How time-sensitive is out-of-range pH?

[Furiousss]

How long would a pH of 6.8 take to cause damage to plaster, plumbing and/or equipment? Do I need to run to Walmart tonight for soda ash, or is this something that could wait until tomorrow or this weekend?

How about 6.5?

I know there's an ideal range, but I haven't seen a chart or anything that shows what happens outside of that range in terms of time.

 

[Jimrahbe]

F,

It should be back up by tomorrow...

Why is it so low??? Are you using Chlorine Tablets because it is winter and your SWCG is off??

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Furiousss]

I tested a few days ago and ph was off the scale high. Added acid. Too much I think.

Maybe the test the other day was wrong.

 

[JamesW]

What is the TA and CSI?

 

[Furiousss]

An hour after the acid, I drove to Leslie’s (where I bought the acid) for soda ash. He didn’t want to sell me any until I waited a few days for things to settle. I took water with me. Here’s that test.

 

[JamesW]

See what the numbers are tomorrow.

If the pH is still low, I would add about 4 pounds of baking soda.

 

[mknauss]

Do not add soda ash.

IF the TA is above 50, the pH will recover. If you just have to add something, add baking soda to increase TA to 70. Real TA, not what Leslie measured.

 

[Furiousss]

Thanks. Sounds like I’m not risking imminent damage by waiting a bit. I’ll measure for the next few days and respond with baking soda if ph is still low.

 

[proavia]

When reporting test results here, use your own TF-ProSalt test kit.
Pool store results are worth less than you pay for them.
Pool store test results are unreliable at best.

What are the results from your TF-Pro?
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Salt
Water temperarure

 

[Bperry]

Thanks. Sounds like I’m not risking imminent damage by waiting a bit. I’ll measure for the next few days and respond with baking soda if ph is still low.

No one will believe pool store tests so post results from your kit. Don’t even bother having them test it.

 

[Newdude]

+1. Especially for PH. Even if they were right, you bounced the sample stupid on the seat next to you over every imperfection in the road on the way there. It's probably not what it was when you took the sample.

Folks would never dream of shaking the sample 100 times before testing PH, but they'll let it rattle in the cup holder going to the store.

 

[Mdragger88]

To clarify- the results from Leslie’s show “adjusted TA”
(ta - 1/3 of cya = adjusted ta)
Your actual ta is higher than that
(If those numbers are accurate- your actual ta is around 66)
If your actual ta is 60 or above your ph should recover as mentioned above.
You can point your jets up & run water features if you have them to help ph rise to the 7’s.

TA - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

P.s. - if needed in the future, no need to buy overpriced soda ash(washing soda) or baking soda at the pool store.
The arm & hammer stuff from dollar general, walmart, grocery store will do the same job for alot less coin.

 

[Newdude]

+1. Bjs/Costco/Sam's has baking soda next to the sugar and chocolate chips in 13 lb bags for under $10. It's good forever when stored dry and will get you many seasons.

 

[mfifield01]

Check your TA against the Leslie's result. Even with the adjusted TA, they come in really low. For the NPT warranty, I have to get mine "professionally tested". Leslie's calculated TA is 20. I tested it at 60.

 

[Furiousss]

No one will believe pool store tests so post results from your kit. Don’t even bother having them test it.

The purpose of the store test was because my home test from several days earlier showed a very high (8.2+) pH and then, within minutes of adding acid, showing a very low (-6.8) pH. When I returned for soda ash, I brought water to have another pH result. Their result was 6.7, which only confirmed my recent result.

When someone asked for additional test results, I posted the whole Leslie's printout because it was convenient.

 

[Furiousss]

+1. Bjs/Costco/Sam's has baking soda next to the sugar and chocolate chips in 13 lb bags for under $10. It's good forever when stored dry and will get you many seasons.

Thanks. Yes, when others recommended baking soda over soda ash, I looked and see it's available at walmart, home depot, etc. for cheap.

 

[JamesW]

earlier showed a very high (8.2+) pH and then, within minutes of adding acid, showing a very low (-6.8) pH.

This can be due to low TA or maybe adding too much acid or maybe miscalculating the pool volume etc.

Try to be more conservative on adding until you see a pattern that is more predictable.

 

[Furiousss]

This can be due to low TA or maybe adding too much acid or maybe miscalculating the pool volume etc.

Try to be more conservative on adding until you see a pattern that is more predictable.

I should have retested just prior to adding acid, but trusted my earlier 8.2+ reading. I'll make smaller adjustments in the future.

Pool volume was calculated using the water meter upon filling the pool. I'm confident in that number.

 

[Furiousss]

What are the results from your TF-Pro?
FC: 7.5
CC: 0
pH: 7.1 (estimate based on slightly below the 7.2, but well above the 6.8 indicators)
TA: 60
CH: 325
CYA: <30, I guess? Filled tube, dot was still visible, but cloudy.
Water temperarure: 53F

 

[Furiousss]

+1. Especially for PH. Even if they were right, you bounced the sample stupid on the seat next to you over every imperfection in the road on the way there. It's probably not what it was when you took the sample.

Folks would never dream of shaking the sample 100 times before testing PH, but they'll let it rattle in the cup holder going to the store.

If I'm understand correctly , the shaking is aeration, like "pointing jets up" or "running water features", and causes pH to rise. Interesting.