One for Teapot...

[RonPace]

Hi Teapot - I hope you are around over the winter..?

I must say that overall this year, the pool has been a joy to handle following your maintenance comments, so if I not said it before, thanks!

Now, somewhere you said that you run a pool at what sounded an insanely low TA. I have always been around the 150+ mark. Some weeks ago, I threw in a few jugs of acid and not tested it since as it is cold and the water is crystal clear. Today the sun is out, so I tested using my scuba2:

TC. 1
FC. 1
PH. 7.1
TA. 0
CYA. 53

I run the pump only three hours these cold days with the return jets aimed well into the air. As I say the water is beautiful without any hint of algae 'bloom' despite no brushing for a while. I am well pleased!

Obviously I need some more Cl, which has been taken care of by switching the SWG back on and a splash of bleach I have left over.

Re TA - does TA naturally rise or lower? ie if I leave it be as is, will it rise with the April rain? Or should I help it along? I know baking soda does the trick, but is there a generic product I can use if I cannot get baking soda?

[Teapot1]

Hi Ron, its difficult to achieve a 0 TA so I will always question such a result. I imagine the water temp is quite low so always worth bringing it into the warm and up to about 20C. Some reagent reactions happen very slowly or not at all at cold temperatures.
Your pH would usually naturally fall slightly around a TA below 30ppm but will be stable up to a TA of 55-60 ppm. When you get to 80-120 it will naturally rise.

[Denniswiseman]

but is there a generic product I can use if I cannot get baking soda?

Baking soda is a base product and is readily available anywhere, the other products are generic

[RonPace]

Thanks Teapot and Dennis - and here an apology - I thanked teapot for the input last year but not you Dennis, who also gave me quite a bit of info! My humble etc!

For some odd reason, I cannot buy 'bulk' bicarb of soda around here. Maybe the folk regard themselves as too affluent to do their own batch baking! Who knows!

In fairness to my results, the little scuba is a little erratic, especially with TA testing, so I read three times and take an average. The return was two readings of 'Lo' and one of '0', so yes, I should have put Lo instead of 0... And the water temp is near 4 degrees C.

That leads me to another question - what is the ideal temperature to test?

[Teapot1]

Ahh of course, the scuba 2, I was forgetting, my apologies Ron. Scuba is pre programmed with "industry" levels which we now know are too high for most pools but great for pH- sales. Basically anything under it 80ppm will show as low. Would suggest another low cost test kit for Alk. Exactly as you say if you have a local baker ask them for bi-carb but only if you really need it, test first.

Ideal temperature is noted in whatever test kit you are using as their reagents gennerally have been set to a temperature but as a rule its around 20 C +/- 1C

[RonPace]

I called Lovibond, from whom I purchased the Scuba 2, complained about my random readings, but it was obvious that they did not want to know as I have not had the promised call back for weeks now!

This morning, on the TA register, I returned three readings: 130 then 0 then Low. This cannot be right surely?

I opted for Scuba because it was well advertised for serious pool owners and in an affordable bracket. But not happy if it has been pre-programmed to suit an ulterior sales motive! I also wanted an electronic meter as I am not good with some colours and do not trust my eyes to accurately determine a colour.

Without spending hundreds - or maybe I have to - what would you recommend to a pool owner who is not professional, but wants to get it right?

[Teapot1]

Hi Ron, although originally a fan of the Scuba, mainly because it was one of the first digital affordable testers they began to suffer due to the dunking in water test method so I recommend a non dunk tester. Then its pre programmed Lo settings as mentioned previously.
On digital units I recommend La Motte Color Q's I have sold loads of these as replacement for failed Scuba's.
There are of course titration testers which are still popular. I still know the MD of La Motte Europe so if you get stuck let me know.

[RonPace]

Yes, I see that the Color Q is praised by others, so I might take a plunge and get a kit.

Lovibond still have not returned my call, and the Scuba continues to give random readings, so maybe time to ditch it.

I will report back on the ColorQ...