I'm going to put this here instead of starting yet another topic about rain, that'll let the two of you that are still actually reading this thread something to mull over.
I've done much searching here on the subject of rain this morning. There does not seem to be a consensus on what, if any affect rain has on your pool water. However, I think I may be seeing a pattern, but it might all be in my head. I'll get to that later. First, the reason I've arrived at this subject to begin with.
Yesterday 'they' were calling for heavy rains overnight in the area, so I dutifully ran an almost entire spectrum of water checks.
Wait... Before I start, is it too early for a margaritta? Ok, I just found out it's after 5:00pm in Rome!! I'm goin' for it!
Ok, readings last night pre-chemicals.
FC 5
CC 0
pH 7.8
TA 200
I added 2 cups 6 oz of bleach, per the calculator, for no other reason then I knew it was going to rain.
Then I waited the token half an hour and added 2 quarts, 1 cup, 6 oz of 31.45% Muriatic Acid per the calculator with a TA of 200 to bring the pH down to 7.0. (I am still trying to lower my TA)
Readings after
FC 6
pH 7.0
Those are the only two I took.
This morning, the first thing I did was look out the window to make sure the pool was still standing. It was. Then got these readings.
FC 5.5
CC 0
pH 7.0 (6.9?? Maybe?)
TA 150
What? I threw out the TA test and did it again... I wound up with 150 again. I'm not complaining, as I am working on getting my TA down, but a drop of 50 overnight? This definitely resulted in some massive searching here for what was goin on!
The search was pretty much fruitless, as there are those that say, "Pshawww! Rain doesn't affect anything! There's just not enough!" Then there are those that say, "OMG! It rained last night and my readings went crazy!" Of course these statements are quickly followed by, "No you're just nuts! You're not seeing what you're seeing. Rain doesn't affect anything." (I am summarizing here, no one actually said these exact things)
What I seemed to notice, and this isn't scientific or anything since I wrote nothing down. But those that are saying the rain changed their water, all seem to be either around where I am. Or Texas. I figure the change going on in Texas is only due to the fact that their rain drops are much bigger then anywhere else on the earth. One that sticks out in my mind is AnnaK who said PH doesn't move, but alkalinity drops when it rains. Hmmm... Right over there in PA. My next door neighbor. She would usually get my left over rain I didn't use.
Ok, I really don't have an ending to this post. So I guess I'll just wait for someone to come along and tell me I'm nutz, I didn't see what I saw, the TA didn't drop that much, or I didn't wipe the tip with a wet cloth between each drop when doing the first TA test.
I think the TA fairies live around here and steal the TA from our pools!