Is Having Low pH And High Alkalinity Possible?
by Dave White
If so, how do you lower the alkalinity without "wacking out" the pH? The chlorine is also still high after shocking it. The pool is a 18'x36' with a diving end. approximatly 32000 gallons. The water is crystal clear. Thanks for the question Dave The answer is yes, it is possible to have a low pH level and a high alkalinity level at the same time. Total Alkalinity Too High..pH Too Low..Swimming Pool.. Ways Of Lowering Pool Total Alkalinity..Maintain pH Level TA opposed to PH As you can see many people have the same problem that you're having. Here are links to lower your alkalinity and adjust your pH level: Swimming Pool pH Levels Pool Alkalinity I would suggest getting your alkalinity in line first using the above links. It will take some time and effort because it is so high, so patience is needed. It won't happen in 1 day. Your alkalinity is at 260ppm and you need to get it down to at least 120. That's a 140ppm drop. Your're going to add about 6 gallons of muriatic acid, but not all at once. This may take a few days to get it right. The main thing is to pour the acid in the deep end with the pump off. Very gently brush the bottom to break up any hot spots of acid. Allow it to sit for 2 - 3 hours, then turn the pump motor on and allow for 1 complete turnover of the water. This is normally about 8 - 10 hours, then retest. Try to make any adjustments at night until the alkalinity is in range. You can use soda ash or 20 Mule Team Borax to raise the pH without much happening to the alkalinity. Remember that swimming and splashing around will cause the pH to increase. You only need to get the pH to maybe 7.4ppm and allow the CO2 to burn off through normal swimming. This will raise the pH level. The question doesn't say how high the chlorine is, but it should come down naturally by the sun and heat. If you need the pool earlier, you can use a product called Thiosulfate. Only use this in extreme circumstances as it may affect your chlorine reading if it's not added correctly Hope this helps and have a fun and safe swimming season. Robert |
