Total Alkalinity Test

[CrisL]

The last number is the correct one. When using a test such as this, the reading when the color changes to the desired color and stays there is the number to use.

[Sherra]

Thank you. That's what I assumed (which is why I kept adding drops), but wanted to be sure. We all know what usually happens when you "assume".

[waterbear]

With any titration test such as alkalinity or calcium hardness that uses an indicator solution the best rule to follow is keep adding drops until you get a distinct color change that holds and then add one more drop to make sure the color stays the same. When that happens don't count the last drop you added. You will soon learn what the proper endpoint is and won't need that last drop!

[Sherra]

I just got back from having my water tested at Leslie's. Here's what they came up with:

FAC 3
TAC 3
pH 7.3
TA 60
CA 50
CYA 30
TDS 100

I know the TDS and the CA don't mean anything to me since I'm not using salt and have a vinyl liner pool. However, the sales guy tried to tell me I needed to add 45 pounds of Hardness + to bring my CA up. I told him "I have a vinyl liner pool, so the calcium hardness doesn't really apply to my pool." He just kinda looked at me funny. I wanted to laugh so hard!

So, I swung by the Commissary on my way home (yep, we're a military family) and picked up 4 more 4 pound boxes of Arm & Hammer to start adding to bring the TA up. I spent $1.80 per 4 pound box at the Commissary ($7.56 for all 4 boxes including my 5% service charge). Leslie's wanted 8.99 for a 5 pound bucket ($9.52 for each 5 pound bucket including tax). Man I love this forum! A lady at the Commissary said K-Mart had bleach on sale...I'll have to check that out tomorrow!