pH 8.0 - Need to adjust?

[Mickey Moose]

I am in Texas - a lot of water lost to evaporation during long, hot summer... so a good bit of water is frequently added. City water source is 8.0. To have pH 7.8 or less I will very often be adding acid. Necessary? Or is 8.0 "close enough" to let it ride and not mess with acid?

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Richard320]

Try this: plug your numbers into poolmath and then look at what it says for CSI. Remember to allow for the water temperature later in the summer. If CSI is above +.3, you're asking to start growing sandpaper on the walls in the form of Calcium scale.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Yes, very necessary..... unless you enjoy scale build up?

Bring it down to 7.2 and see how it goes. How's your TA? They work hand in hand so if one is high it will drag the other along with it.

Can you post a set of results?

Maddie

 

[mknauss]

What is the TA of the fill water? Typically with high pH it also has a higher TA. Thus, the pH will not stop its rise at 8.
It is best to add acid to maintain a pH between 7.2 and 7.8. It is also easier on your eyes -- one can have irritation at high or low pH.

Take care.

 

[Mickey Moose]

My numbers have been way out of whack. Last week I did two small drain/refills. Current numbers (today) are below but my TA prior to draining was 145. My city water TA is 90.

FC goal is 9 (which I've been adapting as my overall numbers change as a result of the above mentioned drainings)
TA 110
CH 375
CYA 60
CSI 0.64
Water 82 degrees

 

[mknauss]

If you keep a CSI of 0.64 for very long you will have calcium scale build up. You need to manage that lower. Lower your TA and keep pH in the 7.5 range.

Take care.

 

[pooldv]

Our water has a strong tendency to scale. It is best to lower your TA down to 60-70 so that it will stop pushing the pH up so much. Here is how to lower TA, Pool School - Lower Total Alkalinity

Keep your CSI between -0.3 and 0 to prevent scale in the pool.