Help!! Alk off the charts

[orlandoguy]

I just did a refill and made a big mistake.  I poured WAY too jmuch baking soda in and the alk is off the charts.  I have been adding ph/alk down all day and have added nearly a quart.  I knew there was a problem last night when I was itching like crazy.

I am wondering if it will straighten out or if I should just drain again?

I added almost half a small container of the baking soda!

[bosco0633]

if you use bromine, I would say leave it.  Bromine drops you alk level alot over a couple of weeks.  If not I would say drain it and refill

[wmccall]

You could easily get into a chemical spiral adding one thing to compensate for too much of another and have your TSD levels way out of range.  Being in Orlando, I'd drain and refill.

[orlandoguy]

I think a drain and refill will be best.  Thanks, and chalk it up to experience.

I use bromine and just shocked, which normally drops the alk.  I will take another sample in tommorow.

[J._McD]

How was your water before you drained it the first time?  Was it in bad shape and thus the reason you drained it?

[drewstar]

You could easily get into a chemical spiral adding one thing to compensate for too much of another and have your TSD levels way out of range.  Being in Orlando, I'd drain and refill.

I agree.  I think it was said here in this forum (and I think many times we forget) "water is the cheapest chemical you can add to your tub."

[Brewman]

Chas, who doesn't pop in here near as much as he used to, (hint, hint), has been preaching that for as long as I've been hanging out here.
Probably longer.

[orlandoguy]

My water had been in the tub for 4 months and was what I call "stale".  It had the fizzing and other negative characteristics that say it's time to change.

With the Shop Vac and battery pump I bought from Spa Depot, water changes are done in a couple hours, so I guess I was just lazy.

After filling, I wanted to get the alk right then worry about the other levels.  I was absent minded and poured too much baking soda in and the alk and ph went off the charts.  I poured nearly a quart of ph/alk down in and shocked and boosted the bromine.  

The end result was today all levels were perfect following a computer analysis.  I will do the alk up in a slower fashion in the future.

[Chris_H]

One gallon of Muriatic Acid should do the trick.