New member 0 Total Alkalinity
- Thread starter Lksmith527
- Start date
Hi, welcome to TFP! Can you tell us a little more about your pool? What did you use to measure alkalinity, and did you also test pH and if so what was the result?
I have an in ground, 18,500 gallon salt water pool. I used a Clorox water strip test for the numbers. Here is the breakdown/
TH 500
TC 5
FC 3
PH 7.2
Total Alk 0
Stab 50
TH 500
TC 5
FC 3
PH 7.2
Total Alk 0
Stab 50
Welcome to the forum!
Unfortunately test strips are incredibly unreliable and prone to false readings. For instance: if your TA is zero then your pH is not 7.2, so one of those is wrong and depending on which one you could be facing a major problem. Not to mention that if those FC and TC numbers are correct you've got other significant issues, but less pressing than the TA one.
Since this issue can be very time sensitive (do you have a heater by chance?) we really need some accurate TA and pH numbers quickly so my usual advice on proper testing needs a bit of adjusting. What we need are pH and TA numbers from a liquid based test kit. Usually Walmart or Home Depot carry kits that have the typical pH and Chlorine tests along with TA, CH, and CYA. That one will give us an accurate reading on pH and TA and let us move forward ASAP in helping you diagnose and correct the issue. There is a chance the issue is just testing error and that would be the best case scenario. And please note that I am absolutely NOT asking you to get your water tested at a pool store. We don't trust them any more than test strips. Even a relatively cheap kit from a big box store is more reliable than them.
Unfortunately test strips are incredibly unreliable and prone to false readings. For instance: if your TA is zero then your pH is not 7.2, so one of those is wrong and depending on which one you could be facing a major problem. Not to mention that if those FC and TC numbers are correct you've got other significant issues, but less pressing than the TA one.
Since this issue can be very time sensitive (do you have a heater by chance?) we really need some accurate TA and pH numbers quickly so my usual advice on proper testing needs a bit of adjusting. What we need are pH and TA numbers from a liquid based test kit. Usually Walmart or Home Depot carry kits that have the typical pH and Chlorine tests along with TA, CH, and CYA. That one will give us an accurate reading on pH and TA and let us move forward ASAP in helping you diagnose and correct the issue. There is a chance the issue is just testing error and that would be the best case scenario. And please note that I am absolutely NOT asking you to get your water tested at a pool store. We don't trust them any more than test strips. Even a relatively cheap kit from a big box store is more reliable than them.
Ok, I don't think your test strip is giving you an accurate result. I agree with JD's advice. How long have you been using the Chlorox strips to test your pool?
No heater. I will head to Home Depot and get the correct kit. Thank you!
- Jan 7, 2012
- 1,501
- Pool Size
- 21000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Don't waste time and money with any kit you can buy at HD. You want a K-2006C or a TF-Pro Salt. Get a SpeedStir too.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,691
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
They need to know right now what their pH is, and TA if possible.
Yes, eventually they need a proper test kit.
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