Recommended TA value variations

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flippinGeo

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Oct 8, 2016
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Maryland
Hello all,

The quick and short of it... TFP and PoolMath app recommend a TA between 70-90. However, I went to the pool store today and had a test done, just for the heck of it. They are recommending a TA of 125-150. Why such a drastic difference, and what should I follow?

The longer story... last year we had a replaster. For 4 years my pool was trouble free. But after the replaster, for the month it was open after, I could not for the life of me keep my pH in check. It was constantly rising. I just opened the pool and it was sitting above 8.0 (guessing about 8.4 since my color scale only goes up to 8). I always maintained an alkalinity of about 75. But still could not get pH stabilized. Would the higher alkalinity value help me get this thing stable?

I know plaster curing can wreak havoc on acid level. But I need some relief. Im dumping 32-64 oz of muriatic acid every few days to get some acid in this thing. The replaster was done in August last year so hopefully it’s close to being done curing.

As always, thanks for your help.
 
TFP recommended values together look to keep your Calcium Saturation Index (CSI) - Trouble Free Pool within the proper range. That is why Recommended Levels - Trouble Free Pool is different for different surface types. You can calculate your CSI using PoolMath

The pool store TA recommendations do not consider your LSI or CSI and your plaster health.

Higher TA leads to more rapid pH rise. If you want to slow your pH rise run your TA around 60. I suggest you review ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

Do you have a spa spillover running or water features? Plaster can take over a year to cure.
 
Well, the long and short of it.... Higher TA causes your pH to rise faster. If you follow their advice you will be adding acid more often. I like a TA of 50 myself and I cut back on pH additions.

If you have a new pool that the gunite is curing, get used to adding acid. It is just a fact of life. As the serface cures, the acid demand will go down.

Why do the pool stores recommend higher TA, Who knows??

First, pool store employees primary goal is to sell stuff, not necessarily get your pool in perfect condition. As to whether that is because of improper training, lack of knowledge or just to sell stuff I will leave up to you. While you would think that a "professional" would be the best, unfortunately in most cases it is quite the opposite. Between employees who blindly trust the word of chemical sales representatives and high school kids working in the pool store for the summer you end up with poor results from their advice and testing. The pool store want's you to have "a shed filled with white bottles of pool chemicals that had mysterious names and purposes". Unfortunately the pool industry has evolved into sales by scare tactics, misdirection, misinformation and marketing hype. Go in to the store and tell them your Total Alkalinity (TA) is low and they are going to sell you baking soda in a fancy package at four times the cost of WalMart. Do they have a right to make a profit, yes - but lets be reasonable. Heck, even their definition of "low" can many times put you on a pH roller coaster that's hard to get off of. Is that lack of knowledge or a sales technique to sell you more chemicals to control your pH????

What do we propose? We base our pool care system on accurate testing and only adding what the pool needs, when it needs it. Which leads to

TFPC tenet - Never put chemistry in your pool when you do not know the outcome

For almost everything the pool store sells, there is a generic "twin" that you can get at your grocery store or big box store. Alkalinity low like I used as an example? You can go to the pool store and buy Alkalinity Up in a fancy bottle or you can stop by Walmart and pick up baking soda.

So, to control your pool you need to know what is going on. Many folks have a Saturday morning ritual, dip a bottle of water out of the pool and take it to the pool store (they give you the bottle for free). They test it and sell you what they say you need to "fix" what ails your pool. But, you will find not much credence is given to pool store testing around here. While you would think that a "professional" would be the best, unfortunately in most cases it is quite the opposite. Plus, the results of their "testing" is used to convince you that you need to buy things. Why do you think that testing is free?

But, what can you do?? You need your own accurate test kit! Order a TF-100 Test Kit ™. The only other real option for a test kit is a Taylor K-2006-C. Be careful comparing prices because the K-2006 comes in sizes, designated by a letter. The basic K-2006 has .75oz bottles. You need to get the K-2006-C to get the larger bottles that you want. Even then it is a little short on the reagent & powder for the FAS/DPD test.

While entirely optional, I also have the Speedstir Magnetic Stirrer and Sample Sizer Measuring Tool. They speed testing and accuracy.
 
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