Long Story!
After all of the advice I've gotten from this site (THANK YOU!) my main objective has been keeping track of my PH. Adding MA every few days. averaging about 8oz per day this summer in a 6,000 gal pool. Since this seems to do the trick, I was thinking about buying an automated system that would add the MA on its own.
After researching IntelliPH, I called my pool builder to pick his brain about the system and to get a quote. He had never heard of it. He has had his pool business for 20+ years. He referred me to one of his employees who might know about the product. This person told me it is not a big seller and he has reservations about the IntelliPH. His main concern is adding another element which could potentially break. I think it was an odd conversation, he wasn't trying to upsell or sell another product to me. When I told him I add aprx 8oz a day he said it was way too much and that I need to get my TA in line because it is too high and I can't get an accurate PH reading. Well I hadn't checked TA in 3 weeks but did not think it was high. And how would he know over the phone what my TA is? He is the guy who opened my pool with 50% too much salt after all!!!
so without further ado, today's numbers:
PH 8.2. (it was 7.5 two days ago. Since I was going to work I added 8oz MA. Two days later it's at 8.2!)
FC 6.0. (I set my SWG at 40% most of the summer. Somewhere between 20-40% works)
CC 0.0
TC 6.0
CH 1075!
TA 60
CYA 40
SALT 3800
TEMP 85
CSI .79 (It would be .11 if PH was 7.5. It would be .01 with a CYA of 70 and ph 7.5)
Some notes:
Due to last year's problem of too much salt in the water, we had the entire pool drained in January. I brought the salt level up to 3200ppm. I understand it goes up as temp goes up. I never added any more salt.
In April, the SWG crapped out. Pentair came out and installed a new one. This one requires 3600ppm not 3400. Since the temp was climbing I added no salt.
My CYA was at 70. I was under the impression you can not lose CYA. I also understand you cannot get rid of cya without draining water.
CH is very high. It has always been high. CH in fill water is high too. I thought that CH being high was OK provided every other parameter is normal.
So today I added 16oz MA and brought the SWG down to 20%. I believe I will have a ph of 7.5 tomorrow and FC of 5.0. If everything else remains the same, my CSI will be .11 and that might be OK considering such high CH.
If it matters I cleaned the pool filters and salt cell Aug 17 and on Jun 2.
So what I am asking is for opinions on my chemistry? What steps to take to get it back in line? I do not believe I can recover the CH. But maybe the CSI? How about adding more CYA - I am scared of having too much. Any one use the IntelliPH?
Thanks as always
After all of the advice I've gotten from this site (THANK YOU!) my main objective has been keeping track of my PH. Adding MA every few days. averaging about 8oz per day this summer in a 6,000 gal pool. Since this seems to do the trick, I was thinking about buying an automated system that would add the MA on its own.
After researching IntelliPH, I called my pool builder to pick his brain about the system and to get a quote. He had never heard of it. He has had his pool business for 20+ years. He referred me to one of his employees who might know about the product. This person told me it is not a big seller and he has reservations about the IntelliPH. His main concern is adding another element which could potentially break. I think it was an odd conversation, he wasn't trying to upsell or sell another product to me. When I told him I add aprx 8oz a day he said it was way too much and that I need to get my TA in line because it is too high and I can't get an accurate PH reading. Well I hadn't checked TA in 3 weeks but did not think it was high. And how would he know over the phone what my TA is? He is the guy who opened my pool with 50% too much salt after all!!!
so without further ado, today's numbers:
PH 8.2. (it was 7.5 two days ago. Since I was going to work I added 8oz MA. Two days later it's at 8.2!)
FC 6.0. (I set my SWG at 40% most of the summer. Somewhere between 20-40% works)
CC 0.0
TC 6.0
CH 1075!
TA 60
CYA 40
SALT 3800
TEMP 85
CSI .79 (It would be .11 if PH was 7.5. It would be .01 with a CYA of 70 and ph 7.5)
Some notes:
Due to last year's problem of too much salt in the water, we had the entire pool drained in January. I brought the salt level up to 3200ppm. I understand it goes up as temp goes up. I never added any more salt.
In April, the SWG crapped out. Pentair came out and installed a new one. This one requires 3600ppm not 3400. Since the temp was climbing I added no salt.
My CYA was at 70. I was under the impression you can not lose CYA. I also understand you cannot get rid of cya without draining water.
CH is very high. It has always been high. CH in fill water is high too. I thought that CH being high was OK provided every other parameter is normal.
So today I added 16oz MA and brought the SWG down to 20%. I believe I will have a ph of 7.5 tomorrow and FC of 5.0. If everything else remains the same, my CSI will be .11 and that might be OK considering such high CH.
If it matters I cleaned the pool filters and salt cell Aug 17 and on Jun 2.
So what I am asking is for opinions on my chemistry? What steps to take to get it back in line? I do not believe I can recover the CH. But maybe the CSI? How about adding more CYA - I am scared of having too much. Any one use the IntelliPH?
Thanks as always
