Muriatic Acid or patience?

[JRzMom]

After completing a SLAM and getting FC within normal range, my pool TA was 140 and pH 7.8. I should have waited a bit, but worried that TA that high would let pH creep up I added leftover pH Down that only brought the TA to 130 and the pH to 7.4. We had torrential rain for two days that aerated the pool pretty well. pH climbed to 7.8 and TA remained 130. Days later it is sitting at pH 8.0 and TA still at 130. My instinct tells me to wait and see before trying to balance with muriatic acid. Thoughts?

 

[reggiehammond]

Go ahead.
Once pH rises to 8.0, lower to 7.2 using Muriatic Acid. Each time, your TA will lower and your pH rise will slow until it stops.

 

[PoolStored]

Manage your pH and ignore TA (test for it, but don't "treat" it). Follow this:

1. When TA > 80: When pH gets to 8.0, lower your pH to 7.4-7.6. pH will rise. When pH gets to 8.0, lower to 7.6 again. TA will come down.
2. When TA is between 60 and 80. DON'T lower pH to 7.6. It will be fairly stable between 7.8 and 8.0

 

[JRzMom]

Go ahead.
Once pH rises to 8.0, lower to 7.2 using Muriatic Acid. Each time, your TA will lower and your pH rise will slow until it stops.

How long should I wait to retest TA? It seemed to take a few days to drop after the pH Down, although the pH dropped right away. Is that normal or do I need to be more careful with the drop test?

 

[PoolStored]

Test TA weekly. No need to fret about it, manage pH as described until TA is 60-80, then maintain pH at 7.8-8.0

Stop using pH down, it adds sufates, which are bad for concrete and metal. Use muratic acid to lower pH

 

[reggiehammond]

Further reading...

TA - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com