First Time Using TF-Pro Salt - Some Grey Matter in Pool

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Newdude said:
We're all volunteer here so it doesn't help us, per se. But keeping the lights on means none of us needs to find a new hobby. Imagine if my new hobby involved running???
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Wait - you're not getting paid? Who is paying me?
Oh - my employer... Shhhh...
 
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Added MA all day yesterday and pH is now closer to a true 8.2, but still too dark. Will continue with MA. Also ordered stabilizer to bring CYA up to 60. Levels today ...

FC - 6
TA - 70
CYA - 40
pH - 8.2+
CH - 300
Salt - 3200
Temp - 62
CSI - 0.15
 
pH is 7.2 this morning!! Going to wait a few more days to test CYA so will re-test the full range this Friday. Looks like everything is lining up for a MDW official opening.
 
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Think I'm back in my comfort zone ... thanks guys for all the help and support!

FC - 9
TA - 70
CYA - 60
pH - 7.8
CH - 250
Salt - 3400
Temp - 66
CSI - (0.35)
 
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I would do another acid to drop pool to 7.2. Your TA probably needs to be 50-60 to prevent pH rise, but you have some CSI leeway considering your water temp is still fairly cool. So if you want to take a break and let it warm up, you're in a good spot.
 
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Officially opened the pool this week and turned on the heater. I was surprised the plaster felt rougher on my feet compared to last year. Is it possible this happened because the pH was high all winter? How would I even control this when the pool is closed :ROFLMAO: . All my other levels were relatively fine at opening. From what I've read I'm now stuck with the rougher plaster and smooth no more, without draining / blasting.

TA - 60
CYA - 60
pH - 7.5
CH - 250
Salt - 3400
Temp - 79
CSI - (0.60)
 
Numbers continue to be great, but pH keeps fighting me. How often do you guys put in MA? I'll put a small amount 3x a day, 4 hours apart and then next day I'm at 7.2. However, 1-2 days later I'm at 7.5 again. It doesn't seem to want to go back down to 7.2 unless I do another 3x a day, 4 hours apart. Maybe I should just do a small amount, 3x a day, every other day, until I see it stick to 7.2? I'm guessing kids swimming, water slide, topping off with city water, etc. will keep my pH fusy.

FWIW I'm only adding a few cups at a time and TA is still 50-60 over the last month. According to PoolMath this is more than needed, but I've yet to dip below 7.2.
 
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Stop the acid additions. Stop driving pH to 7.2. Reggie's advice was to do it once to help lower TA. Your TA is 60. If you keep lowering pH to 7.2, TA will decrease. If TA gets below 50, you can crash your pH.

Let pH rise to 7.8-8.0. pH should stabilize in that range with TA of 60. Don't force it lower. A pH of 7.8-8 is just fine.
 
PoolStored said:
Stop the acid additions. Stop driving pH to 7.2. Reggie's advice was to do it once to help lower TA. Your TA is 60. If you keep lowering pH to 7.2, TA will decrease. If TA gets below 50, you can crash your pH.

Let pH rise to 7.8-8.0. pH should stabilize in that range with TA of 60. Don't force it lower. A pH of 7.8-8 is just fine.
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Thanks! Did a small addition this morning so probably won't do much. Tested at 7.5 before so will leave it there.

Just curious, do you only add MA when over 8 and only to get it to 7.8-8? In general, how often do you find you're knocking down ph? Once a week or so? Just curious.

Btw, thought of your handle on Saturday. Went to Leslie's and gentleman in front of me was getting PoolStored hard.
 
bbdude said:
Just curious, do you only add MA when over 8 and only to get it to 7.8-8? In general, how often do you find you're knocking down ph? Once a week or so? Just curious.
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That is the recommendation I'm making. With a TA of 60, your pH should be fairly stable in that range.

I'm the wrong person to ask. I have a vinyl liner. Most people that manage this way, in a gunite pool, add muriatic about once a week.
 
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Once TA has equilibrated at 50-60, pH will stay in the 7's and CSI will be good.
When I get to that point, the only time I need to add MA is when I'm adding water for evaporation (due to high TA fill water.)
 
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Hi All - Been a great summer and now we're getting mentally prepared for closing. Had my water tested at the Pool Store, like I do anytime I'm buying MA, but this time they reported high phosphate levels. They registered at ~1100p.p.b. From googling a little it seems this isn't really a concern so long as all your levels are pretty normal? Thank you!

FC - 4
TA - 80
CYA - 50
pH - 7.5
CH - 375
Salt - 3400
Temp - 81
CSI - (0.27)
 
50 CYA has a target of 3-8 but your FC 4 isn't good as it can dip under minimum at any point when pool is used. I'd recommend stay in the higher end of the 3-8 so you have a buffer. Slam level is 20 so you have plenty of room to be a solid 8-10
 
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bbdude said:
Had my water tested at the Pool Store, like I do anytime I'm buying MA
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Why? Do you normally copy answers for a test off the dumbest kid in class?

Trust your own testing. Phosphates are not a concern, but are a great bogeyman to convince you to dump $$$ on magical pool potions the pool store is 100% in business to sell you.

Muriatic Acid is sold many places; it's a commodity, just find the best price.
 
reggiehammond said:
Why? Do you normally copy answers for a test off the dumbest kid in class?

Trust your own testing. Phosphates are not a concern, but are a great bogeyman to convince you to dump $$$ on magical pool potions the pool store is 100% in business to sell you.

Muriatic Acid is sold many places; it's a commodity, just find the best price.
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My perception is their CYA test is more accurate than my own TF-Pro kit and the chemicals to test CYA don't last too long so I have Pool Store do it when I'm there :cheers:

Appreciate the guidance on Phosphates!

Pool store was out of MA so found it at ACE Hardware. Same price and strength.
 
bbdude said:
My perception is their CYA test is more accurate than my own
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We've seen them be particularly all over the map with CYA.

Take their stated claim of +/- 25% at 80 CYA. At 60 you'd be thinking of raising it for your SWG, and at 100 you'd be thinking of draining some. So its either ok, high or low. Gee, thanks Leslie's. :roll:

Plus. Everyone on the forum thinks they're the worst CYA tester. And they're not wrong. Seriously it's like a 400k way tie. :ROFLMAO:

But they're still better than the spintouch any day of the week.
 
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