Hi All,
I am waiting on my Taylor Test kit to be delivered (TF-Pro ETA 09/06 - shipping speed sucks) so went to two different pool stores for water testing. Pool is a fiberglass 15,400gal. Home test kit is a crappy HTC from the builder and I don't have exact readings.
Saturday 8/31 - Leslie's test showed PH at 7.9 and TA at 117. I added 19oz of Dry Acid. Retested PH and was between 7.5-7.8.
Saturday 8/31 - Cleaned cartridges for the first time - really dirty from construction
Monday 9/2 - PH showed between 7.5-7.8. I added another 19oz of Dry Acid.
Monday 9/2 - Cleaned cartridge filters again - they are pearly white.
Wednesday 9/3 (Today) - HTC test showed PH >7.8. Went to a different pool store (they use Bioguard testing?) with a sample. Results:
FC: 2.4
TC: 2.5
CYA: 32
Phosphate: 185
Calcium: 266
TDS: 450
PH: 8.1
TA: 84
Pool store today told me I need to add 10lbs of Balance Pak 100 (Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate) to get my 84 TA to 125-150, and add 2.75lbs of 'lo 'n slo' (Sodium Bisulfate) to get my PH to 7.4-7.6. According to the pool store lady, this calculation assumes the rise in PH from increasing TA. I bought the Dang balance pak because I felt bad since she was telling me they aren't supposed to do tests for free if you don't buy anything, but I haven't added anything to the water yet. I use trichlor tabs in an inline chlorinator and pool has UV/Ozone system.
My questions - and I know the pool store's tests are not super reliable and they only want to sell you stuff, I'd like to assume the test is directionally accurate.
1. How did my total PH go from 7.9 to 8.1 in four days after adding 2.4lbs of Dry Acid?
2. I assume the drop in TA from 117 to 84 is due to the addition of the Acid?
3. TFP says the reference range for TA is 50-90ppm, pool store says 125-150, google searches say 80-120. Why the differences in ranges?
4. Based on my math, 10lbs of Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate in 15.5K gals will increase my TA by 43ppm resulting in a TA of 124ppm. Is this too high?
5. Based on my math, I need ~3.5lbs of Sodium Bisulfate to lower my PH from 8.1 to 7.5. But that much would also lower my TA by ~10 PPM bringing it to 114ppm - (which is now under the recommended range of 125 to 150 that BioGuard says.
6. Would cleaning my filters cause my PH to jump up?
For clarity, I did not use the pool this weekend or add any water - no dogs (a few frogs). We got about 1/4" of rain but I kept the pool covered and pumped it off. I do have deck jets that run a few hours each day, and I know "aeration" can raise PH but wasn't expecting by that much.
Finally, I know the TFP guidance is for PH to be 7.2 to 8.0. So its a big range. I do wish to dial it in closer to 7.5 because my 1yr daughter's eyes seem a bit sensitive to the water and I think its due to the higher PH level. Appreciate your insight/expertise.
I am waiting on my Taylor Test kit to be delivered (TF-Pro ETA 09/06 - shipping speed sucks) so went to two different pool stores for water testing. Pool is a fiberglass 15,400gal. Home test kit is a crappy HTC from the builder and I don't have exact readings.
Saturday 8/31 - Leslie's test showed PH at 7.9 and TA at 117. I added 19oz of Dry Acid. Retested PH and was between 7.5-7.8.
Saturday 8/31 - Cleaned cartridges for the first time - really dirty from construction
Monday 9/2 - PH showed between 7.5-7.8. I added another 19oz of Dry Acid.
Monday 9/2 - Cleaned cartridge filters again - they are pearly white.
Wednesday 9/3 (Today) - HTC test showed PH >7.8. Went to a different pool store (they use Bioguard testing?) with a sample. Results:
FC: 2.4
TC: 2.5
CYA: 32
Phosphate: 185
Calcium: 266
TDS: 450
PH: 8.1
TA: 84
Pool store today told me I need to add 10lbs of Balance Pak 100 (Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate) to get my 84 TA to 125-150, and add 2.75lbs of 'lo 'n slo' (Sodium Bisulfate) to get my PH to 7.4-7.6. According to the pool store lady, this calculation assumes the rise in PH from increasing TA. I bought the Dang balance pak because I felt bad since she was telling me they aren't supposed to do tests for free if you don't buy anything, but I haven't added anything to the water yet. I use trichlor tabs in an inline chlorinator and pool has UV/Ozone system.
My questions - and I know the pool store's tests are not super reliable and they only want to sell you stuff, I'd like to assume the test is directionally accurate.
1. How did my total PH go from 7.9 to 8.1 in four days after adding 2.4lbs of Dry Acid?
2. I assume the drop in TA from 117 to 84 is due to the addition of the Acid?
3. TFP says the reference range for TA is 50-90ppm, pool store says 125-150, google searches say 80-120. Why the differences in ranges?
4. Based on my math, 10lbs of Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate in 15.5K gals will increase my TA by 43ppm resulting in a TA of 124ppm. Is this too high?
5. Based on my math, I need ~3.5lbs of Sodium Bisulfate to lower my PH from 8.1 to 7.5. But that much would also lower my TA by ~10 PPM bringing it to 114ppm - (which is now under the recommended range of 125 to 150 that BioGuard says.
6. Would cleaning my filters cause my PH to jump up?
For clarity, I did not use the pool this weekend or add any water - no dogs (a few frogs). We got about 1/4" of rain but I kept the pool covered and pumped it off. I do have deck jets that run a few hours each day, and I know "aeration" can raise PH but wasn't expecting by that much.
Finally, I know the TFP guidance is for PH to be 7.2 to 8.0. So its a big range. I do wish to dial it in closer to 7.5 because my 1yr daughter's eyes seem a bit sensitive to the water and I think its due to the higher PH level. Appreciate your insight/expertise.
