Not sure about balance

[Jwwagner]

My Ph is a little high, my TA is a little low. Pool maintenance says to add baking soda for the TA and acid for the PH. This doesn’t make sense. Please advise. Thank you
7800 gallon salt water SWG 40%


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Chemical Addition 05-30-2024 @ 02:19 PM
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+ 8.3 FluidOunces of MuriaticAcid29

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Maintenance 05-30-2024 @ 02:18 PM
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Cleaned Filter, Brushed
Pressure: 14

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Test Results 05-30-2024 @ 02:17 PM
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Free Chlorine: 6.0
Combined Chlorine: 0.0
pH: 8.0
Total Alkalinity: 50
CYA: 70
Salt: 3600
Temperature: 93°F
CSI: 0.07

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Chemical Addition 05-26-2024 @ 08:25 PM
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+ 15 Ounces of DryStabilizer

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Chemical Addition 05-26-2024 @ 08:24 PM
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+ 36 Ounces of BakingSoda

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Chemical Addition 05-26-2024 @ 08:23 PM
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+ 8.3 FluidOunces of MuriaticAcid29

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Test Results 05-26-2024 @ 08:14 PM
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Free Chlorine: 4.0
Combined Chlorine: 0.5
pH: 8.0
Total Alkalinity: 50
Calcium Hardness: 500
CYA: 60
Salt: 3200
Temperature: 93°F
CSI: 0.15

 

[ajw22]

Your TA is fine. Just check it regularly.

Go easy on lowering your pH to 7.8, not lower then 7.6.

Your FC is low for CYA 70 with a SWG. I would crank up your SWG to get to around 9.

 

[pjt]

My Ph is a little high, my TA is a little low.

pH in the high 7s is fine, even 8.0 if your CSI is OK. You can add a tiny amount of MA to get your pH back into the high 7s.

TA of 50 is perfectly fine.

Pool maintenance says to add baking soda for the TA

Don't.

This doesn’t make sense.

You're correct. Don't add any baking soda. Add just a whisper of MA. Otherwise, you'll end up on a baking soda/MA seesaw. You're essentially at pH/TA equilibrium, so don't mess with it. A non-trichlor pool should almost never need baking soda.

PH TA Relationship - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Jwwagner]

Why do you suppose the TFP would tell me to do both? Thank you for your advice.

 

[Jwwagner]

Your TA is fine. Just check it regularly.

Go easy on lowering your pH to 7.8, not lower then 7.6.

Your FC is low for CYA 70 with a SWG. I would crank up your SWG to get to around 9.

Your TA is fine. Just check it regularly.

Go easy on lowering your pH to 7.8, not lower then 7.6.

Your FC is low for CYA 70 with a SWG. I would crank up your SWG to get to around 9.

Thanks for the information, I don’t fully understand the chart because I’m still new at this. My SWG is set to 40% now, I’m going up to sixty for the week and test again. Thanks again

 

[Gotta Pool]

Yeah, to answer your question, adding an acid and a base together sounds pretty sketchy. However, adding Sodium Bicarbonate increases (only) alkalinity (which buffers against the pH dropping). Adding Muriatic Acid lowers pH AND alkalinity. So, the newest information I have been able to glean says, "(1)Add the bicarb to raise alkalinity, then (2)add the acid to lower both, then (3) aerate to restore pH." Since alkalinity is measured arithmetically and pH is measured logarithmically, adjusting pH always seems to get things temporarily out of whack.

You do need to address pH.

Outside of your question, your TA value needs to reflect the needs of your pool. If your pH tends to drift down, you may want to increase the TA. Otherwise, you are probably fine where you are.

 

[ajw22]

Why do you suppose the TFP would tell me to do both? Thank you for your advice.

"the TFP"? What is that?

 

[pjt]

Why do you suppose the TFP would tell me to do both?

PoolMath is just a calculator. If you give it a target, it will tell you what it calculates is required to achieve it. Don't blindly follow its output.

 

[Jwwagner]

"the TFP"? What is that?

Trouble Free pool app

 

[Jwwagner]

"the TFP"? What is that?

Trouble Free Pool app

 

[proavia]

Trouble Free Pool app

PoolMath

 

[.ben]

PoolMath is just a calculator. If you give it a target, it will tell you what it calculates is required to achieve it. Don't blindly follow its output.

This is important advice. Pool Math does not make recommendations. It will calculate chemical quantities based on inputted current and target parameters.

Don’t assume that the default target parameter is correct; it is very easy to accidentally change your target to something non ideal.

When in doubt about appropriate target levels, it is best to post the question here first.

 

[ajw22]

Trouble Free Pool app

Oh, PoolMath

Do not blindly follow a robots advice. Use human reasoning and decide if it is reasonable. When in doubt ask here.

 

[Jwwagner]

Thank everyone for the advice!