
When your TA gets to 80, manage your pH between 7.8 and 8.

 

[paul1971]

You gotta love pool maths....now my FC is at 15 (yesterday 13). I switched off swg to see if it goes down. Ph is a little high so tonight i add some muriatic as you recommended to target 7.6.
CC is 0 so its good
Is it safe swimming at level 15 fc?
Any other suggestion?
THANKS

 

[paul1971]

Cya is 100 a bit high

 

[sande005]

A bit more than a bit. Consider doing a water exchange to get CYA down to 60-70.

What test kit are you using?
What are all your other levels?
(no need to type out a detailed reply if using strips or pool store results - they will be wrong).

 

[PoolStored]

Ph test will show high when fc >10. Don’t adjust until you can test ph when fc <10.

Safe to swim up to slam FC.

I would lower cya. Search TFP for “draining wiki”. In article on draining is the no drain water exchange.

 

[paul1971]

Thanks. I use taylor pro suggested here.
Cool on wiki i search

 

[paul1971]

should i keep off the swg? also what level normally should i keep the swg? 30?

 

[PoolStored]

Put it at whatever level required to maintain FC for your cya

 

[sande005]

should i keep off the swg? also what level normally should i keep the swg? 30?

Whatever it takes to keep your pool with a Cl of 7-13 (higher in that range is better). It may mean 100, with a long pump run time.

List your equipment in your signature (pool type and size, brands and models, your test kit, etc. as others do, so we don't have to keep asking.)
You can greatly lower the amount of Cl you need to keep up, if you can do a water exchange and lower the CYA.
See the Pool School here for more details.

 

[paul1971]

GM. This am i re tested cya, as i learned the test is quite subjective and hard to measure precisely.
It seems at 90. FC IS 11 now.
PH a little high at 8.

I am thinking to add some muriatic, put swcg back at like 20-30.

Thoughts?

 

[Texas Splash]

Like PS noted above, you can't really get a reliable pH reading when the FC is over 10. It messes with the reagent. So if you want a confident pH test, let the FC fall below 10 just long enough to perform the test, then increase the FC again.

 

[Texas Splash]

Also, it's still a bit early for the CYA test IMO. The sun isn't high enough outside. Assuming you have a clear/sunny day over there, try it again mid-day with the sun at your back and the viewing tube shaded by your body at waist level. Se if that makes a difference.

 

[paul1971]

Like PS noted above, you can't really get a reliable pH reading when the FC is over 10. It messes with the reagent. So if you want a confident pH test, let the FC fall below 10 just long enough to perform the test, then increase the FC again.

Cool. I guess i should wait to turn back on swcg until FC <10 (?)

 

[Texas Splash]

I guess i should wait to turn back on swcg until FC <10

If you want to do a reliable pH test, yes. I would leave it off for a bit.

 

[paul1971]

Hi I am back. I hope you all had a good 4 of july!
Pool is great, followed your suggestions i dropped a bit FC to perform PH test. Had to bring down PH with muriatic and now sits at 7.6 with FC back up at 11ish with 90 CYA.
The only think that stays high is alkalinity measuring 110. Should i forget about TA as said previously?
Thanks

 

[PoolStored]

Forget about TA. Just lower your FC a few times a week and check and lower pH.

 

[paul1971]

Hello, so now i am basically having the ph raising frequently. FC is at 7.5 with cya 90ish and ph 8. I guess i keep adding some muriatic to keep it at 7.6 and add some chlorine after to raise a bit to CYA level.
Thing is i just added muriatic a few days ago. What makes ph go up?

 

[PoolStored]

High TA makes your pH go up. 110 is not "high"

As you add acid to lower pH, it also lowers TA. pH will rise on its own without raising TA. Over time, when TA comes down to about 60-80, your pH will stabilize somewhere around 7.8.

Any pH in the 7s is just fine. Let it rise to 8 before you lower to 7.6, then the additions will become less frequent. When your TA gets to about 80, don't lower pH below 7.8 and it should stabilize.

 

[paul1971]

Thanks TA actually went up as well at 130...