High Land Park Soda Fountain

Getting the perfect balance of alkalinity and pH is always tricky because the acid will affect both but at varying rate. But you can do it if you follow this guide.   

What You’ll Need

Here are the things you will need:

• Perfect pool test kit – I would recommend you to get a digital water test kit. That kit will give you the most accurate reading to work with.  
• Aeration – Aeration is not a chemical or tool but a process that you will use to raise the pH while maintaining the TA. 
• Muriatic acid – The acid helps to lower both the TA and pH. You can use sodium bisulfate also, but this acid is more effective.
• Protective gears – Also, wear things such as gloves, goggles, long sleeves cloths, and other protective gears.

Ideal pH and TA Levels 

Even before you know how to raise alkalinity without raising pH in hot tub, you need to have an idea of the pH and TA levels you should target.

• The ideal TA level should be 100 ppm (80-120 ppm is balanced).
• You should target a pH level of 7.4-7.6.

Step by Step Guide

Here are the steps that you should follow when raising the pH while maintaining the TA constant.

• Take Accurate Readings of TA and pH 

Use the digital test kit to take the reading of the pH and TA. Assume you get a TA of 280 ppm and a pH of 8.3. Your reading can be higher or even lower.

• Set the Target Value of TA

Let assume you want to achieve a TA level of 100 ppm. You should note that both the pH and TA reduce when you add acid. 

A target of 80-90 ppm should also be excellent, but that might mean the pH dropping to way past 7.0 when you add the acid.  

Use online pool calculators to determine the amount of muriatic acid you should add to get your desired results – in our case is 100 ppm. Don’t worry about the pH here since you will raise it later.

• Dilute Muriatic Acid/ Add it to Your Hot Tub or Pool

Assume our pool can hold 20K gallons of water. To achieve a TA of 100ppm, we need to add about two-quart of muriatic acid. You should distribute the acid evenly around your pool while the pool pump is operating. 

Read More: Best pool pump

Note that natural aeration will start as soon as you add the acid and the pH level will begin to rise. You can leave this to occur until the pH gets to the desired level, but it will take longer.

• Test Pool’s TA and pH after Six Hours

You can keep an eye on the changes in TA and pH by doing some test after every six hours. If the pH and the TA are within the desired range, then you are done.

You might get some readings like 205 ppm for TA and 7.6 for pH when you do your first test after six hours.

• Test Pool’s TA and pH after 24 Hours

The TA should have dropped to about 120 ppm after 24-hour while the pH might still be lower, around 7.1. 

• Test Pool’s TA and pH after 48 Hours

After two days, the TA should have dropped to around 100ppm, which is within the recommended range of 80-120 ppm. By now the pH should be stable at approximately 7.4, which is within 7.4-7.6. The pH cannot rise above that since the TA has stabilized.

Note: You can accelerate the aeration by using an air compressor with a tube (with a few holes). Place the tube inside the water, and it will raise the pH within a few hours without raising the TA.

Conclusion

If you don’t intend to use your pool soon, follow the natural aeration. That’s how you raise the pH without raising the TA.

Nothing is more annoying than seeing an error code on your Jandy AquaPure that you have never experienced or know how to solve it. Not knowing the source of the issue makes it impossible to fix it unless you call a professional.  

That’s why we have looked at the Jandy AquaPure Code 170 to help you resolve the problem with ease. But let’s first look at Jandy AquaPure System.

See also: Step By Step Guide: How to Increase pH Without Increasing Alkalinity

What is Jandy AquaPure System?

The Jandy AquaPure System is a salt-water chlorine sanitizer that uses saltwater to provide high-performance water sanitation with hydraulic efficiency, reliability, and uncompromised performance. It depends on its simple features and sturdy design to provide you with a saltwater oasis. 

Read more: Salt Water Chlorinator Reviews

Its key features include:

• An automatic self-cleaning ability that guarantees consistent operation and long life.
• Unique Tri-Sensor tech that provides sturdy electronic water flow to offer maximum performance.
• Digital salinity for accurate readings.
• Status, temperature, and flow reading for instant feedback on the operation.

About Error Code 170 – Control Board

The Error Code 170 often occurs on the control board, and it refuses to clean no matter what you do. At least that what some people experience and it is even worse since there are no lights to notify you when it is turned one.  

It is often one of least experienced error, and it causes some problems with the salinity of your pool. Luckily there is a solution. 

First, you need to know what causes the error code 170, which is the AC voltage from the rear board. There might be an issue with the wire connection that connects to the 120 VA. You can start by looking at the backboard voltages and the transformer.

However, unless you are sure of what you are doing, we would advise you to seek help from a professional. You can easily get electrocuted when you open the control board.

Troubleshooting-Front Board

What steps should you follow to clear the error code 170? They are listed here:

• Remove the flow salinity temperature device from the front board.
• Look for the test buttons – press and hold the one marked R-temp and salinity. 
• While still pressing these buttons, press the Salinity key (‘C’) on the cover of the devices. You should see a reading of 2.8 GPL on the LCD.
• While still holding those buttons, press the Pool Temp key (‘D’). You should get a reading of 24 degrees or 75 F.
• Now press and hold the “H-Temp” test button on the board and simultaneously press the ‘C’ button again as well as Chlorine Production Rate ‘Arrow key A” on the cover of the gadget. Now the LCD will show a temperature of 33 degrees or 91F.  

If you get these readings, then your Jandy AquaPure device will work correctly, and you won’t see the error code 170. However, if you get other readings, now that you need to see professional help.

Final Words

While you can quickly solve most error codes, some will require you to call an expert.  If that is the case, seek help from Jandy’s customer care or call a professional.

A salt cell is commonly used in saltwater pools. It is actually a part of the system that lets chlorine to be naturally produced instead of being added. However, this salt cell should be cleaned occasionally because calcium and minerals get collected on plates within the cell. You have to check the cell periodically to ascertain that it needs cleaning, and then use robotic pool cleaner for small pools or hot tubs. While there are many ways to clean salt cells, cleaning them with vinegar is an effective and easy method. If you don’t know how to clean a pool from debris and deposits, take a look at below tips on cleaning a salt cell with vinegar.

How to clean a salt cell using vinegar?

Before cleaning, try to check the cell for calcium and mineral deposits. To do this, turn off the power in the first place. Do not try to unscrew the unit when the power is on; otherwise, you may get a shock. Once the power is off, look inside the pool and check for debris on metal plates. If there are deposits, they will look light in color. You could also spot flaky or crusty deposits in the cell.

Now that you know the deposit spots, remove them using a high pressure garden hose. In case you don’t get success with the garden hose, use a plastic or wooden tool to get rid of the deposits. Make sure you use it gently on the debris to scrap the deposits. You may increase the pressure gradually if the deposits are stuck. Remember, removing debris will take time. So do not be in a rush to scrap the flakes; otherwise, you may finish off damaging the walls of the pool.

Have the vinegar solution ready. You can get a ready-made vinegar solution in the market. It is also easy to make the solution at home by mixing vinegar in water in the right proportion. Neither opt for a too concentrated vinegar solution nor a too dilute solution. As a thumb rule, go for a mild solution with a perfect blend of water and vinegar.

Soak the salt water cell or hot tubs (as the case may be) in a container with vinegar solution for a night. The solution can remove all sorts of remaining debris within a fortnight. Coil the wiring harness alongside the cell before you go for soaking. Immerse the cell to the top of the wiring. Use a high pressure garden hose and rinse it. If you still find mild deposits, repeat the process with another solution to finally cleanse the cell.

Bottom line

Cleaning a salt water cell need not be a problem, thanks to so many cleaning solutions available in the market. However, a vinegar solution is supposed to be the easiest and the cheapest pool cleaner for small pools. All it takes is a little bit of time and some legwork on your end. Just stick to the above tips to clean a salt cell using vinegar, and you could have a clean and pristine pool as you want.

Read more: Jandy AquaPure Code 170: Explanation and Solution