Ye Olde TA vs pH Debate

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stretchphoto

stretchphoto

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Jun 14, 2018
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Champaign, IL
Pool Size
22000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite Pro (T-15)
Which to address first?

I’ve seen threads that advise TA w baking soda first, and threads that advise pH w acid.

Tonight’s test results in logs.

Thanks.
 
Your TA is fine.

Lower your pH to 7.8 and not lower.

How do you measure a ph of 8.5? It does not pass a reasonability test with TA 40. Check your calibration if you are using a pH meter.

Don’t adjust anything until your FC drops below 10 and you test pH using the drop test.
 
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ajw22 said:
Your TA is fine.

Lower your pH to 7.8 and not lower.

How do you measure a ph of 8.5? It does not pass a reasonability test with TA 40. Check your calibration if you are using a pH meter.

Don’t adjust anything until your FC drops below 10 and you test pH using the drop test.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this!

I’m using the drop test.

The ph was off the chart in the last several days bc the fc was super high after slamming. I thought with the fc down to 11 the ph drop test might be more accurate.

I’ll let the fc settle down for the day and recheck this evening.

Thank you.
 
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The test kit is a TF pro.

Latest results are attached, along w photos of ph test.

Appreciate your guidance.
 

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Temporarily turn off your SWCG to allow your FC to drift down below 10 and retest your pH. Use a uniform lit background for the pH test, such as a computer monitor with plain white displayed (I use Google's homepage). For the TA test, are you adding drops until there is no further color change?
 
The colors on the pH side of your comparator block seem faded.
With sufficient lighting, hold a white paper plate or white piece of paper behind the comparator and post another pic of it.
 
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Look at the difference in color blocks between your comparator block...

img_9864-jpeg.572080


and mine...

IMG_2034.jpeg

IMG_2033.jpeg
 
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PoolStored said:
Welcome back @stretchphoto !!!
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Pooooolllll!!!! My old friend, who shepherded me through a truly tortuous opening last spring. Thank goddess this year was easier!

A lesson in the wisdom of opening early in the season.

Hope all’s well with you and yours.
 
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So it does look like the color blocks had faded on that testing vessel. What appeared to be 8+ is actually 6.8. 😳

No acid. Soda ash!

Thank you, @ajw22 @pjt!
 

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You need a little baking soda or soda ash to get your TA up to 50-60, then allow pH to rise on its own (aerate to speed up as desired). Don't overdo it. :)
 
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