You are here because you love swimming or you have a swimming pool and want to make sure that swimmers have an epic experience. If you have a pool, you must understand that the lower the alkalinity, the higher the acidity levels.

Hence your pool is highly corrosive. Low alkalinity levels in your pool come with other damages that you won’t like going to the future. Some of these damages include; cracked pool walls. You can avoid this by raising the alkalinity of your pool. By reading through this article, you will find the recommended ways of increasing alkalinity in the pool.

How to Increase Alkalinity in Pool Using Baking Soda

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, works the magic when it comes to raising the alkalinity levels of your pool. Well, it’s so obvious that you will require to add chlorine to your pool to make the water safe and clean.

But continuous use of the substance will only raise the acidity levels of the pool. This is why you should have baking soda at hand to make sure you regulate the acidity levels of your pool. The good thing about baking soda is that it is readily available and cheap. Here are the steps that should guide you on increasing the alkalinity of your pool.

Step 1: Check Out For the Alkalinity Levels of Your Pool

Before you begin the process of increasing the alkalinity levels of your pool, it is advisable that you know the true pH concentration. This is what will inform the decision of whether to add the baking soda. At least, you want to be sure that you are doing the right thing.

The process of testing alkalinity levels of your pool water is easy and straightforward, and you need not be a rocket scientist. Here is the way to go.

  • Get the test strips from a laboratory supplies store. Ideally, most test strips will give you a step by step guide to using them.
  • Typically, submerge one test strip in pool water for a few seconds.
  • Remove the test strip from the water after a few seconds.
  • Hold the test strip at rest to allow the reagents in the test strip to react with pool water.
  • Compare the colour on the test strip with colour scale that comes with the test strip.
  • The accuracy might not be that good, and hence you should use your best judgment to predict the alkalinity levels of the pool water, for more accurate results use a test kit to measure the alkaline levels.

Normally, the pH concentration of your pool should be between 7.2, and 7.8 and the alkalinity should be between 110 and 150 ppm (parts per million). So if you find that your alkalinity level is less than 80 ppm, then you have no choice but to raise the alkalinity levels.

Step 2: Purchase Sodium Bicarbonate

Now that you are completely satisfied that your pool alkalinity levels are in good shape. Head to the nearest laboratory supplies store to purchase sodium carbonate. The trick here is to know the amount of baking soda to purchase. This because a five-pound container may not serve the purpose.

You should consult the retailer on the possible amount of sodium carbonate that is capable of raising the alkalinity levels of your pool. Also, your pool supplier is capable of giving you valuable insights into the amount of baking soda to purchase. The secret here is to have good information to purchase the right quantities.

Step 3: Determine the Amount of Sodium Bicarbonate to Add

Now that you have purchased the baking soda, chances are you will not use it all. Therefore, it is good to understand the size of the pool to ensure you don’t add too much or less baking soda. Ideally, there are pre-set standards that relate to pool chemical measurements.

All measurements that relate to a pool are based on 10,000 gallons of water. The rule to apply when adding sodium carbonate is quite simple. In most cases, 1.5lbs of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water will raise the alkalinity levels of water by 10ppm. If you are new to this, you can start off by adding a half or three-fourths of the indicated amount, whichever the case ensures that you don’t add too much sodium bicarbonate to a point where you will want to add acid.

Step 4: Add Baking Soda to the Pool

Since you have determined the collect amounts of the sodium Bicarbonate to use. Here are the steps to follow when adding baking soda to the pool;

  • Dilute the baking soda. Every container of sodium bicarbonate comes with instructions for diluting it. You can as well choose not to dilute the powder.
  • Pour the solution to the pool. If you did not dilute the powder, sprinkle it directly to the water. As you pour the solution or the powder to the pull, ensure that you don’t pour in one place. Spread in wide arcs. This ensures that you don’t dump the solution in one place. If you choose to add the powder to your pool, ensure that you don’t do it on a windy day.
  • Wait for at least six hours. After you are done adding baking soda to your pool, wait for at least six hours. This will be an ample time for the baking soda to dissolve in water. You can switch on the circulation system to speed up the process. But either case, wait for the six hours to lapse.
  • Retest Your Pool

After the lapse of the six-hour duration, you can go ahead and retest your pool. This gives you the idea of whether the amount of baking soda you added was effective in raising the alkalinity levels.

Therefore, to get this information, you will have to retest the pH concentration of your pool. This article has provided you with steps to do it. If the alkalinity levels read anywhere below 110ppm, you will have to add more baking soda until you are past this mark.

What can be used for alkalinity increaser?

If you are in the market for an alkalinity increaser, the two most common are sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), more commonly known as soda ash. ‘Alkalinity down’ products will be an acid like muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate.

How do I raise the alkalinity in my pool without pH?

When your pool water has an alkalinity below the recommended amount, it’s important that you increase this level. To raise the alkalinity in your pool without raising the pH you need to introduce an alkalinity increaser or baking soda.

What does low alkalinity do to a pool?

When alkalinity is too low, your pool finish can become etched and stain, metals corrode, the water can turn green, swimmers’ eyes tend to burn, and pH can rapidly rise up or fall, seemingly at random.

Is alkalinity increaser the same as baking soda?

Although both products are similar, they are not the same. It is very common to use sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to raise total alkalinity and sodium carbonate (soda ash) to raise pH — the exception being if both total alkalinity and pH are low.

How much baking soda does it take to increase alkalinity?

A rule of thumb is 1.5 lbs. of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water will raise alkalinity by about 10 ppm. If your pool’s pH tested below 7.2, add 3-4 pounds of baking soda.

Do I raise alkalinity or pH first?

You should test alkalinity first because it will buffer pH. If you need to increase the alkalinity, add an increaser. To lower it, you’ll add a sodium bisulfate.

Does adding alkalinity increase pH?

From a water balance standpoint and from a practical standpoint, a high alkalinity will continuously raise the pH. You will always be adding acid to a pool that has high alkalinity.

Will alkalinity decrease on its own?

When You’ve Got Astronomical Alkalinity

One of the most important things to remember about high alkalinity is, if you can afford to wait, it will decrease over time on its own. That’s what alkalinity does. It helps prevent pH from changing too much, too fast. When you lower alkalinity, you’ll also be lowering pH.

Can I add pH up and alkalinity at the same time?

If you find your pH and total alkalinity levels are too low, you’ll need to add pH increaser to bump up the pH. If both the pH and total alkalinity levels are too high, you’ll need to add pH reducer.

Can I shock my pool after adding baking soda?

80 TA is just fine. Don’t add baking soda. But you can go ahead and add enough CYA to get to 30 and just assume it’s there and use 12 FC as your new SLAM level.

Can I shock pool after adding stabilizer?

Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C

As mentioned CYA Stabilizer can take days to dissolve, so avoid backwashing the filter for at least the next 3 or 4 days, also once dissolved it can take up to a week to fully register on tests.

How long after adding acid can I add chlorine?

Some people will tell you that it’s safe to swim just 30 minutes after adding muriatic acid to your pool water. But we recommend playing it safe by waiting three to four hours and testing your water before swimming in your pool.

Can I shock pool and add acid at same time?

Never add an alkali and an acid at the same time. They will neutralize each other and lose their effectiveness. To save time, some chemical applicators may choose to add add an alkali (base product) at the end of the pool and an acid at the opposite end of the pool.

How do I make my pool water crystal clear?

Can I add acid and chlorine to my pool at the same time?

Perhaps most important note of all, never add chlorine and muriatic acid together in the pool. This creates a dangerous toxic gas that can have severe health consequences if inhaled.

Is shock and chlorine the same thing?

1) What is the difference between chlorine and shock? Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly. Chlorine tabs (placed in a chlorinator, floater, or skimmer basket) maintain a chlorine residual in the water. You do need to use both tabs and shock.

Should I add chlorine or acid first?

If your pH test comes out at, say, pH 7.2, don’t add anything! The eventual addition of chlorine will bring it up slightly, which is exactly what’s needed. If your pH is showing pH 7.5 or higher, adding an acid will reduce it.

Does pool shock eliminate algae?

“Shocking” the pool with a large dose of chlorine is the most effective way to kill the existing algae and bring your pool back to sanitary conditions. This usually works within 1–3 days, but can take up to a week if pool conditions are poor.