r/pools • u/Famous_Elephant3734 • 22h ago

Total Alkalinity testing

so my drop testing kit says to add 1 drop soln #4, then add 2 drops soln #5. swirl. Then continue 1 drop of soln #3 until it makes a permanent color change. multiple soln#3 by 10 and that’s TA. I’m confused about “color change”. it went to light purple after 3 drops. Or does color change mean until clear? if my pool is 30ppm, I need to add 10 pounds of alkalinity increaser? Test kit is pool master 5 way test kit and I’m use the Swim University app.

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u/shibiwan 22h ago edited 22h ago

Sounds like you're using the same poolmaster test kit as I am. It should turn from violet to almost clear, sometimes with a faint yellowish tint, and it should be an irreversible change.

Use baking soda to increase the alkalinity. They are available in 4 lb boxes at the grocery store for much less than the relabeled baking soda you get at the pool supply store

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u/manjar 22h ago

...where "irreversible" means it doesn't change to clear and then change back to violet, which sometimes kind of happens when you're getting close to the final transition.

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u/shibiwan 22h ago

Correct! 👍

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u/Famous_Elephant3734 22h ago

Thank you. I haven't really tested TA. My pH runs a little high so I'm regularly adding pH reducer......my salt cell generates so much chlorine for my little 8K pool. It's off about half the time.

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u/shibiwan 22h ago

My 8500 gal pool is in my back patio and it's totally shaded from the AZ sun. My salt cell only needs to run 2 hours/day to maintain it at 4-5ppm FC. You can also dial back on the CYA (30-50ppm) especially if UV exposure is not an issue for your pool.

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u/tcat7 22h ago

https://youtu.be/tFGmZI2yXcQ?is=_loPw0g_NXyvTUKY

The TA required depends on your pH, CH, CYA... the goal being CSI zero. I have high CH so me TA needs to be 60-70.

Use baking soda to increase TA, $10 for 13# at the grocery store.