How to Aerate for high alkalinity?

[Amir]

I bought the fountain for the looks and ambiance and used it last weekend for a party. it brought down my TA by 10 to 90(I did not need the drop) in 7 hours. I have a 33000 gal pool. I hooked it up to pool cleaner and plugged the other returns using rubber freeze plugs - I don't have eyeballs - Old pool.
Amir

[superjet]

You can also use a submersible pump and a short hose or just put it on the steps.

[sevver]

You can also use a submersible pump and a short hose or just put it on the steps.

I like that, I will probably do it sometime to see how it works.

[aquarium]

Being a new guy, I don't want to argue, but are we sure that the aereation method is really permanent? If it's just adding CO2 to the water, that will only affect the alkalinity temporarily. Once the aeration is off, the CO2 will stabilize with the atmosphere and the alkalinity will (I thought) return to where it was before.

What is the problem with high alkalinity anyway?

TW

[haze_1956]

The process removes CO2 from the water, not adds it.

[waterbear]

Being a new guy, I don't want to argue, but are we sure that the aereation method is really permanent? If it's just adding CO2 to the water, that will only affect the alkalinity temporarily. Once the aeration is off, the CO2 will stabilize with the atmosphere and the alkalinity will (I thought) return to where it was before.

What is the problem with high alkalinity anyway?

TW

CHEMISTY NERD ALERT!
High alkalinity makes it difficult to adjust pH to the proper range and can contribute to cloudiness in the water and scaling. Alkalinity is the measure of the carbonate/bicarbonate/carbonic acid buffer system in the water. By lowering the pH you force the buffer system to more carbonic acid and less bicarbonate/carbonate and by then airating at the lowered pH you drive off the CO2 which lowers the amount of carbonic acid so the equilibrim moves toward the carbonate/bicarbonate side with the effect of the pH rising and the alkalinity lowering. Very little atmospheric CO2 dissolves at the water surface in a pool because of the normal pH and TA levels of a pool. IF the TA and pH are low then atmostpheric CO2 could have a greater impact

[michladny]

I was reading these posts and I was wondering.....

My Alk was a little high yesterday (and I would rather add small amounts to keep my water in check than have to worry about adding large quantities of stuff)...but anyway,

Can't you just add it slowly to the skimmer or do you have to sprinkle over pool water? I am so DUH (but slowly learning from you all ) I should NOT add anything to PH (as the acid will decrease it--correct? Is that temporary(the decrease in pH?)
My return "eyeball" is pretty close to the top and ripples the water so do I still need to add a jet or "gadget" to aerate?
How much does the pool store charge for Alk decreaser?
I have an AG vinyl -- 16000 gal

Thanks !!

Michelle

[waterbear]

First you should NEVER add acid to the skimmer! It can cause damage.
If you want to lower your ALK you need to add enough acid to get your pH down to 7.0 (but not any lower with a vinyl pool!) and then airate to lower the TA. As you airate your pH will go up and your TA down.
Hope this helps