Help me! I'm trying but failing:)

[Sunny Blues]

Here are my recent numbers:
FC: 4.5
CC: .5
ph: 8
TA: 120
CH: 120
CYA: 60

So I realize that my chlorine level has gotten too low, so I am going to add liquid chlorine in the morning, but what else do you recommend? Pool looks pretty good otherwise, so is the total alkalinity something I need to fix?

What would be a good plan for adding the liquid chlorine each week?

Thanks for your help!

For a CYA of 60 I would keep chlorine at 8-9ppm regularly each day, and if there were still any dead algae I would slam to 24ppm again. Our CC is never over 0 and while .5 is ok, given what you went through with the algae I would opt to slam again.

There’s really no “weekly plan”. It’s an as-needed thing based on testing. Test every couple days and let pool math tell you if you need anything, what, and how much. You’ll get into a rhythm where you just need a few cups or quarts of chlorine and nothing more.

Your pH keeps swinging back up because your alkalinity is still a tad high. Use muratic acid to bring your alkalinity down to 70 or 80 and your pH will calm down and stay more stable.

 

[kimkats]

This thread is wonderful! So many helpers and a pool hero in the making! Well done everyone!

Now here is something for you to look forward to: How Clear is TFP Clear?

I am guessing your pool will be a part of that thread when you get done to with it!

Chlorine-It needs to be added each day when the water is over 60 degrees. I used to add my just before going to bed. My thinking is the chlorine can work without worry the sun will take any of it like it does during the day.

 

[Bperry]

Use muratic acid to bring your alkalinity down to 70 or 80 and your pH will calm down and stay more stable.

The OP should not bring down the TA with acid directly. If they add enough acid to lower the TA that much, the pH will drop too low below 7.2 and cause corrosion.

A safer plan would be to just add enough acid to lower the pH to 7.2 and then wait for the pH to naturally rise to 8.0 again and then lower it to 7.2 again. Doing this over the course of time will lower the TA safely and once the TA is 60, the pH can be allowed to stay around 7.8.

 

[Sunny Blues]

The OP should not bring down the TA with acid directly. If they add enough acid to lower the TA that much, the pH will drop too low below 7.2 and cause corrosion.

A safer plan would be to just add enough acid to lower the pH to 7.2 and then wait for the pH to naturally rise to 8.0 again and then lower it to 7.2 again. Doing this over the course of time will lower the TA safely and once the TA is 60, the pH can be allowed to stay around 7.8.

Yes I guess I just assumed he would follow the “how to lower your alkalinity” thread and it uses MA to do it. We have to do it every spring but we do it as you have described. Sorry I didn’t point to the precise instructions. I should have linked to it.

 

[sheridc]

Now that my water is so clear I can see the brownish stains on the bottom of my pool. Any ideas on how to remove it? It kind of looks like dirt but it doesn't budge when I brush it. Water levels are all correct now but my husband says it's been that way for a while. Thank you!

 

[mgtfp]

Rub a vitamin C tablet on the stains. Depending on what it is it may either disappear or change colour or do nothing.

 

[sheridc]

The OP should not bring down the TA with acid directly. If they add enough acid to lower the TA that much, the pH will drop too low below 7.2 and cause corrosion.

A safer plan would be to just add enough acid to lower the pH to 7.2 and then wait for the pH to naturally rise to 8.0 again and then lower it to 7.2 again. Doing this over the course of time will lower the TA safely and once the TA is 60, the pH can be allowed to stay around 7.8.

I have looked up some other threads, but I am a little confused about my TA. It was at 120, so I added 54 oz of muriatic acid and it only reduced to 110. My pH went from 8 to 7.5. I added 56 oz of muriatic acid yesterday morning and the TA is now at 110. and pH at 7.5. Do I need to bring the TA down and how? There is a lot of talk about doing it without lowering your pH (since it is good now). All of my other numbers are in range, though my FC is low and I'm adding liquid chlorine now. Thank you!

 

[Sunny Blues]

I have looked up some other threads, but I am a little confused about my TA. It was at 120, so I added 54 oz of muriatic acid and it only reduced to 110. My pH went from 8 to 7.5. I added 56 oz of muriatic acid yesterday morning and the TA is now at 110. and pH at 7.5. Do I need to bring the TA down and how? There is a lot of talk about doing it without lowering your pH (since it is good now). All of my other numbers are in range, though my FC is low and I'm adding liquid chlorine now. Thank you!

Using pool math, calculate how much acid you need to reduce your pH to 7.2. Add that. Then let the pH raise naturally, or use a fountain to induce surface bubbles to raise it faster. Let your pH rise to 7.6. Then test alkalinity again. If it’s still not below 100, do that process again.

We only had to do this procedure twice this year to go from a TA of 110 to a TA of 80. My pH is relaxing around 7.4 now daily and not budging. That’s what I wanted.

 

[Bperry]

I have looked up some other threads, but I am a little confused about my TA. It was at 120, so I added 54 oz of muriatic acid and it only reduced to 110. My pH went from 8 to 7.5. I added 56 oz of muriatic acid yesterday morning and the TA is now at 110. and pH at 7.5. Do I need to bring the TA down and how? There is a lot of talk about doing it without lowering your pH (since it is good now). All of my other numbers are in range, though my FC is low and I'm adding liquid chlorine now. Thank you!

Theres no need to worry about TA as long as its 50ppm or higher. It doesnt affect anything exceot how fast your pH rises. As TA gets lower, you’ll need to reduce the pH less often.

 

[sheridc]

Using pool math, calculate how much acid you need to reduce your pH to 7.2. Add that. Then let the pH raise naturally, or use a fountain to induce surface bubbles to raise it faster. Let your pH rise to 7.6. Then test alkalinity again. If it’s still not below 100, do that process again.

We only had to do this procedure twice this year to go from a TA of 110 to a TA of 80. My pH is relaxing around 7.4 now daily and not budging. That’s what I wanted.

So I added Calcium Chloride this morning to raise my Calcium Hardness (it's been no higher than 225) and now I'd like to work on repeating the process above to lower my pH to 7.2. I love how the Pool Math tells you how much to add (thanks for pointing that out)! Can I do that after 24 hours of adding the Calcium Chloride? I also need to add some chlorine to raise my FC. Can I add that tomorrow too?

 

[Bperry]

So I added Calcium Chloride this morning to raise my Calcium Hardness (it's been no higher than 225) and now I'd like to work on repeating the process above to lower my pH to 7.2. I love how the Pool Math tells you how much to add (thanks for pointing that out)! Can I do that after 24 hours of adding the Calcium Chloride? I also need to add some chlorine to raise my FC. Can I add that tomorrow too?

Why do you want the pH that low?

 

[sheridc]

Why do you want the pH that low?

My TA is at 110 and Pool Math tells me to lower pH to 7.0-7.2 with acid and then aerate to increase pH. Do you think it's okay as is? My pH and TA have been on the higher side for a while. Pool looks good though.

 

[PoolStored]

My TA is at 110 and Pool Math tells me to lower pH to 7.0-7.2 with acid and then aerate to increase pH. Do you think it's okay as is? My pH and TA have been on the higher side for a while. Pool looks good though.

The ONLY implication of TA=110 is pH rise. If you are ok with the Muriatic Acid additions, leave it alone. If you want to reduce your MA additions, continue to lower pH to 7.0, until your TA is 60-80, THEN, let your pH sit about 7.8.

 

[Bperry]

My TA is at 110 and Pool Math tells me to lower pH to 7.0-7.2 with acid and then aerate to increase pH. Do you think it's okay as is? My pH and TA have been on the higher side for a while. Pool looks good though.

Like said above. The TA will come down on its own over time as you manage the pH. I’d leave it alone unless you really just want to play with it.

 

[Sunny Blues]

So I added Calcium Chloride this morning to raise my Calcium Hardness (it's been no higher than 225) and now I'd like to work on repeating the process above to lower my pH to 7.2. I love how the Pool Math tells you how much to add (thanks for pointing that out)! Can I do that after 24 hours of adding the Calcium Chloride? I also need to add some chlorine to raise my FC. Can I add that tomorrow too?

Yes. Add the chlorine first. Always make sure you are maintaining your required chlorine levels (based on CYA), and then start the process with your pH. Hope it went well today!

PS: The reason I bring the alkalinity down is I get tired of always having to add MA to lower pH. It’s fussier when Alkalinity is higher. When we run Alkakinity between 100-120, our pH is constantly rising. This year for the first time I brought it down to 70/80, and I haven’t had to add any MA all month. Not once. My pH is happily stable now. So no it’s not necessary, but you will have to fuss with Muratic Acid a lot more. Easier to lower your TA imho

 

[sheridc]

Yes. Add the chlorine first. Always make sure you are maintaining your required chlorine levels (based on CYA), and then start the process with your pH. Hope it went well today!

PS: The reason I bring the alkalinity down is I get tired of always having to add MA to lower pH. It’s fussier when Alkalinity is higher. When we run Alkakinity between 100-120, our pH is constantly rising. This year for the first time I brought it down to 70/80, and I haven’t had to add a

Thank you!