Reducing the PH level in your pool and getting rid of the calcium

LooseBoots



Joined: 08/02/2009
Posts: 1258

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 14:41

I have been told that to reduce the ph level in my 8x4 skimmer pool I have to a a quantity of acid.



I have a third of a bag but not sure how much to add.



As I am trying to do it myself being a retired f...



Also the calcium build up on the walls...............how do i get rid of that? Scrub daily and plenty of elbow grease??

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 14:58

Reduce your pH by adding sodium bi-sulphate until you achieve about 7.4

Your pH is out of whack because your TA is too high. How do I know? Because you have limescale ("calcium") on your pool walls. Get your TA down, your pH will settle and the lime-scale will dissolve back into solution.

Looking after a pool isn't rocket science, but it is chemistry.

LooseBoots



Joined: 08/02/2009
Posts: 1258

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 15:26

Thanks Vaughan.



Not used to having a reply like that...........................that actually answers the question........



very grateful.

Texas


Joined: 22/09/2009
Posts: 634

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 15:26

http://x.havuz.org/viewtopic.php?t=390



Read the above link. It worked for me. You do need a test kit that can test accurately for TA. You will also need some device to aerate your pool. Even a simple pump sunk into your pool spraying water onto the surface of your pool will be a good form of aeration. A garden hose will do the same job.



Alternatively, invite a TC neighbour and his/her friends. They will splash about to cause an eruption!

Panchocat


Joined: 29/11/2009
Posts: 1333

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 18:11

Vaughan, we have been using acid to try and shift the limescale build up on ours. We had work done on the pool in the winter and the problem, we guess, is with the new concrete leeching into the pool.

Where do we buy the sodium bi sulphate please and how much do we add?

thanls

JohnW


Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 601

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 19:41

http://www.havuz.org/pool-calculators.htm#soda_ash

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/archive/index.php?s=53dcaf2d4afac519cd36b2a05f243643&api=1

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 20:27

You can get sodium bi suphate in many pools shops and also in zerochlor shop in catalkoy.



If you also have lime scale build up on your walls,as vaughan says,maybe need to check the Total alkalinity of the water,if not correct,bring that under control,look on davids website,i think he tells you all about TA on there.



http://www.zerochlor.co.uk

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 20:33

Total Alkalinity

The total alkalinity (TA) is a measure of how much of the alkaline substances

there are in the water. In the swimming pool water, we are concerned with

bicarbonate alkalinity, which should be between 80 ppm and 120 ppm.

When the total alkalinity (TA) is within this range, it prevents rapid pH changes

and "stabilises" the pH level.

If the TA is too low, Marbelite and plaster walls will become etched, metals

corrode, the pool's walls and floor can stain, the water can turn green, eyes burn

and we can have pH bounce (pH rapidly going up and down, seemingly at

random).

cont:

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 20:34

If the TA is too high, the pH is difficult to adjust, the water becomes cloudy, the

pool constantly needs acid (according to your test kit) and the chlorine loses its

efficiency as a disinfectant.

It is recommended that you test the TA regularly, but in practice it changes very

little in a well-maintained pool.

To raise the level of TA, we use sodium bicarbonate; it is the only chemical

which will do this without increasing the pH very much. Note that you should

only add sodium bicarbonate at the rate of not more than 3 kg per 50,000 litres

of water every 4 days. Raising the TA can therefore be quite a time-consuming,

slow process.

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 20:35

Lowering the total alkalinity is also a slow process. Acid, either liquid or dry, is

added to the deepest part of the pool with the filter off. The acid should only be

added a little at a time, diluting it before pouring it into the pool. Wait 3 days

between applications. It could take days or even weeks to reduce the TA if it is

very high.

cyprusman3



Joined: 09/06/2009
Posts: 297

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 20:53

What does TA mean ?

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
28/06/2011 20:54

Total Alkalinity

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 11:55

One of our biggest problems is that many pools here leak (not the ones we build!). In order to compensate for the leak they are topped-up either from a well or from a tanker, which will also likely be well water. This water has a very high TA and consequently you will always be adding water which will push your pool water TA up again. Therefore, you will need to keep your eye on your TA and treat it regularly.