One Issue After Another

[goodboie]

When my husband and I started up our inground pool this year, it was green with algae. We were able to clear that up easily, but since then, it has been one water chemistry issue after another. I am hoping that someone can help us because it's getting very frustrating and my husband is ready to drain the pool and shut it down for the year.

Our PH and Total Alkalinity were very low. So, I have been adding Baking Soda to bring up the Total Alkalinity, alternating that with Soda Ash to bring up the PH. The PH hasn't budged much, but I think it's because the Soda Ash doesn't seem to be dissolving in the pool. I even tried to mix the Soda Ash with water before pouring it in the pool, but that doesn't seem to be helping. So, tonight I test the pool yet again.... I think the TA is okay now, but the PH is still on the low side... AND now the cyanuric acid is pretty high. I plan to run the pool some more and retest tomorrow, but I'm losing hope... I want to have a pool that my family can safely swim in, but so far this year, we've only been able to look at it.

Please help! We have had this pool for several seasons and have never had issues like this! Thanks in advance!

[waterbear]

How high is the CYA? If it is very high you are going to have to drain some water and replace it.

[stuamurr]

You need to get your TOtal Alkalinity right first with Sodium Bi-carbonate before raising PH with soda ash. Once you have a TA reading of 80-120 it will act as a PH buffer, stabiling the Ph which can then be corrected with ph correction chems. Bi-carb also raises ph slowly as you add it and adds the matt blue finish to water.