PH cold water and testing

[jimim]

todays question. i remember last year that PH can be off with colder water. my water is 52 degrees so i bath warmed my water today before testing. we got a lot of rain last night so i figured i would be at 8.0 cause i was at 7.8 yesterday.

so i did 52 degree and 77 degree.

.2 difference the difference of adding acid and not adding acid to keep myself in csi range.

with the warmer water i was at 7.8 and with colder water 8.0.

so should i be warming the water for future reference when the water is at colder temps?

cause if i added acid i would have been very low like 7.5 ish. so do i go by the cold temp or warmed up temp?

thanks!

jim

 

[Texas Splash]

Jim, stick with your current pool water temps when testing and using PoolMath. No need to warm anything EXCEPT the CYA test which seems to be more reliable at room temps for that R-0013. You can use PoolMath to try and project future impact and changes to your pool, but for dosing use the current temps and everything you have right now. I just did the same in my area for my pool. Hope that helps.

 

[Rich D]

Jim, stick with your current pool water temps when testing and using PoolMath. No need to warm anything EXCEPT the CYA test which seems to be more reliable at room temps for that R-0013. You can use PoolMath to try and project future impact and changes to your pool, but for dosing use the current temps and everything you have right now. I just did the same in my area for my pool. Hope that helps.

This whole concept is still a bit puzzling to me. As the temperatures get lower you can adjust the different levels to maintain the correct CSI. But how would you know which level to adjust? There are no recommended levels for lower temperatures. I have read it's okay to let the pH go higher in the colder temperatures. But how much higher should I let it go? My test kit only tests ph up to 8.2 . How would I know if my pH is 9 or 15 ? It would be nice if there were recommended levels for different temperature ranges.

 

[mknauss]

Your pool water will not go above ph of 8.4 unless you add chemical to do so. You do not want your ph that high as it can form scale. But a ph of 8.0 is fine to manage CSI.

 

[jblizzle]

Well, with a plaster pool, the pH could be driven up high than 8.4 if left unchecked over the winter. I proved that last winter

 

[jimim]

Im pretty sure I was last year with my plaster. It took me multiple dosing to get back on the 8.2 board last spring.

Also with water of 40 degrees and my other numbers at a ph of 8.4 my csi will be positive .19 which should mean no scale.

So my question is the same as what someone else said. Can ph go as high as it wants as long as the still in check or is thier a point that u don’t look at csi and say my ph is too high and I’ll get scale regardless of csi.

Thanks!

jimi

Your pool water will not go above ph of 8.4 unless you add chemical to do so. You do not want your ph that high as it can form scale. But a ph of 8.0 is fine to manage CSI.

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Same here!!

Well, with a plaster pool, the pH could be driven up high than 8.4 if left unchecked over the winter. I proved that last winter

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks!! So I should add acid then cause my ph is 8.0 at this current temp.

Jim, stick with your current pool water temps when testing and using PoolMath. No need to warm anything EXCEPT the CYA test which seems to be more reliable at room temps for that R-0013. You can use PoolMath to try and project future impact and changes to your pool, but for dosing use the current temps and everything you have right now. I just did the same in my area for my pool. Hope that helps.

 

[Texas Splash]

Jimim, we had a brainstorming session with a plaster expert this weekend. Learned that in most cases, during the winter, pH will probably exceed 8.0 -8.2 but "should" settle around 8.4~ish. The big exception are newly plastered pools where the pH can exceed 9 and get upwards to 10 or so. Those are the pools that need constant attention over the winter. But if yours is fully cured, the pH should find a place to settle around 8.2 - 8.4 or so, and the cold water should help keep the CSI in-check. If you have strong concerns this winter, maybe pick a day when the weather isn't brutal, pull the cover back at a spot long enough to grab a water sample and test. Sure, the circulation won't be on, but it's better than nothing and may give you some peace of mind.

 

[jimim]

Jimim, we had a brainstorming session with a plaster expert this weekend. Learned that in most cases, during the winter, pH will probably exceed 8.0 -8.2 but "should" settle around 8.4~ish. The big exception are newly plastered pools where the pH can exceed 9 and get upwards to 10 or so. Those are the pools that need constant attention over the winter. But if yours is fully cured, the pH should find a place to settle around 8.2 - 8.4 or so, and the cold water should help keep the CSI in-check. If you have strong concerns this winter, maybe pick a day when the weather isn't brutal, pull the cover back at a spot long enough to grab a water sample and test. Sure, the circulation won't be on, but it's better than nothing and may give you some peace of mind.

ok that info is awesome to know. so mine was new last year. ya it deff hit the roof cause I learned here with my "startup coach" to make sure i dosed like it was 8.2 to a certain number till i get back on the board and i remember it took like 4 dosing to do so. so i know last spring when i opened i was high. this year i really feel the plaster has cured but still isn't all the way cause my ph when the salt was off still rose from 7.7 to 8.0 in a few days. if i check in the winter i will just worry myself more case i can't do anything about it.

i think with how my numbers are now i can get up to 8.4 and still be below positive .3 when my water is 40 and below. once it gets warmer than 40 it gets dicey. this year when i opened my water was 42. i opened really early and just maintained cause i didn't wanton chance it anymore. i just ran my pump 24/7 like i do now so i'm thinking as long as i can climb like u said i'll be good. my csi will be in check somewhat. not like summer but still in a safe range.

i am deff not as nervous as last year but still not comfortable like others that are used to this for a few years now. i'm getting there though.

i don't like not being in control and in the winter i'm not in the drivers seat. nature is.

i appreciate all the advice.

jimi