First Things First Balance + Borates

[Maureen03]

Hurricanes, debris, rain, and drains have left me in a quandary about what to do first. I love the borates in the pool, but I know from the sticky ‘So you want to add borates to your pool—how and why’ that everything else has to be just right first. And that is what I loved about them—once added, my pH stayed perfect!
My TA could be up just a little more, pH is terrible low, I’m not sure what my Salt goal should be exactly. Should I use a little Washing soda to increase Alk a little? Please give me a little personal direction.
On a sunny note- I did my first borate test today (mannitol and BTB)!

Test results:
FC 10.5
CC 0
pH 7.0
TA 50
Stabilizer/CYA 50
Calcium Hardness 70
Salt 2600
Borates 24 ppm
CSI -1.66
Temp 77

 

[JamesW]

I would increase TA by 10 ppm and recheck a day later.

 

[PoolStored]

Use baking soda to raise TA

 

[pjt]

FC 10.5
pH 7.0
TA 50
Salt 2600

You can turn your SWCG off for a couple days and let the FC drift down. FC demand in the off season is very little.

Have you been adding MA or any other acidic chemicals?

For the TA test, are you continuing to add drops until there's no additional color change?

TA of 50 is fine, but don't go lower. You can aerate to increase the pH if desired.

I’m not sure what my Salt goal should be exactly

Your SWCG owners manual recommends salt between 3,000 and 4,000.

 

[Maureen03]

You can turn your SWCG off for a couple days and let the FC drift down. FC demand in the off season is very little.

I was up to almost twenty when I turned SWCG off. Cooler weather and cya of 50 caused a slow decline of chlorine.

Have you been adding MA or any other acidic chemicals?

No.

For the TA test, are you continuing to add drops until there's no additional color change?

No I have not. I have added till it changed to red. I may add an extra dropp or twountil it stops changing but I document the first true red even if not dark.

TA of 50 is fine, but don't go lower. You can aerate to increase the pH if desired.

Got it carefully up to 60 in preparation of adding borates (love the stability)

Your SWCG owners manual recommends salt between 3,000 and 4,000.

Thank you.

 

[pjt]

No I have not. I have added till it changed to red. I may add an extra dropp or twountil it stops changing but I document the first true red even if not dark.

Keep adding drops until there's no further color change. That marks the end of the test.

Total Alkalinity

A drop-based test used to measure the alkalinity in water. Alkalinity helps serve as a … Read more…

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