Why is the PH reading high?

epechart

0
Silver Supporter
May 14, 2017
14
Hanover, PA
Pool Size
28000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Hello....This is the first pool opening since we started with TFP. Within a few days the water was clear. We never had it clear up so fast before TFP. Thank you!!

My question today is this....I test the water about every day(sometimes I miss a day). I adjust the water according to Pool Math with a setting of 7.5 for the PH. I've been using Muriatic acid to lower the PH. Within a 3 or 4 days the PH is back to 8.2 (or maybe higher since the test only goes to 8.2). Also, I add the amount of chlorine (bleach) that Pool Math calls for regularly. The water is crystal clear but I'm concerned about the high PH. Please advise.

Todays readings:
PH 8.2
FC 2
TC 3
CC 1
TA 90
CYA 35
CH 300
 
High TA drives pH up fast. If your fill water is higher than the pool is now, every time you top off the water you'll be raising TA and ultimately pH. Aeration also raises pH. Even swimmers qualify as aertion.

If you chlorinated in the past with trichlor, you probably didn't need to add extra acid because trichlor is very acidic. But now you aren't, so it seems like something is wrong. In reality, everything is right.
 
Do the returns churn the surface of the water? Do you have any water features running such as fountains, deck jets, or waterfalls?

The returns do not churn the water....no fountains, deck jets, or waterfalls, etc. No excessive swimming...I'm the only one who has been swimming since opening the pool for less than an hour a day.

Should I use borax to lower it?
 
I know you're focused on the pH but your FC is too low. See the FC/CYA chart in Pool School. For a value of 40 (round up 35) you should be targetting 5-7 or risk algae.

If you've ruled out all the normal suspects for pH rising faster than expected then your TA is too high for your pool. Lower TA to 60 and see how that goes. Higher TA the faster the rise.
 
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