I just opened a new salt water pool for the apartment complex Revere at Tega Cay. Since then, I have noticed that my PH levels continue to rise on average .2 a day. Yesterday it was 7.2 and today it is 7.4. I have been needing to add Muratic Acid every 3 days to keep the PH down to acceptable levels. I have been testing my TA twice a week as well. My average TA levels are 50 - 80. When it starts to drop below 50 I add Sodium bicarbonate to bring it back up. What am I doing wrong if anything and how can I resolve this issue? I have been taking care of a Chlorine pool for the past 18 months and never had this issue.
Rising PH
- Thread starter Revere
- Start date
Welcome to TFP! 
pH rise is caused by carbon dioxide outgassing from your pool water. Aeration increases the rate of outgassing. Higher TA levels increase the rate of outgassing when aeration is present. Outgassing of carbon dioxide is faster at lower pH levels. SWG systems inherently introduce aeration by producing chlorine gas bubbles.
Now that we've got the factors out there, what can you do? Allow your TA to live between 50 and 60 ppm. No need to raise it to 80. If it dips below 50, then bring it back up a bit (60).
What pH level are you trying to maintain? Why? Your pH level is fine at anything between 7.2 and 7.8, inclusive. There's no reason to lower your pH until it goes ABOVE 7.8, unless you have other concerns with your overall CSI value. When you do lower it, only drop it to ~7.4 or 7.6. Carbon dioxide outgassing will slow down at higher pH levels so if you allow your pH to climb to 7.6+, it will likely be more stable there. Each time you add acid, your TA will decrease so if you're constantly trying to maintain a low pH (7.4 or less), you'll constantly be fighting a see-saw battle.
pH rise is caused by carbon dioxide outgassing from your pool water. Aeration increases the rate of outgassing. Higher TA levels increase the rate of outgassing when aeration is present. Outgassing of carbon dioxide is faster at lower pH levels. SWG systems inherently introduce aeration by producing chlorine gas bubbles.
Now that we've got the factors out there, what can you do? Allow your TA to live between 50 and 60 ppm. No need to raise it to 80. If it dips below 50, then bring it back up a bit (60).
What pH level are you trying to maintain? Why? Your pH level is fine at anything between 7.2 and 7.8, inclusive. There's no reason to lower your pH until it goes ABOVE 7.8, unless you have other concerns with your overall CSI value. When you do lower it, only drop it to ~7.4 or 7.6. Carbon dioxide outgassing will slow down at higher pH levels so if you allow your pH to climb to 7.6+, it will likely be more stable there. Each time you add acid, your TA will decrease so if you're constantly trying to maintain a low pH (7.4 or less), you'll constantly be fighting a see-saw battle.