Lowering Alkalinity and Raising pH in Your Pool

[@catman581]

I've used muriatic acid to lower alkalinity for years, it's cheap and you can get it at any home depot or lowes. As far as the PH goes, I've always used Arm and Hammer baking soda to raise my PH. I'm not a professional, I'm just telling you, what has worked for me in the 22 years I've had a pool. Thank you for your videos and knowledge about pools.

[@jameswalker5409]

Same here.

[@leebun6076]

How much baking soda do you use? My PH is 6.8 with 17500 gal. Alkalinity 220

[@ialien2077]

@@leebun6076 Sounds like we have the same problem - PH too low and alkalinity too high. Using baking soda will push your alkalinity even higher. Gonna try what the video says.

[@smashingartful]

Great info!

[@PoolSchooler]

👍. Hope you’ll subscribe and share. And please check out my website poolschooler.com.

[@VictorHuertaPhoenixRealtor]

Do you have to grain your pool before 3/4 to 1/2 way if this is true on Alkalinity high and PH low to none and add fresh water?

[@PoolSchooler]

No you shouldn't have to drain any of your pool to adjust the alkininity or pH.

[@VictorHuertaPhoenixRealtor]

@@PoolSchooler my total Alkalinity is 106 and my Free Chlorine is 0.1. My pool has a little algae and high on TDS 2700. I was draining it to add fresher water. Should I stop and just do what you recommend in your awesome video? Do you service the South Mountain area? 19st & Dobbins?

[@PoolSchooler]

@@VictorHuertaPhoenixRealtor So first: Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) please watch this video to help you (2700 is not too high): kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHnKn4Zjn7SmerM You need to get your free chlorine up (try adding a couple of gallons of liquid chlorine. Re: Algae please watch this video on Algae and Algaecides and Why You Don't Need Them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6uqoH5qeMlqqsU Your alkalinity is well within the "ok" range which is between 80-120ppm. So that's not a problem. Please watch this video on Changing your Pool Water: Why and When: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6GmhGh4mM1jnZI Oh, and unfortunately I do not service pools that far out. Sorry

[@JENIFLOWER21]

New pool owner here .. do I have to disconnect the vacuum hose and just let the pump run when adding chemicals?? If I leave the vacuum on will it just suck up the chemicals before they’ve had time to work? Also, can the skimmer stay on? I leave my lever at about 60/40 between the pump/ vacuum and skimmer.

[@PoolSchooler]

No need to disconnect the vacuum. You just want the water circulating.

[@JENIFLOWER21]

Thank you!

[@Marcos.j21]

If i lowered the alkalinity at the same time, I have to raise the ph, or if the ph is where it needs to be, I just focus on the alkalinity

[@PoolSchooler]

Typically it’s suggested that you get the alkalinity where it needs to be first and then work on the pH. So I would work on lowering the alkalinity to it gets within the ideal range, then work on raising the pH after that.

[@jeffcanty7300]

What are y’all using to test water? I’m not sure if I’m color blind but the test strip colors for ph and alkalinity just seem to blend too much and I can’t tell how far off I am. It appears my ph is low, free chlorine is high ( which I expected, had to kill some algae ), alkalinity is high, hardness is high (we have very hard water where we live), and stabilizer is low.

[@PoolSchooler]

The strips are very easy to read in person. Remember you're watching this via a cell phone camera and in natural light so the colors may be difficult to see on camera. I use the AquaChek Pro Test strips.

[@jeffcanty7300]

@@PoolSchooler Oh no I meant reading them in person lol. I have the aquachek test strips, but also just noticed that they expires so I’m going to pick up a new bottle and see what the results are. Also will take a water sample in to get tested. Was about to buy a $100 Taylor test kit before I started reading some bad reviews on it.

[@PoolSchooler]

@@jeffcanty7300 They do expire (typically they're good for at least a year if you store them in a cool dry place out of the elements. Also remember pool chemistry is not an exact science (sort of), your pool chemistry can change over night due to many factors, climate, weather, use etc.

[@colehatt4433]

Can I use this method in my hot tub...

[@PoolSchooler]

You can, but don't over dose the hot tub. Remember a pool has a lot more water so adjust the amounts to suit the gallonage of your spa.

[@keeganjacobs5913]

Please link where i can find dry granular acid because when i search online, all the ones i see also state PH lower .

[@PoolSchooler]

Apologies, I failed to put that link in. I just did but here's a link to a 10lb bucket of it: amzn.to/3dIuTZu

[@SgtSam1]

⁠@@PoolSchoolerwhy does all the dry acid/sodium bisulfate products (including the one you linked) say it’s a PH reducer? The video says to use for bringing down the alkalinity. My Alkalinity needs to come down but my PH is super low already. Please clarify 🙏🏼

[@PoolSchooler]

@@SgtSam1 in my experience, and my training you use dry granular acid to reduce alkalinity and bicarbonate soda to raise alkalinity. You use typically liquid muriatic acid to lower pH and soda as to raise pH.

[@SgtSam1]

@@PoolSchooler thank you!

[@PoolSchooler]

@@SgtSam1 you’re welcome and happy holidays

[@pattijesinoski1958]

How to do the reverse. Oops. Should have .listened first! Thanks.

[@PoolSchooler]

😉👍

[@nms1508]

That dry granular acid Isint available near me can I please just use the liquid???

[@PoolSchooler]

Well the liquid acid will lower the pH more than the alkalinity. You may want to order it online.www.amazon.com/Leslies-Swimming-Pool-Supplies-Bucket/dp/B08C7JMNL4/ref=asc_df_B08C7JMNL4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459693136064&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8964379629017896550&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030055&hvtargid=pla-947960379730&psc=1

[@nms1508]

But can’t I just increase it after the alkalinity is lowered? It’s like off the chart 🥺.. I put too much baking soda trying to increase oh only and forgot it would affect the alkilinity as well..

[@PoolSchooler]

@@nms1508 it is tricky. Sometimes you have to play around with it a bit. I’m not a big fan of dumping more chemicals into a pool than necessary. But I guess you could try using the liquid acid to bring the alkalinity down even though it will probably tank the pH and then once your alkalinity gets down low enough use soda ash, not baking soda to try to bring the pH back up without affecting the alkalinity too much

[@nms1508]

Ok got the dry acid I have. A 10,000 gal pool and I did the test kit at home and it never turned “red” so sounds like it’s off the chart ☹️ si still start on 1 lb dry ash? Tia

[@PoolSchooler]

@@nms1508 Yes, but you could start with 2lbs of the Dry Acid, allow pump to run a couple hours, retest and repeat ONLY using one addition lb at at time after that. Then once th alkalinity is lowered you can try to get the pH up.