Newbie Advice on Adjusting Balance and Regaining water clarity

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Ckdavisusc

0
Aug 8, 2016
17
Columbia, SC
Hi all. I’m a new pool owner and have been reading TFP for the last several months. I have been monitoring my pH and Chlorine very closely since mid July. I have a salt water cell and have been able to maintain chlorine levels very easily. The only other item I’ve had to adjust to date is consistently rising pH levels (regularly around 7.8 or above). I have used muriatic acid weekly over the last 3 months to keep my pH in check. I decided to get a more advanced test kit over the weekend and checked other measurements.


I took my first set of additional measurements Saturday, as noted below, and added about ½ gallon of Muriatic acid to lower the pH (this is the normal amount I’ve added each week).
FC=3
TC=3
CC=0
pH=7.8
TA=50

I checked my PH and TA again on Sunday and figured that due to the Muriatic acid, both of these dropped.
pH=6.8
TA=30

Based on some of my research, I concluded that the pH levels have been erratic due to having low TA, so I decide to add 8lbs of Soda Ash on Sunday afternoon. I had hoped to raise my pH and alkalinity with this, which I did. However, now my pool is extremely cloudy.

Here are my reading from today (Monday):
FC=3
TC=3
CC-0
PH=8
TA=70
CH=160
CYA<30 (could not get an exact reading with my kit)

Besides the chlorine levels, all of the others seem off. Which one do I start with... I'm sure there's a preferred order? Also, how do I get my pool looking clear again!! Any advice is appreciated.

Gunite pool(remodeled in July 2016, original shell with new deck, plaster, tile, piping and water)
Heyward S-240 pump
20,000 gallons
SWG
 
I'll wait for one of the better informed experts, but you might want to read up on pool school http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/123-abc-of-pool-water-chemistry

I think Baking Soda (not soda ash) is what you use to raise TA. Your TA went up, so maybe just a typo? Also you will want to adjust your CYA up with SWG, and then boost your FC.
Your pH is just a little high you were at 7.8, normally good range is aobut 7.6 - 7.8 so 8 isn't too far off.

My pool likes CYA at 70 and then we keep FC between 8-10. Your FC looks low, your SWG may not be able to keep up in the sunny weather
 
Hello and welcome to TFP! :wave: So let's recap a few important things:
- While you were trying to watch pH and FC closely since July, you really only got a good test kit this past weekend. Which test kit did you get (TF-100 or Taylor K-2006)?
- Flipr is correct in that baking soda is the item of choice to raise TA. Soda ash will do it also, but also increases the pH at the same time. :brickwall:
- I suspect the cloudiness is related to the overdose of soda ash ... for now.
- Your FC looks to have been on the low end for a while, so I would increase it to at least 5 ppm for now until you can get things in order.

At this point, I would recommend an overnight (OCLT) test per the Pool School - Perform the Overnight FC Loss Test (OCLT) page. We know for a SWG pool your CYA should be at least 70, but it's best to rule-out any algae (related cloudiness) before increasing that CYA in case you have to perform a SLAM. If you pass the OCLT, then increase CYA with stabilizer right away to 70 and maintain the FC around 4-5 ppm until you know the SWG can keep-up.

A TA of around 70 is fine for now. Focus on the pH as the new plaster will continue to push that up often. When the MA takes its toll on the TA, increase the TA as needed with baking soda. You should be able to let the TA drop as low as about 50 before needing to increase it.

One last suggestion .... while we normally do not suggest using chlorine tabs, you might benefit from them for a short time. They are acidic which will help to lower pH, and they will increase CYA over time. It's your call. If you have them, you can use them. If not, don't go out of your way to buy them, just use granular stabilizer.

Hope that helps.
 
Ckdavisusc said:
I will give the OCLT a try. I have a Taylor K-2005 test kit. Is that adequate for this test?
Click to expand...

Not entirely... you kit is missing a VERY important element, the FAS-DPD test which measures FC up to 50ppm. That's needed any time your pool is sick and needs extra chlorine to get it all well again. You can buy this missing test on its own from TFTestkits.net It runs about $26 I believe and ships from NC so you should get it super fast.
 
Here’s the latest.

Monday evening:
Increased SWG chlorine production.
Increased run time of pump to 24 hours ( I had been running for 12 hour per day leading up to adding Soda Ash).

Tuesday at lunch, after taking below measurements I added ½ gallon of MA, water was less cloudy also and could see bottom or pool again, although still not crystal clear.
FC-5
TC-5
CC-0
PH-8+
TA-70
CH-170
CYA-(did not check this one again)


Tuesday evening I performed the OCLT test at dusk at measured an FC-5. Checked again Wednesday morningand measured and FC-5.

Today at lunch, brushed pool because I noticed that soda ash had settled on the floor of pool. This created a cloud again as I stirred up the water. I also added a quart of MA after taking the below measurements.
Today’s measurements:
FC-5
TC-5
CC-0
PH-8
TA-60
CH-180
CYA-(did not check this one again)

Based on Texas Splash’s suggestion, I added a 3in cleaning tablet also at lunch today and am looking to increase the CYA next.

Does this sound like a plan, do I need to worry about the CH levels yet? Any idea when this cloudiness will subside? I’m guessing I need to run the pump 24/7 for now.

Thanks in advance for your help.
 

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