[Dichlor/bleach Method In A Nutshell]

On 9/4/2022 at 3:33 PM, waterbear said:

Lowering TA can be done with either muriatic, sulfuric, or dry acid. Dry acid is sodium bisulfite and when dissolved in water forms sulfurous acid.

The procedure to lower TA is here:

https://www.poolspaforum.com/forum/index.php?/topic/28846-lowering-total-alkalinity-howto/

If you don't have jets it can still be done, it will just take longer. worst case, just get into the tub and splash. If you can rig a piece of PVC pipe with a right angle to your return so it shoots the water into the air and then falls back into the tub that will work. You want surface agitation to facilitate the outgassing of CO2.

Thanks @waterbear . I used the pH down (sodium bisulfite) that I have and it worked to lower TA. I made a venturi aerator that I'm pretty proud of and it did a good job aerating to raise pH. 

Currently:

TA 60 ( I think- see my 2nd question below)

pH 7.5

1. Is the dichlor/bleach method perfectly adapted for cedar tubs is there anything I need to do differently?

2. Reading TA- test kit instructions say you measure when it turns to red. My solution goes from green to clear to pink to red (each separated by one drop). Do I take my measurement when it goes from clear to pink or do I add another drop to make it properly red?

3. Does temperature affect of the chemical readings? I only heat my (wood fired) tub when I want to use it. 

4. How many days can I spend adjusting pH and TA before I have to sanitize? In other words, is it okay if it takes me 4 days before getting TA and pH adjusted so that I can proceed to the next steps? 

5. Borates = Borax? (at least for this purpose)

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me out. 

[Dichlor/bleach Method In A Nutshell]

11 hours ago, dashmer said:

Sorry, I dont know anything about the clear blue ionizer or the @ease chlorinator, but wouldn't expect any issues with the ionizer and the dichlor/bleach method.

Are your test results on your new water or are they pre-draining?  If on the new water, you are going to want to get your TA down in the 60-70 range for bleach.  Where your pH is low now, you should aerate (if you can with a cedar tub) to get that up into the 7.2-7.5 range before dropping the TA.  If your CYA is below 20 you should use dichlor until you are into the 20-30 range.  Your FC is low and your water should be shocked to get rid of that CC.

Thanks Dashmer. Those readings were before I dumped and refilled. Refilled yesterday and ran the circulation pump and turned on the ionizer. 

Just tested:

pH - 7.8

TA - 120

So sounds like I need to lower my pH (w/ pH reducer) and lower my TA. 

Questions:

1. What is the preferred way to lower TA? My pH reducer contains sodium bisulfate, will that do?

2. I can’t seem to find any of the links that Nitro references in his original post - looking for the TA down guide and the full dichlor/bleach method guide - a point in the right direction is appreciated)

3. You mentioned aerating to affect pH. I don’t have aerating jets, just a circulation pump/filter. Does that do the trick?

4. At what point should I concern myself with the copper level referenced in the ionizer manual (it says, “maintain chlorine or bromine at 2.3ppm unitl copper is at 0.2ppm-0.4ppm”)

5. Will you continue to help me even though I’m completely clueless? If yes, thank you!

I really appreciate your time and feedback. 

 

[Dichlor/bleach Method In A Nutshell]

New to cedar tubs. On my third refill and can't get it right. Seems like dichlor/bleach method is the way to go but I installed a clear blue mineral ionizer first. Do I scrap the ionizer or will it compliment the method? Any feedback is welcome. 

Tried the @ease chlorinator with zero success. Doesn't register any chlorine. Ionizer has been turned off per my local spa guys recommendation. But he also swore the @ease thing was great for cedar tubs so..

just got a TF100 test kit. 

drained because of so much tannin and test results of:

FC .5

CC .5

TC 1

Calcium hardness 250

TA 130

CYA couldn't read, <20

PH 6.8