Yes, borax can be used to raise pH levels in a pool, but it is not recommended for raising alkalinity as it can affect the pH levels without significantly impacting the alkalinity. It is better to use baking soda or soda ash to raise alkalinity in a pool.
To raise alkalinity in a spa using borax, you can add 1/2 pound of borax per 500 gallons of water. Start by adding this amount, then retest your water after a few hours to check if the alkalinity has reached the desired level. Adjust as needed based on your test results.
In the words of the song, where you are usually depends on where you start. In your case, that means that without knowing the size of your pool and how acidic is is to start with, no one can tell you how much to add to bring it up.
by adding sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonateAnswer by TSYou can use sodium carbonate (soda ash -- Washing Soda at Walmart) or you can use 20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster. It can be found at many grocery stores. Try using the same amount as you would with PH plus 1 lb. to 10,000 gallons, and wait 2 to 4 hrs. Then check your PH reading. If it's still low, add some more until you get it to 7.2 to 7.8 range. Caution - check your alkalinity before using borax, because borax raises PH only, without affecting your alkalinity much. If your alkalinity is also low you can use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to raise your alkalinity and PH. Baking Soda raises PH and Alkalinity at the same time. Baking Soda has the same ingredients as Alkalinity plus, but half the price. Take a look at this web site for more information on Borax: www.poolsolutions.com/gd/borax_20mule.html
Initially, you can't. What you do to lower alkalinity is first lower the pH to under 7.2, but not lower than 6.9. Then you aerate the pool, by creating bubbles with your brush, or by running a water feature, if you have one. This will lower your alkalinity. Maintain this lower pH and aerating until you get your alkalinity where you want it. Then retest your pH. If it is now too low, you add Mule Team Borax, say a 1/4 a cup, and then retest. The borax will raise your pH without raising your alkalinity. See the poolforum.com for more help if needed.
To raise the total alkalinity in a 20,000 gallon pool, you can typically add 1.5 pounds of baking soda for every 10 parts per million (ppm) increase you desire. Calculate how many ppm you need to raise your alkalinity by, and then use this ratio to determine the amount of baking soda needed for your specific situation.
To raise alkalinity in a spa using borax, you can add 1/2 pound of borax per 500 gallons of water. Start by adding this amount, then retest your water after a few hours to check if the alkalinity has reached the desired level. Adjust as needed based on your test results.
The most commonly sold product for that purpose is sodium carbonate, aka soda ash, sold as Ph Up by pool stores and as "Washing Soda" by grocery stores.You can also use 20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster (sodium tetraborate). It can be found at many grocery stores. Try using the same amount as you would with PH plus 1 lb. to 10,000 gallons, and wait 2 to 4 hrs. Then check your PH reading. If it's still low, add some more until you get it to 7.2 to 7.8 range.Caution - check your alkalinity before using borax, because borax raises PH only, without affecting your alkalinity much. If your alkalinity is also low you can use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to raise your alkalinity and PH. Baking Soda raises PH and Alkalinity at the same time. Baking Soda has the same ingredients as Alkalinity plus, but half the price. Take a look at this web site for more information on Borax: www.poolsolutions.com/gd/borax_20mule.html
Only use 20 Mule Team Borax without detergent. This raises your PH without raisig alkalinity. Try using the same amount you would with PH plus, and wait 2 to 4 hrs. and check your PH reading. If your alkalinity is low you can use baking soda to raise your alkalinity. Baking Soda raises PH and Alkalinity. Baking Soda has the same ingredients as Alkalinity plus, but half the price. Take a look at this web site for more information on Borax. http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/borax_20mule.html TS
In the words of the song, where you are usually depends on where you start. In your case, that means that without knowing the size of your pool and how acidic is is to start with, no one can tell you how much to add to bring it up.
Baking soda actually raises the total alkalinity of your pool. This does also increase your pH, but should only be used if your test kit shows low alkalinity. Otherwise you'll raise both pH and alkalinity and then have to use alkalinity down. Borax will raise PH and not alkalinity, but it raises it a lot. Start slowly by adding 1/2 box per 10,000 gal of water. Check the pH after 24 hours to see if you need more. Be sure to use only Borax and not detergent with Borax.Answer by TS( It must not contain detergent ) Only use 20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster. It can be found at any grocery store. Try using the same amount as you would with PH plus 1 lb. to 10,000 gallons, and wait 2 to 4 hrs. Then check your PH reading. If it's still low, add some more until you get it to 7.2 to 7.8 range. Caution - check your alkalinity before using borax, because borax raises PH only, without affecting your alkalinity. If your alkalinity is also low you can use baking soda to raise your alkalinity and PH. Baking Soda raises PH and Alkalinity at the same time. Baking Soda has the same ingredients as Alkalinity plus, but half the price. Take a look at this web site for more information on Borax. http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/borax_20mule.html(copy & paste to use link)
Baking Soda from your grocery store works the same as the Bicarb the pool stores sell to raise PH. The local Wal-mart sells 8 lb bags for close to a dollar a pound. Shop for your best price. Be aware that baking soda will raise your alkalinity as well.
Answer The most commonly sold product for that purpose is sodium carbonate, aka soda ash, sold as Ph Up by pool stores and as "Washing Soda" by grocery stores. You can also use 20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster. It can be found at many grocery stores. Try using the same amount as you would with PH plus 1 lb. to 10,000 gallons, and wait 2 to 4 hrs. Then check your PH reading. If it's still low, add some more until you get it to 7.2 to 7.8 range. Caution - check your alkalinity before using borax, because borax raises PH only, without affecting your alkalinity. If your alkalinity is also low you can use baking soda to raise your alkalinity and PH. Baking Soda raises PH and Alkalinity at the same time. Baking Soda has the same ingredients as Alkalinity plus, but half the price. Take a look at this web site for more information on Borax: www.poolsolutions.com/gd/borax_20mule.html
baking soda is the chemical that is used to raise your pH and alk. when both of these are in range they "buffer each other" which means it usually will stay constant. I also use baking soda...Sam's Club sells it in 12lb bags...it usually has a 'key' on the back of the bag of how much to use for what size pool. It also helps your skin stay soft from the swim! Baking Soda is great if you need to raise BOTH the pH and the alkalinity at the same time. If your alkalinity is at the correct level, and your pH is low, you do not want to raise the alkalinity, so do not use Baking Soda.... Instead, use "20 Mule Team BORAX" - half a box at a time, wait a couple of hours and re-test each time. Make sure you buy the "20 Mule Team BORAX" and not any kind of Detergent with Borax in it. That will give you a mess. The "20 Mule Team BORAX" can be found in the Laundry Additives section in your local super market for a fraction of the cost of the pH-up products, and will work wonderfully without raising your alkalinity to harden your water too much. It also leaves your skin soft after a swim, like the Baking Soda. Here's a link to show the use of 20 Mule Team Borax in your pool to raise the PH without affecting the Alkalinity levels: http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/borax_20mule.HTML And another link to show more replacement chemicals, and how much to use: http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/grocery.HTML
by adding sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonateAnswer by TSYou can use sodium carbonate (soda ash -- Washing Soda at Walmart) or you can use 20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster. It can be found at many grocery stores. Try using the same amount as you would with PH plus 1 lb. to 10,000 gallons, and wait 2 to 4 hrs. Then check your PH reading. If it's still low, add some more until you get it to 7.2 to 7.8 range. Caution - check your alkalinity before using borax, because borax raises PH only, without affecting your alkalinity much. If your alkalinity is also low you can use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to raise your alkalinity and PH. Baking Soda raises PH and Alkalinity at the same time. Baking Soda has the same ingredients as Alkalinity plus, but half the price. Take a look at this web site for more information on Borax: www.poolsolutions.com/gd/borax_20mule.html
Initially, you can't. What you do to lower alkalinity is first lower the pH to under 7.2, but not lower than 6.9. Then you aerate the pool, by creating bubbles with your brush, or by running a water feature, if you have one. This will lower your alkalinity. Maintain this lower pH and aerating until you get your alkalinity where you want it. Then retest your pH. If it is now too low, you add Mule Team Borax, say a 1/4 a cup, and then retest. The borax will raise your pH without raising your alkalinity. See the poolforum.com for more help if needed.
To raise the total alkalinity in a 20,000 gallon pool, you can typically add 1.5 pounds of baking soda for every 10 parts per million (ppm) increase you desire. Calculate how many ppm you need to raise your alkalinity by, and then use this ratio to determine the amount of baking soda needed for your specific situation.
Chlorine will not raise the total alkalinity level in a pool. However, if you are trying to raise the total alkalinity, you can add small amounts of baking soda.