Cloudy pool - pH and TA

[iamtexmax]

My pool builder showed up last week to look at the pool (pool finished in Oct 2018) - he said pool looked good but also made a comment that it looked cloudy - asked me my readings (am using TFP method and self maintaining the pool) which were:

FC: 4.5 ppm
CC: 0
cya: 30
TA: 80
pH: 7.8

He told me to bring pH down to 7.2 and increase TA to 110 - I told him the pH always jumps back to 7.8 and stays at that even though I use acid to bring it down - he said you may have phosphates and to check on that and maybe add phosfree

Anyways after he left - added 32 oz MA (from pool math calculator) and tested after a few hours:

pH: 7.2
TA: 70
(these were readings 2 days back)

Today I brushed pool - to my eyes the pool did not look cloudy and took readings...as expected - pH has jumped to 7.8; TA - 70

Am I doing anything wrong - do I need to keep adding MA to bring pH down (I have seen after a few days pH again creeps upto 7.8 and stays steady there)

Or I should just not worry about it?

Any thoughts/suggestions are helpful...

 

[Texas Splash]

he said you may have phosphates and to check on that and maybe add phosfree

That is a classic response from "some" builders (not all) who unfortunately don't all understand the chemistry part. They may be great in installations, but that's it. Stick with your own testing, using the Poolmath Tool, and monitoring your CSI level which is based upon CH, pH, TA, and water temp. You're doing fine.

 

[iamtexmax]

Thanks Pat - question is since the pH keeps jumping back to 7.8 - do I need to continue to keep adding MA to bring it down to 7.2? (downside is my TA drops too)

 

[Texas Splash]

question is since the pH keeps jumping back to 7.8 - do I need to continue to keep adding MA to bring it down to 7.2? (downside is my TA drops too)

Not at all. No need to drive the pH that low. In fact, some pools remain more steady with a pH of 7.6-7.8. Of course the water temps influence our water condition (scale or corrosion), so that's another reason the Poolmath tool is so valuable to us. I don't see your CH listed, but it's probably not too far from mine ~ 300-ish or so. So just make sure to enter the CH, TA, pH, and water temp into the Poolmath calculator/app and it will tell you how "balanced" the water is overall for the care of your pebble.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Tex,

Keep in mind that running your water features will drive your pH through the roof...

That said, there is nothing at all wrong with a pH of 7.8. I would only lower it when it reaches 8.0 and then I would only drop it back to 7.6 or so..

Do not listen to anything your Pool Builder says about your chemical levels.. pH and TA have no real effect on the pool being cloudy...

Do NOT add Phosfree, as it is just not needed in a TFP pool.

Thanks,

Jim R.