PH not rising despite adding LOTS of PH+

[LivinLOS]

Went a while without really testing the pool much, just a chlorine tab or two a week over cold season.. Pool stays clean crystal clear and appearing normal. 

Restocked a test kit a week ago and the PH was way down yellow and not pinkish at all on the scale. 

Added some PH+.. test results only seem to get more yellow.. Repeat.. same.. 

Picked up some of the liquid 'super PH+' which I understand is much more concentrated.. Have been adding daily and a whole bottle has done nothing to change the PH test result. Water has even picked up some cloudyness today. The chlorine level seems to have dropped in last 2 days also as I have been adding super PH+

 

I even doubted the text kit was maybe old chemicals or something but just bought refills and the result is the same. If anything I would say its getting more orange than gaining any pinkishness. 

 

I only have a simple test kit, no strips or more advanced testing. 

 

 

[SingAPorn]

Why not ask a reputable pool firm to come over and check ?

[VocalNeal]

2 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

Why not ask a reputable pool firm to come over and check ?

 

He's asking on here for a reputable opinion. Maybe someone has experienced this before.

[Woof999]

Do you have any way of aerating the pool? That's the best way of raising PH (for free almost) without putting your total alkalinity out of whack. If you're doing your own chemicals then you need to check a lot more than just PH and free/total chlorine. Get some AquaChek 7-Way Pool and Spa Test Strips or similar. Well worth the money.

[carlyai]

15 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

Went a while without really testing the pool much, just a chlorine tab or two a week over cold season.. Pool stays clean crystal clear and appearing normal. 

Restocked a test kit a week ago and the PH was way down yellow and not pinkish at all on the scale. 

Added some PH+.. test results only seem to get more yellow.. Repeat.. same.. 

Picked up some of the liquid 'super PH+' which I understand is much more concentrated.. Have been adding daily and a whole bottle has done nothing to change the PH test result. Water has even picked up some cloudyness today. The chlorine level seems to have dropped in last 2 days also as I have been adding super PH+

 

I even doubted the text kit was maybe old chemicals or something but just bought refills and the result is the same. If anything I would say its getting more orange than gaining any pinkishness. 

 

I only have a simple test kit, no strips or more advanced testing. 

 

 

Give it a few days (for him to answer the topic) then if he doesn't see it, PM Bagwain.

He knows everything about pools, good man.

[LivinLOS]

14 hours ago, Woof999 said:

Do you have any way of aerating the pool? That's the best way of raising PH (for free almost) without putting your total alkalinity out of whack. If you're doing your own chemicals then you need to check a lot more than just PH and free/total chlorine. Get some AquaChek 7-Way Pool and Spa Test Strips or similar. Well worth the money.

 
Yeah thats not on my list.. 

I dont have any way of aerating the water.. 

 

Edited May 12 by LivinLOS

[JimHuaHin]

15 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Why not ask a reputable pool firm to come over and check ?

Many years ago, way back in Ozland, I took pool water samples to my local pool shop ever month for a comprehensive analysis - much better than the cheap home kits which generally only check a couple of variables.  Maybe you could do the same.

[Bagwain]

1st chlorine tablets are acidic. So you will always be having issues with low pH. I would start using soda ash to start bringing the pH up to more desirable levels. 7.2 - 7.6. Much easier on the pocket as well. Always good to check the supply water pH. If it is low then this will also impact the pH when topping up water. If the pH is constanly low your grout will deteriorate much quicker. If your grout is already gone then this will also effect the pH as well. 

Consider going to a salt chlorination system. 

[LivinLOS]

I put in a bucket and a bit of PH+ powder (that is soda ash I believe) without noticeable result.. Then I found the 'super PH+' liquid which the local shop assured me was way stronger and to only use a bit.. Day by day added 1l of that that until a whole bottle used and still no change (possibly a reduction in measured chlorine) I can detect, I even suspected the new lazada pool test kit might be useless but bought new phenyl red and its same. 

While I was away for a couple of months I had a 'professional' company doing it, something I have not used in years as I had staff or wasn't away long, turns out they just vacuumed and dropped a chlorine tablet and didnt check anything (I suspect they didnt backwash also). So a little less impressed by the professional shop efforts. It was my return and discovery of that which I found the PH so low and I have been trying to increase it. 

Previously low PH was always solved with a bit of soda ash, this time doesnt seem to want to come back up. 

[LivinLOS]

1 hour ago, Bagwain said:

Consider going to a salt chlorination system. 

Yes now its my pool (we rented this house previously) theres a lot that is going to get refurbished including a full new piping system and pump room and a salt system. 

Thats for later in the year tho and will be with garden landscape, pool surrounds / deck / hardscape beds and planting, sala and a bunch of other expenditure.. 

[Bagwain]

3 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Yes now its my pool (we rented this house previously) theres a lot that is going to get refurbished including a full new piping system and pump room and a salt system. 

Thats for later in the year tho and will be with garden landscape, pool surrounds / deck / hardscape beds and planting, sala and a bunch of other expenditure.. 

Where abouts is the property? We do a lot of refurbs. 

This one we just finished. Including pump room.

https://fb.watch/r-WzZ5IG6a/

[LivinLOS]

Chiang mai. 

More a whole house and garden refurb.. House will be near gutted, the layout is nice but I want a different level of finish, ceilings, tiling, kitchen, bathrooms, electric and lighting.. 

Been seeking a source of bullnose tiles.. Want to deck around the pool but dont like the 'wood to the edge' solution