Some have stated Baking Soda can be used as a replacement to Soda Ash, for increasing the PH of the pool, but Soda Ash (sodium carbonate) has a different chemical makeup than Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate). I do not know what long term affect continued use of this chemical difference will have on the pool water.
Baking soda should be used if your total alkalinity is a great deal below 80 ppm of the 80 to 120 ppm range. Example: alkalinity at 40 ppm - at that level you may want to add about 2 cups of Baking soda - the goal is to try to raise the level slowly to within the 60 to 70 mark. Once those levels are reached you may want to wait for several hrs. to see if they stabilize there. If not then just a little more should be added t creep it into the required range. Test the next day to see if there are any corrections to your chemistry to be made.
Sosa Ash should be used when you pH is below 6.8 or lower to 7.0. Soda ash in small amounts will raise the level of an acidic pool getting you out of the danger zone.
I use baking soda to raise the alkalinity. Baking soda has 100 percent sodium bicarbonate. - 75 cents a lb. Alkalinity Plus has 95 percent sodium bicarbonate in it. - over $2.00 a lb. Do the math, which is cheaper. Soda ash or pH plus should be used to raise PH.
I'm the pool operator at the YMCA and we use Sodium Bicarb. Don't let people scare you with info about this or that. You can use Sod. Bi. to raise both the pH and alkalinity, it's just how you do it that matters.
There is a technique that you can use to raise either the pH or alkalinity by using the same product, Sodium Bicarb.
You want to run your pool water pH level between 7.6-7.8, not 7.2. Most pools guys get their info. on how to balance pools from your local water company. Yes, this is correct. It called the Langelier Index, which was originally designed for public water systems. This index was never intended for pools.
While your filtration system is running and the water is circulating, broadcast, (don't dump the product or go too fast), the pool acid, or pH minus if you wish, into the pool starting in the deep end and working around the perimeter. Please remember to use goggles and heavy rubber gloves. If you spill any acid on your skin, it will probably eat through 3 layers of skin before you can wash it off. Remember, safety first.
Allow the water to fully circulate, usually 4-6 hours, then re-test your pool's pH balance. Make small changes if needed.
To raise the pH just do the above but use Sod. Bi.
Try to not add more than 2lbs. of Sodium Bicarbonate, or another kind of alkalinity/pH increaser, for every 10,000 gallons of water in a single application.
Lower Alk.
While your filtration system is off and the water is motionless, stand in the deep end of the pool and sprinkle (don't dump the product or go too fast), the Sodium Bicarbonate or alkalinity up.
Allow the water to sit for 2-3 hours, then turn the pump back on and allow the pool to fully circulate, usually 4-6 hours, then re-test your pool's alkalinity balance. Doing this technique will increase your alkalinity without much happening to the pH level.
Yes, baking soda can raise the pH of pool water, not bring it down. Baking soda is a base, which means it has the ability to raise the pH level.
Baking soda can be used to control acidity in swimming pools. Baking soda controls the Total Alkalinity Soda ash raises the pH or reduces the acidity.
yes
Alkalinity is not an actual "chemical", however if you are concerned about increasing the alkalinity in your swimming pool, you are perfectly safe. The chemical that increases "total alkalinity" in a swimming pool, is only baking soda. It wil not harm the human body!
Baking soda will not soften (remove calcium hardness) from pool water. It will raise total alkalinity.
Sodium carbonate, also known as soda ash or washing soda, is commonly used to raise the pH in swimming pools. It helps to neutralize the acidity in the water and increase the pH to the desired level for safe and comfortable swimming conditions.
Baking soda will almost certainly raise the pH level in a pool.
According to the MSDS it is sodium bicarbonate or baking soda
baking soda
Soda Ash
keep scooping, backwashing, scooping, backwashing. It has taken us all week to get rid of arm and hammer laundry deterent from our pool. Thought it was baking soda.
No, it will affect the pH of your pool. You need to look at the chemicals calcium harness, as well as any metals in your water.