pH keeps dropping

[kschmidt1]

Having problem keeping pH up, since I put solar cover on 2 months ago. After month or so, pH keep creeping down until got below 7. Put in pool math recommended Borax (aimed for 7.5) and zoomed to 8.0 (? highest number kit tests)after a couple of days, started coming down, again, and continued to slowly drop until today's test was 7.0.

FC - 4.0
CC - 0
pH - 7.0
TA 60
CYA 30

Still using solar cover (water 84 now) Any thoughts as to why it keeps dropping? Also, Borax PITA to dissolve to add. Would hanging sock method work since water is so warm? Thanks.

 

[duraleigh]

How are you chlorinating.....with pucks?

 

[kschmidt1]

TPF Lifetimer! Bleach, borax, etc all the way

 

[AimeeH]

It's less common to see PH drop when using liquid chlorine but you may want to try raising your TA (baking soda/poolmath)up to 90 or so to start and see if that stabilizes the PH swings.

 

[kschmidt1]

Thanks. I am helping friend with her opening and pH was 6-7 so we started adding soda ash and this AM it's 7.6, decided to check her TA and it's 170! Should we do MA and then work with pH? Thanks.

 

[jblizzle]

I am confused. Are we now talking about 2 different pools in this thread?

 

[kschmidt1]

Yeah - sorry!

 

[zea3]

For the second pool, don't mess with anything now and keep an eye on the pH. If it remains stable then you don't need to do anything to the TA. Each pool has its own sweet spot where it likes the TA to keep the pH stable.

For the first pool raise your TA to around 90 and keep an eye on the pH for a week or so to see if it stabilizes.

 

[kschmidt1]

Thank you. For both answers.

 

[duraleigh]

Any thoughts as to why it keeps dropping

Since you are not using pucks, the only other source for low pH is your fill water, but it would take a monumental amount of fill water to make that change from 8.0 to 7.0.

How old are your reagents? How much time elapsed between 8.0 test result and today's 7.0?

How did your pH behave last year?