Alkalinity super high, please help!!

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Ashgirl4161

0
Jul 27, 2017
31
Ash NC
Pool Size
13700
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
We have an 18' X 48" Intex Ultra Frame pool with a 1500 gph sand filter and salt water generator. I have added over 3-4 gallons a quart or so at a time over the last 2 weeks and zero budge in the Alkalinity Just today the ph dropped to 7.2 so I am aerating the pool right now. I don't understand why I can not get the Alkalinity down!! I have tried 3 different test kits and all say pretty much the same. I just added another quart ( now making 4 gallons added). Help me please!!!!
 
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Re: Alkinity super high, please help!!

Hello and welcome to TFP! :wave: Exactly what is your current TA? To lower TA, we at TFP follow the TFP Pool School - Lower Total Alkalinity page. Having said that, there are a few important keys:
1 - Never lower TA just to hit a certain number. If your pH remains in the mid-7s, you can probably leave the TA alone. If the pH is constantly shooting upward, then the TA may need to be lowered.
2 - Using the proper test kit is #1. We recommend either a TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C.
3 - When lowering the TA is a must, take the pH down to about 7.0 if you have to. Some pools need to go that lower before it has a good impact on the TA.

Hope that helps.
 
The Alkalinity just now was 32 drops so times 10, 320!! Super high. We used our well to fill the pool and it is a super super soft water. The PH is now 6.8. I just bought a HTH 6 way test kit Fromm Walmart because I needed something today. :(
 
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Ashgirl4161 said:
The Alkalinity just now was 32 drops so times 10, 320!! Super high. We used our well to fill the pool and it is a super super soft water. The PH is now 6.8.(
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With high TA your pH will most likely rise with any amount of aeration.

We have high TA water but the pH is near 8. Odd to me to have high TA and low pH water out of the ground.

Take care.
 
Ours is high both numbersright out of the ground, off the charts. It has taken two weeks to get the PH to finally drop, then it dropped too much since I was also trying to lower TA. ?
 
So now that your pH is low, you need to aerate your water to bring the pH back up. That is the only way to increase the pH without increasing your TA.


I just went back and reread your initial post. Looks like you're covered on that.

It could be that your pH was incredibly high and it just took a lot of acid to get down so that you could register a change. Also, make sure you were adding the acid in front of the return while your pump is running.
 

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Re: Alkalinity High

Wow Ashgirl, that is high TA! How high is your fill water? What are you testing with?

Do you have a fountain you could use to splash that water around a bunch to bring the pH up naturally? I've even used a small sump pump at times to do so.
.IMG_0481.jpg

Maddie :flower:
 
Re: Alkalinity High

YippeeSkippy said:
Wow Ashgirl, that is high TA! How high is your fill water? What are you testing with?

Do you have a fountain you could use to splash that water around a bunch to bring the pH up naturally? I've even used a small sump pump at times to do so.
.View attachment 67093

Maddie :flower:
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I just today bought an HTH 6 way test kit. I was using strips before and they were always on the highest even upon filling. I have an aerator jet and used the water house to aerate a bit because the water level was low. I don't know how I am going to get it down. I be used almost 4 Gallons of acid in this small pool. I be always used it with the pump running but I think I need to try the pour in and let sit for an hour before turning the pump on . All I can think of is the kids swimming around in all that acid from the last 2 weeks!!
 
Re: Alkalinity High

Do not pour in the acid without the pump running. It can easily damage the liner. Always run the pump at least 30 minutes after adding acid.

The muriatic acid turns into salt and water after it reacts in your water. As long as the ph is between 7.2 and 7.8, the pool is safe to swim in.
 
Re: Alkalinity High

Ashgirl4161 said:
All I can think of is the kids swimming around in all that acid from the last 2 weeks!!
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The acid is dispersed and used up within half hour of dosing. Pour it in in front of a working return jet, try to stay downwind, I have a jug with a line on it, I fill to the line then add acid outdoors, use a wooden paint stick to mix it in with the water, then pour it into the pool, takes away a lot of the fumes.
Have you added any cya or stabilizer to your pool? Here is a good article to get your going in the right direction Pool School - Recommended Levels
Myself I would worry about keeping the FC (chlorine) up, and Ph balanced, which you are doing. With an swg and I am imagining twice weekly acid "doses" your TA is already coming down, you can add a bubbler to accelerate the process. Your Otho/phenol test kit isn't too accurate but it will tell you two things, do you have FC in your pool and what is your PH. Left hand side should be yellow, like first morning pee, the right side phenol should show bright red.
 
Re: Alkalinity High

That is an enormous amount of acid for a pool that size - something doesn't sound right.

I think first thing you need to do is get a better test kit or have someone check the chemistry for you. I bought 2 gallons of acid from Lowes 6 years ago and still have over 1.5 gallon left.
 
Can I ask a stupid question? Acid brings Ph down and aeration brings alkalinity down. My gut would be to keep the aeration going and use borax to bring the PH back into range and keep the FC in a good spot. I too have a bottle of acid that's probably 3 years old. Maybe I am totally wrong on this assessment, but something is odd.
 

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