pH and alkalinity way too low, tried soda ash but it just made the water cloudy, does soda ash go bad?

[LeftSide]

I just installed a CircuPool Core55 in my 30,000 gallon Gunite pool, added about 560 lb salt, and within a few hours, I had measurable free and total chlorine! So far, so good, but I skipped the installation step where it says to balance your water first, and I decided my next step should be to address the low pH (~6.2) and alkalinity (undetectable). I had an ancient bucket of soda ash, not sure how old, at least 7 years old but possibly much older, and I dumped in all 35 pounds of it. The water instantly went from crystal clear to almost opaque, and it took a good 5-6 days before it cleared completely, and after all that, my pH had only increased to about 6.4, and alkalinity to about 15 ppm. I'm using test strips (I had a Taylor kit years ago but eventually abandoned it, I recognize I may need to go back to using it), and my salinity is about 2940 ppm.
Should I buy more soda ash and give it another try? I don't want to opacify my pool again. Is there a different additive I can try?

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
First step is to get a proper test kit. I suggest the TF-100 or Taylor K2006C. A proper test kit is needed to get the accurate water chemistry results needed to follow the TFP protocols.
Do not use soda ash. Once you get a proper test kit, be sure your TA is in the upper double digits and the pH will be fine.
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[wireform]

As @mknauss said it above. You may be pleasantly surprised that your chemistry is a far cry from what the guess strips are showing. The test kit is key before any action at your pool chemistry.

 

[LeftSide]

OK you guys have convinced me, I need to dust off the old test kit, probably buy a new one if I'm being honest. Makes sense to establish an accurate diagnosis before beginning treatment.

 

[reggiehammond]

Reagents go bad, buy a new kit.
Test Kits Compared

Also - for future reference, you want to mix new salt additions 24-48 hours before turning on the SWCG to allow for the salt concentration to equilibrate through all of the water. Running too soon can cause damage to the cell from pockets of very high salinity, to low salinity.