Ph in small pool

[Ownerofapool]

Hi everyone,
I currently have a small Intex pool, and I tested the water today with 3 test strips to try to have some sort of accuracy.
Here are my results:
FC- 7
Ph- 8.0-8.4
Cya- 40
TA- 70
Total Hardness: 200
I noticed that the testing app said that my ph was too high and it should be around near 7.4-7.6.
I was reading on the forums that it is preferred to use muraitic acid compared to dry acid. But…
Muraitic acid scares the bejeebers out of me to pour (as I have spashed myself with bleach pouring one to many times on my hand and once a little bit on my face when pouring in a measuring cup), and the dangers of smelling the fumes it releases. Dry acid concerns me a little but not as much as muraitic acid as there could be sulfates that build up in my pool.
So, I was wondering what would be the best way to go here? Would draining a quarter of the pool and refilling work to lower ph instead?
Thanks in advance!
Also, around what times in September to you close up your pools? This is the end to my first pool season and I am not sure when to close it up.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

You can use dry acid. The warnings are geared more towards plaster pools and swg pools.

I've never had to close a pool, but according to this outstanding article in pool school, wait till your water drops to under 60°.

Closing (Winterizing) Your Above Ground Pool

Closing an above ground pool at season’s end should be a fast and worry-free process. Learn the basics of above ground pool winterization in easy steps.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Newdude]

For a small pool, use half strength MA. Is the Green / Eco / Low Fume kind sold in the paint aisle of HD and Lowes. It'll take so long to go through the gallon, you won't care you needed twice as much.

A couple of gallons later, once the fear wears off, switch to full strength. The fumes are a good thing and let you know you're doing it wrong. Change position or hands so your body is upwind and try again. Or move to the other side of the pool.

Pour the bottle low, real low, like touching the water low, and it will all but eliminate splashing. (For chlorine too).

If you were to get some on you, rinse your hands in the pool, or splash some pool water on your cheek (etc). It's really no big deal and I often casually finished what I was doing, then went inside to wash with soap, even though the pool was there to splash with. 98% of it is in your head. Treat acid with respect as with any chemical, and you'll do fine.

 

[mknauss]

Test strips can occasionally be correct for pH. Prefer a proper test kit.

 

[wireform]

You're going at the chemistry blind not really knowing your levels as test strips can be very far off reality. Get yourself one of the
Test Kits Compared recommended test kits linked to be in a better position treating the water.