Alkalinity?

[CarlD]

You have two choices:
1) add Borax NOW to get your pH to 7.0, then aerate to raise pH.
2) start aerating now and that will raise pH. But you'll need a fountain to raise pH quickly.

[savdoc2]

I am torn on what to do.

I don't have a fountain, but I have the sup pump running with a sprayer head back toward the pool like a fountain. I also have the return pointed toward the surface bubbling the surface.

I don't want the pH to remain too low. I am going to test the water again this evening and decide then. I have some borax, so I might add a little.

Thanks again for all the help!!

[waterbear]

test your tap water for chlorine. If it shows 0 ppm then you can use it instead of distilled water for the dilution. If it shows ANY chlorine at all you will need to get distilled water.

Your pump and fountain sound ideal for airating. It is a slow process so it takes some time.....

Stop adding any chlorine to the pool until the levels drop and then test the pH. You said your pH is now reading 6.8. That means that your Cl levels have dropped enought to not interfere with the pH test. If there was interference you would be seeing red to purple most likely. I would just let the Cl drop to about 3 ppm now since your CYA is at 40 ppm

You have been putting dry acid in which is milder than muriatic acid. It won't lower your pH as quickly or as much so I don't think there is any immediate danger. Someone with more experience with vinyl pools might know better.

Carl, Your take on this?

[Watermom]

Go ahead and add some Borax and get that ph up to at least above 7.0.

[savdoc2]

I got the distilled water and used the shot glass method and Cl is 6. Not as high as I expected, but today was sunny and warm, plus the trees are dropping a ton of seeds in the pool. I haven't added any chlorine sine the first day.

I didn't add any borax tonight but will in the am, just to get it up to a measurable amount. I am thinking about 1/4 box at a time? Do I dissolve it first or just broadcast it?

I am excited that the Alk is down to 140. So once the pH comes back up I will repeat the process to get it down further. I am thing in the range of 80-100.

[Watermom]

A quarter box at a time is fine - don't have to dissolve it or broadcast it. Just dump it in the skimmer while the pump is running, breaking up any clumps. Let the water circulate a few hours, retest and redose til you get to the desired level.