After adding Borax, water is drying out skin.

[Willjay]

My water chemistry yesterday

chorine drop test indicates greater than 3 with a pH of 7.5;

The strips indicated, on two separate tests;
FC: 3-5
TC: 3-5

TA 120
CYA around close to the 50 ppm color

Checked my pump in the evening and it was running around 20#. Which is 5 over instead of 15 over, so we're making progress. Will redo, but my pool was as clear as I've ever seen it. My 11 year old son even noticed (and he isn't a "noticer"). I've seen it this clear before, but it's usually fleeting and unexplainable.

Also, my pH is holding steadier than normal. 7.5 two days after adding acid is, for me, uncharacteristic. It usually like to jump right back up above 7.6 within a day.

[waterbear]

Get yourself a better test kit (Taylor K-2006) and then use it to drop the TA to 70 ppm. You will find you have even better pH stability. Then use the Taylor kit to get the CYA to 80 ppm.
You just cannot do it with strips. They do not have the resolution and you inexpensive drop kit is not going to cut it either. I am going to guess it has a comparator for the chlorine test that has shades of yellow. Right?
If it does it only tests total chlorine, not free chloirne and combined chlorine, no matter what the instructions might say! OTO does not accurately measure FC.

[Willjay]

I'm planning on it Waterbear, I'm just going to have to wait a week or two to purchase it.

I have a question about your recommendation of CYA at 80. If in the evening I'm still running 3 - 5 ppm of chlorine after a 95 F day and pool water temps around 90 F with a pool in virtually no shade, do I really need to increase my stabilizer? Is it preferable, all things being equal, to run your chlorine at the lowest ppm that is still effective and sustainable?

[waterbear]

Not in a salt pool. Higher CYA directly translates into lower cell output/pump run time to maintain the same FC level which directly translates into less outgassing of CO2 from aeration created by hydrogen gas generation n the cell which directly translates into slower pH rise/better pH stability.

Lower cell output also translates into longer cell life.

[Willjay]

That's interesting, WB. Thanks for all the advice and help. You guys are great.

I checked my pH last night and it's still 7.5. Unprecedented for me to hold this pH this many days after adjusting.

The DE in the sand filter project has it running 2 1/2 to 3 pounds over normal. The water is gin clear, the best it's ever looked.

Oh, a following up on the thread title. I've had no noticeable issues with skin drying. It feels great to me. It will have to pass the big test over the weekend, my wife's opinion. She doesn't usually get in the pool during the week. I'll report back on her experience after the weekend.

[Willjay]

Tested my pH over the weekend and it had finally pushed up to 7.6. It usually would bounce back up to that after a day or two.

My wife swam over the weekend, she said the water felt great and loves how clear and sparkling the pool water is. She also said her skin was a little dry, but not anything like the previous weekend or to any degree that she'd find objectionable (which says a lot since she's a lotion addict). She also conceded that the pool water might do that anyway with or without the borax, but that she's only noticing because, after the addtion of the borax, she is now taking note of the way it makes her skin feels after a swim. For me, I have no problems. I don't feel dry so much as I feel clean, if that makes any sense.

Trying to lower my TA at present per Evans recommendations. presently and eternally at ≈ 120. I'll order my good test kit through the link over the weekend. Still a little apprehensive about raising my CYA levels to 80.

[waterbear]

Still a little apprehensive about raising my CYA levels to 80.

Why? It really is to your advantage. People are afraid of CYA but there is a lot of evidence that running higher levels in salt pools or in climaTes that get a LOT of sun is advantageous. The problems of high CYA only happens when it is uncontrolled and unexpected. Running your CYA at 80 ppm and your FC at 5% of your CYA or 4 ppm is really ideal.