Going to add borax and Ice Melt (94% calcium chloride)

[poolshrinker]

Thanks for the earlier help. Below are my readings for this morning. After 3 weeks open this summer, pool pH is still 6.8.

My objective is to improve water feel by increasing pH and adding borax.

I am adding the following:
- 20 Mule Borax 4#. PoolMath says add 6# to raise pH from 6.8 to 7.2, but I can always add more. Accepted instructions seem to be to sprinkle across the top of the pool.
- Snow Joe Ice Pellets (94% calcium chloride) 12#. PoolMath says add 20# to increase CH from 50 to 150. Do you have any tips for how to add the Ice Melt?

Today’s readings:
FC 5.0
CC 0
TC 5.0
CYA 30
TA 50
CH 50 (and barely)

 

[mknauss]

Is your pool water foaming? If not, I would not add any calcium. Not needed.

Better to add boric acid for water feel. But you can add the borax. It will raise your TA a small amount.

 

[poolshrinker]

No foaming. Water is perfectly clear and chemistry is stable. It just doesn’t feel as smooth and silky as most years and I’m not sure why. The pH is lower than usual, and not sure why.

I know I don’t need calcium with a vinyl AGP, but some sources suggest it will help with water feel.

I can do the borax first and go from there.

 

[mknauss]

Never heard of increasing CH for water feel. I know if mine gets above 800 ppm my wife calls the water 'dry'.

 

[poolshrinker]

thanks, we’ll start with borax. Our CH usually ranges between 0 and 0 so this year at 25-50 it’s higher than normal… and since this is the first year we have any water feel issues I agree it’s not the first place I’m looking.

 

[Newdude]

Do you have any tips for how to add the Ice Melt?

Yes. Save it for winter.

Many folks use it, but you couldnt pay me add it to my pool. The manufacturer has zero concern about pools and may change things on a whim. Even if it was ok last time, this time is a new gamble.

 

[poolshrinker]

Yes. Save it for winter.

Many folks use it, but you couldnt pay me add it to my pool. The manufacturer has zero concern about pools and may change things on a whim. Even if it was ok last time, this time is a new gamble.

do you have other suggestions for water feel? or increasing CH?

 

[Newdude]

do you have other suggestions for water feel?

Some like the feel of salt. Most start to taste it (just a little) around 3k. At 2k or 2500 most wouldnt even know it was there.

Some like the feel of borates. Add 50ppm of boric acid from duda diesel.

increasing CH?

I exlusively use puritech from amazon at $2/lb. Its a happy medium of the cheap ice melts and the spendy pool store calcium.

 

[poolshrinker]

Update 2 days after adding borax

pH 7.2
TA 60

swinming tomorrow we'll see if anything feels different

 

[poolshrinker]

about 2 weeks in:
pH between 7.2 and 7.5 I’d guess 7.4
TA 70
CYA 30

water feels good

Not going to add ice melt, not needed. Think it was mostly a pH problem and borax seems to have done the trick.