PH Keeps Dropping

[chem geek]

Riles,

Try this. Take a large bucket of pool water and place it near the pool, but cover it with a cloth. See if the pH drops in the bucket as quickly as it does in the pool. If it doesn't, then perhaps the leaves or pollen or other junk getting into the pool is acidic. That's my best guess at this point. Perhaps someone else has an idea as well.

[EDIT] A better idea would be to have TWO buckets of pool water -- one without the leaves and pollen and the other with leaves and pollen. Measure the pH of each (they should be about the same), then cover them both so they don't get more stuff in them, then see if the pH changes differently in the two.

If the problem ends up being the leaves and pollen, then raising the TA would be a solution, but you may need to lower it again when the leaves and pollen stop dropping. I'll be surprised if the leaves and pollen are causing this, but I don't have any other answer for it.[END-EDIT]

Richard

[aylad]

Have you tested the pH of your fill water?

Janet

[rilesworld]

I have not tested our fill, but we have not put much fill water in the pool yet this year. I can run that just to find out though.

I have no idea what was used to chlorinate up until I took ownership in October of last year. Could that have any impact? Some sort of residual from an acidic-type chorinating left over? Seems highly unlikely, but I'm reaching.

What sort of normal drop in Ph should I expect? Let's assume there is no rain or chemicals (aside from bleach) being added? It seems like it should remain relatively constant if no acid is being added.

I'll keep you posted.

Riles