I've been trying to lower my TA. It is holding at 100 for some reason. PH is right at 7.5, CYA is at 60 and chlorine is at 8. The pool is a vinyl 32k inground with a sand filter. We just had the liner replaced this spring. Ever since then I can't seem to get the TA down. I've used Muriatic acid at suggested amounts according to the pool math app and no change. I even tried adding just a little more but no luck. Any suggestions? We have had a lot of rain here this summer. But I never had this problem before with wet summers. Is there a difference in Muriatic acid from brand to brand or store. I have been getting mine at Lowe's.
Can't seem to lower TA
- Thread starter PoolDad2
- Start date
Don't forget to check the "concentration" level of the MA, the Lowes "pool" MA is usually 14.5% (so it takes more MA). Use TFP pool math and specify the MA concentration you have, pool math will tell you how much MA to add to lower PH. Get PH to 7.2 and that will lower the TA (not necessarily immediate lower TA but it will work). Of course if you have more water entering the pool that could be "adding" TA to counter your efforts
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,931
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
The best way to fix a stubborn TA is to let the pH rise to about 8.0, then use enough MA to lower the pH down to about 7.0.-7.2 That larger swing seems to do better.
Please read Lower Total Alkalinity - Trouble Free Pool up in Pool School. Follow that article perfectly and your TA will go down and stay down........it has no choice.
My Lowes MA is 31%...... perhaps its a local variance? But its important to pay attention to what you're buying lest you grab some *low octane* acid and wonder why its not performing as expected.
Maddie
Maddie
Thanks for all the advice. I'll check and see what concentration the MA I'm getting. I know Ace Hardware has it as well and is a different brand and is actually less expensive.
Dad,
For me anyway, lowering TA is a two day process.. It is not a dump in some MA and you are done kind of thing.
I measure my TA and pH and record the readings.. I turn on my waterfall for aeration and leave it on.. I add the amount of MA to drop my pH to about 7.0.. I recheck the pH and TA about two hours later.. At this point my pH has gone up to 7.4, or so, but not much of a change in TA is seen.. I add more MA to drop the pH back to 7.0.. Then I do it all over and over at 2 hour increments.. I tend to start in the morning and stop when it is time to go to bed and pick it up all over again the next day.. As time goes on, the TA will drop in larger amounts.. I take TA down to 50 ppm, and stop the process.. In a day or less the TA will be back to 60 and tends to stay there for a while before slowly increasing.. When it gets back above 110 I do the whole process all over again.
Your numbers may not be identical as mine, but I bet the basic process working about the same.
I use 31% MA...
Thanks,
Jim R.
For me anyway, lowering TA is a two day process.. It is not a dump in some MA and you are done kind of thing.
I measure my TA and pH and record the readings.. I turn on my waterfall for aeration and leave it on.. I add the amount of MA to drop my pH to about 7.0.. I recheck the pH and TA about two hours later.. At this point my pH has gone up to 7.4, or so, but not much of a change in TA is seen.. I add more MA to drop the pH back to 7.0.. Then I do it all over and over at 2 hour increments.. I tend to start in the morning and stop when it is time to go to bed and pick it up all over again the next day.. As time goes on, the TA will drop in larger amounts.. I take TA down to 50 ppm, and stop the process.. In a day or less the TA will be back to 60 and tends to stay there for a while before slowly increasing.. When it gets back above 110 I do the whole process all over again.
Your numbers may not be identical as mine, but I bet the basic process working about the same.
I use 31% MA...
Thanks,
Jim R.
Why do you want to lower it? If your PH is stable and you don't have CSI issues, TFP doesn't usually recommend chasing a number.