PH and Total Alkalinity

[bxb21]

I opened my pool two weeks ago and the ph was high. Since then it's come back to normal which it usually does. The problem is my total alkalinity is high. My ph is about 7.6 and my total alkalinity is 180. The pool store says add ph down. My question is if I add ph down, that will also lower my ph. If I then raise my ph, then my total alkalinity will go back up. How do I balance this? I have a plaster pool.

[Watermom]

Check out the following link on lowering alk. Also, welcome to the forum!

Watermom

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=191

[bxb21]

Thanks, I have one additional question after reading the guide. What is meant by aerating and how do you do it? Can a hose be used? I don't have a spa.

[Watermom]

You can just aim the return jets upward to create a lot of bubbling/splashing at the surface or anything that creates a lot of bubbling.

Watermom

[CarlD]

A half a dozen pre-teen boys works very well!

There's also a fountain, for about $20, that screws into your return--that works EXTREMELY well.

[Bosch232]

I use a pvc pipe with a 45 elbow and shoot it above the surface. I put a few wraps of duct tape on the end so it fits snug in the outlet jet. Total length is about 18". Running it like this overnight will take my 16x32 from 7.3 to 7.8 overnight.