How long does baking soda take to fully dissolve?

[tradewinds]

I added 4 lbs to increase TA by 20 ppm and now my pool has a white film dust I keep brushing into drain but it comes back all over. What to do? Did I put too much? Was following the Taylor guide which came with the kit.

 

[mknauss]

Why did you add baking soda? Your TA was fine.
Baking soda instantly dissolves. You are likely seeing calcium precipitate. It should dissolve eventually.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Get your recommended levels from the link below. Ignore other sources.

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[tradewinds]

Why did you add baking soda? Your TA was fine.
Baking soda instantly dissolves. You are likely seeing calcium precipitate. It should dissolve eventually.

My TA was 60ish and was trying to increase to 80. What caused the calcium? I measured today and calcium is low.

 

[mknauss]

Your chemistry was such that the addition of the sodium bicarbonate caused the calcium to precipitate. Your last chemistry data in Poolmath showed a TA of 70, a pH of 7.9, and a CH of 310. There was no need for baking soda. You will now get to add acid to lower the pH because of a higher TA.

Also be ware that a higher TA can cause calcium scale in your SWCG. If you see calcium scale flakes out of your returns, you need to lower the TA in your water.

 

[tradewinds]

Your chemistry was such that the addition of the sodium bicarbonate caused the calcium to precipitate. Your last chemistry data in Poolmath showed a TA of 70, a pH of 7.9, and a CH of 310. There was no need for baking soda. You will now get to add acid to lower the pH because of a higher TA.

Also be ware that a higher TA can cause calcium scale in your SWCG. If you see calcium scale flakes out of your returns, you need to lower the TA in your water.

I'm having issues with PoolMath.

My numbers on Sunday were:
TA: 60
CH: 310
pH: >7.9
FC: 0.5
CYA: zero? (Can see dot all the way up)

On Monday, I added:
4 lbs of baking soda
pH reducer from Walmart
30 fl oz. of their liquid chlorine from walmart

On Tuesday and Wednesday I noticed the powder film. Tested on Wed:
pH: 7.9 or more
CH: 250
TA: 50
FC: 0
CYA: 0

Added: 0.3 gal MA baume 20
Added: approx 1 gal pinch a penny liquid chlorine
Added: two full socks of stabilizer to skimmer

Something doesn't seem right as the numbers are going in the wrong direction.

Note: SWG isn't yet hooked up since still within new pool 30-days period.

 

[mgtfp]

By adding baking soda to the pool you are adding carbonates to the water. Until it's properly distributed over the pool, you will have localised areas with higher concentration.

The higher the pH, the more of the carbonates will be in the form of CO₃^2- ion. This can react with Ca²⁺ ions to form CaCO₃, which is Calcium Scale. This is most likely the white stuff you are seeing.

 

[tradewinds]

By adding baking soda to the pool you are adding carbonates to the water. Until it's properly distributed over the pool, you will have localised areas with higher concentration.

The higher the pH, the more of the carbonates will be in the form of CO₃^2- ion. This can react with Ca²⁺ ions to form CaCO₃, which is Calcium Scale. This is most likely the white stuff you are seeing.

Thank you. I am trying to get the numbers to ideal range but what extra do I need to do to take care of this or will it go away once everything is balanced in the ideal ranges?

 

[SecoSteve]

I think people take what Pool Math recommends, and absolutely follow its directions no matter what. If my Ph is 7.8 and Pool Math Target Ph is 7.5, the recommendation is to add muriatic acid. In this case, there "should" be no action taken.

Tradewinds was probably just following the recommendation to increase TA, even though it was unnecessary. Reading through TFP for 3 years now, I have seen this countless times and now know to leave TA alone, unless it goes below 50, or is over 90.

A person who is new to pool testing will most likely make unnecessary additions and, at times, create other problems. Could Pool School be updated to educate novice testers to avoids these mistakes?

 

[mknauss]

Every parameter has a range. Staying within those ranges allows for the best outcomes.

Poolmath suggests the mid point of a range. Suggests. You must have at least the knowledge that there is a range for each parameter that provides the best outcomes.

 

[tradewinds]

These are my numbers today. Still do not understand why it is calling for a ton more pounds of baking soda when I'm still battling the white powder film.

Thursday:
pH: 8
CH: 220
TA: 40
FC: 2
CC: 0.5
CYA: 35

Added: 0.1 gal MA baume 20 to lower pH
Added: approx 1/4 gal pinch a penny liquid chlorine
Added: two sicks of stabilizer in skimmer still have about half each.

 

[mknauss]

It is very hard to have a pH of 8 and a TA of 40. Check your testing protocols for your TA fand pH.

The app simply auto populates the mid range for the parameter. You must know whether or not that is required.

If your TA is truly 40 ppm, then you need to raise it to 60 or 70 ppm. But again, be sure it truly is 40 ppm.

 

[mgtfp]

Just re-reading your thread. You are still in plaster startup period, right?

So, the dust is probably just dust from the new plaster.

Are you following a specific startup protocol?

 

[tradewinds]

It is very hard to have a pH of 8 and a TA of 40. Check your testing protocols for your TA fand pH.

The app simply auto populates the mid range for the parameter. You must know whether or not that is required.

If your TA is truly 40 ppm, then you need to raise it to 60 or 70 ppm. But again, be sure it truly is 40 ppm.

I'll test again, but I'm following the instructions for a few days now on how to test for TA. Don't think I'll be making the same mistakes but will check.

 

[tradewinds]

I'll test again, but I'm following the instructions for a few days now on how to test for TA. Don't think I'll be making the same mistakes but will check.

But the dust only appeared after I added the 4 lbs of baking soda.

Not following anything truly official as I thought my PB would have been more involved. Instead on day 2 they added a ton of MA and stock up the skimmer with tabs and left and haven't come back.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I'll test again, but I'm following the instructions for a few days now on how to test for TA. Don't think I'll be making the same mistakes but will check.

Just confirm that you're using a 25 ml sample as opposed to a 10 mL sample (with 25 as the multiplier).

 

[mgtfp]

Are there still tabs in the skimmer?

 

[tradewinds]

Just confirm that you're using a 25 ml sample as opposed to a 10 mL sample (with 25 as the multiplier).

Wait, it says 10 as the multiplier on the Taylor sheet???

It says if you suspect the TA is high (which mine is the opposite), then use the 10 mL with a 25 multiplier.

Is TFP deviating from the Taylor sheet?

 

[tradewinds]

Are there still tabs in the skimmer?

No, just socks with stabilizer.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Just confirm that you're using a 25 ml sample as opposed to a 10 mL sample (with 25 as the multiplier).

You're correct and I think I'm just confusing things. Make sure you are using a 25 ml sample with a 10x multiplier.