Ph weirdness

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senor.hugo.maria
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Ph weirdness

Postby senor.hugo.maria » Mon 28 Aug, 2017 05:39

Gents,

Last year i used a good amount of Ph- in order to maintain a level around 7,2.
This year i hardly use any Ph-, instead i am having to add Ph+

Pool is 15 x 7 mtrs. I live in Spain, so temperatures are around 30-35 degree Celcius.

The Chlorine level in around 2,5-30 on the test kit.

The water is not not exactly crystal clear, but looks passable. My guess that this comes from small dirt particles as i use water from our own well to fill it up to level now and then.

Any ideas you have on this Ph ?.

Thx

Alex


Denniswiseman
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My Pool: 10k inground fibreglass, Telescopic Cover, Hayward Powerline pump, Quality filter with glass media, 27kw output heat pump, K-2006C test kit
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Ph weirdness

Postby Denniswiseman » Mon 28 Aug, 2017 09:11

Can you let us have a full set of numbers It seems you are Yo-Yoing
How are you testing? Pool stores and strips are widely inaccurate
FC:
TC:
pH:
TA:
CH:
CYA: We really need this number as well

My pool:
Pool chemicals:

A better way of balancing and sanitizing your pool is with these common products
Liquid chlorine (sodium hypochlorite or plain bleach)
Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) to lower pH and TA
Bicarbonate of soda to raise TA
Aeration will raise pH only (fountains, waterfalls, sprays and infinity edge)
Soda ash will raise pH and TA
Accurate testing with your own test kit is the best way to go
senor.hugo.maria
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Posts: 10
Joined: Sun 20 Aug, 2017 10:14

Re: Ph weirdness

Postby senor.hugo.maria » Mon 28 Aug, 2017 12:59

Dear sir
There is no jo-joing
The pool's chlorine and Ph are nice and stable

It is just that last year I used Ph-minus to keep the Ph level in check.
This year it is Ph-plus

That is what i do not understand. ie, makes me wonder why
Denniswiseman
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue 06 Sep, 2011 05:48
My Pool: 10k inground fibreglass, Telescopic Cover, Hayward Powerline pump, Quality filter with glass media, 27kw output heat pump, K-2006C test kit
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Ph weirdness

Postby Denniswiseman » Mon 28 Aug, 2017 14:42

If your numbers are OK why don't you give them
Using pH minus also reduces your TA
You have completely ignored what I asked and suggest and it seems not really interested in understanding your pool chemistry
Keep on with your pH up and down
senor.hugo.maria
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Posts: 10
Joined: Sun 20 Aug, 2017 10:14

Re: Ph weirdness

Postby senor.hugo.maria » Tue 29 Aug, 2017 09:36

My apologies. English is not my mother language.

I can only measure ph and chlorine.
Them being 7,2 and around 2,5

The other thinngs, i cannot measure

I am happy,with my water.
I was just surprised that last year i needed to use ph- to control the ph. And this year i need to use ph+ to control the ph levels

That is all
Denniswiseman
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue 06 Sep, 2011 05:48
My Pool: 10k inground fibreglass, Telescopic Cover, Hayward Powerline pump, Quality filter with glass media, 27kw output heat pump, K-2006C test kit
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Ph weirdness

Postby Denniswiseman » Tue 29 Aug, 2017 11:42

What you have to understand is that other things have an effect on the water chemistry, not just pH and chlorine
The fact that you were using pH- to reduce your pH means you have an underlying problem, my pH is stable at 7.4 and hardly moves at all
Waterfalls, fountain, sprays and infinity edge, all aerate the water causing pH to rise
Tablets and granule chlorine have Cyanuric acid in them which when it gets to high reduces the effect of chlorine making it ineffective and having to dose chlorine higher
For every 10 ppm Free Chlorine (FC) added by Trichlor, it also increases Cyanuric Acid (CYA) by 6 ppm.
For every 10 ppm FC added by Dichlor, it also increases CYA by 9 ppm.
For every 10 ppm FC added by Cal-Hypo, it also increases Calcium Hardness (CH) by at least 7 ppm
If you are dosing with stabilised chlorine you may not be putting enough in to sanitise your pool
Checkout these links
For every 10 ppm Free Chlorine (FC) added by Trichlor, it also increases Cyanuric Acid (CYA) by 6 ppm.
For every 10 ppm FC added by Dichlor, it also increases CYA by 9 ppm.
For every 10 ppm FC added by Cal-Hypo, it also increases Calcium Hardness (CH) by at least 7 ppm
Chlorine / CYA Chart
Pool Levels
I would strongly advise you to get a decent FAS/DPD kit to test your water (Taylor K2006C)
I got my one from USA and can't believe the difference with my previous testing
senor.hugo.maria
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Posts: 10
Joined: Sun 20 Aug, 2017 10:14

Re: Ph weirdness

Postby senor.hugo.maria » Wed 30 Aug, 2017 14:39

Damn. Complicating stuff.
I have a pool but unfortunately no Phd in chemistry.

Maybe i will google for a pool-doctor. And have hime come and take some measurements.

Thx for your efforts though to explain it all. It is however too complicated for me
Denniswiseman
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue 06 Sep, 2011 05:48
My Pool: 10k inground fibreglass, Telescopic Cover, Hayward Powerline pump, Quality filter with glass media, 27kw output heat pump, K-2006C test kit
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Ph weirdness

Postby Denniswiseman » Wed 30 Aug, 2017 16:13

It's not as difficult as you think, there are thousands of ordinary folk who don't understand chemistry but successfully manage their own pools to a very high standard.
Being able to test and give their numbers helps others to help tell them what's going wrong

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