Muriatic acid raising TA??? What is going on?

[Rybray]

My CYA is way too high and I know that. I've gone to all liquid chlorine, muriatic acid, etc. using Taylor testing.
Today my ph was at 8 and my TA (appropriately factored for CYA was 109. Added the pool math suggestion to lower PH...tested 2 hours later...PH is now 7.5 but my TA shot up to 122!
How is that even possible and how do I fix it?

 

[Texas Splash]

Hummmmm, how did you get a TA of 122? Taylor goes in 10 ppm increments. No need to do any TA-to-CYA factoring. The PoolMath APP does that already. If your TA is around 120 and you wish to lower it, use enough MA to lower the pH form say 8.0 down to 7.2. When the pH rises back up to 8.0 hit it again. That wide swing and heavier dosage of MA should help to lower the TA.

 

[Texas Splash]

Also remember though that with each addition of fill water from evaporation, the TA will creep back up. Comes with the territory of summer.

 

[Rybray]

first reading this morning, I got 150 for TA and 8 for ph. If you do the .33 adjustment (or .36) in the Taylor book, it came out to 109 TA. (also if you plug it into the Taylor suretreat calculator. So I ugged that Into poolmath and added what it told me to, which was a quart and a cup MA (which also aligned with the Taylor tables)
Just went out to test again, and PH had dropped to 7.5 but the TA was now at 160 (adjusted for cya, reads 122). Ran the test 3 times to make sure. How is it possible that the TA has risen????

 

[Rybray]

of course now it's raining cats and dogs...so everything will be diff! ugh.

 

[Texas Splash]

How is it possible that the TA has risen????

The TA won't rise on its own. Ether there was a testing error, new water added, or a new chemical like baking soda was added.

I wouldn't make it any more difficult than it needs to be. Just record the regular TA test (without trying to convert or adjust anything) and let the APP (Effects of Adding) help you if needed for dosage. Add enough MA to lower the pH from 8.0 down to 7.2. It will work over time.

 

[Texas Splash]

Also be careful with the TA drops. Those regents are prone to changes due to static electricity effecting each droplet size. If needed, keep a wet paper towel nearby and wipe the reagent tips after every few drops if its a new bottle. That could help with droplet consistency.

 

[Rybray]

I hadn't added anything but the MA. Of course, now we are having buckets of rain...lol
But I will take more care with the TA drops. I had done both the 10mm test, and then the 25mm test because I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. when it quits raining I will test again.

 

[JamesW]

TA (appropriately factored for CYA was 109).

Do not use "Adjusted" TA.

 

[Rybray]

Also be careful with the TA drops. Those regents are prone to changes due to static electricity effecting each droplet size. If needed, keep a wet paper towel nearby and wipe the reagent tips after every few drops if its a new bottle. That could help with droplet consistency.

Bingo...used a different Taylor reagent (newer one) and got completely different result! I was super confused for hot minute!!!!!