Another rising PH topic (I understand the why, looking for the how)

[tech135797531]

I've read dozens of threads here about rising PH and understand the reasoning. I've been following the TFP balancing recommendations for my fiberglass pool for over a year now. My typical readings are:
FC 5
CYA 70ish
TA 60-80
PH I shoot for 7.6-7.7
CA 350ish

And just like everyone else, I add muriatic acid to keep the PH under control as it shoots up by 0.6-0.8 in one week which tanks TA and then I'm adding baking soda (which I get by the big orange bags from Costco). While I understand the science, is there anything that I can do to slow down this cycle short of adding an acid feeder? I'm getting real tired of pre-mixing acid and dumping it in the pool 2-3 times per week...not to mention going out of town longer than a week. I feel like after 4 years of ownership, it's gotten worse over the 6 months, or maybe it's just in my head. Any suggestions?

 

[mknauss]

At a TA of 60 your pH should not go above 8 or so unless you are adding high TA fill water due to evaporation.

Have you let the pH rise and stabilize?

FYI -- please do not

pre-mixing acid

Just pour the acid directly from the container in a pencil sized stream at a pool return with the pump running.

 

[Bperry]

I've read dozens of threads here about rising PH and understand the reasoning. I've been following the TFP balancing recommendations for my fiberglass pool for over a year now. My typical readings are:
FC 5
CYA 70ish
TA 60-80
PH I shoot for 7.6-7.7
CA 350ish

And just like everyone else, I add muriatic acid to keep the PH under control as it shoots up by 0.6-0.8 in one week which tanks TA and then I'm adding baking soda (which I get by the big orange bags from Costco). While I understand the science, is there anything that I can do to slow down this cycle short of adding an acid feeder? I'm getting real tired of pre-mixing acid and dumping it in the pool 2-3 times per week...not to mention going out of town longer than a week. I feel like after 4 years of ownership, it's gotten worse over the 6 months, or maybe it's just in my head. Any suggestions?

Let your TA stay down and 50-60 and your pH at 7.8 and things should slow down a lot.

 

[tech135797531]

At a TA of 60 your pH should not go above 8 or so unless you are adding high TA fill water due to evaporation.

Have you let the pH rise and stabilize?

Thank you for such a quick response, you're amazing as always. I live in NE FL and this summer we've had especially high humidity, and some rain. I've drained a couple of inches a handful of times, but didn't refill a single time.

As far as stabilization goes, it's been going on for a while and I've let it go over 8....and according to my K2006 kit, it's gone over. I've never let it get much pinker than 8.0 but I'd guess it's gone up to 8.2ish a couple of times.

 

[mknauss]

As Bperry stated, let the TA come down to even 50. The pH should stabilize if not adding any fill water.

 

[pjt]

tanks TA

What do you consider "tanked" TA? Down to 50 is perfectly fine.

I'm adding baking soda

Stop adding baking soda. It's causing your problems. For a SWG chlorinated pool, you will almost never have to add baking soda. Let the pH stabilize in the high 7s.