Lowering the Alkalinity of Your Pool

In this video I'll tell you how to lower JUST the Alkalinity of your pool water.
The chemical you'll need is Dry Granular Pool Acid.
Please remember to Like, Subscribe and Share and check out my website poolschooler.com for more money saving DIY pool stuff.
DIY Pool Care

[@CHEECHMUN]

My daughter knows about you now!

[@PoolSchooler]

👍

[@kimballlewis1154]

I had a green pool. 10,000 gallon. I shocked it with 2 gallons of liquid chlorine and then PR-10000 phosphate remover (just like your green pool video). It worked perfect, my pool is crystal clear now 1 week later. But, my alkalinity level is suddenly high. It went from 120 to 160+. I've had to treat my pool for low alkalinity in the past, but never high alkalinity -- this is a first. My pH is fine. Could my green pool treatment have caused my alkalinity to go up? Thoughts? Anyway, thanks for your videos -- they are terrific!

[@PoolSchooler]

It’s possible, vegetation is potentially alkali so that could raise the alkalinity as it’s dying off. Glad the video helped. Make sure you clean your filter media if you haven’t done so already.

[@debbymac6563]

Cool! Thank you for sharing

[@CrazyQuadBrothersP3]

Quick question how do I use that in a vinyl pool? Will it say the liner or do any damage?

[@PoolSchooler]

If the dry granular acid sits on the vinyl too long, it can certainly cause some degree of damage. You could always put it in the skimmer or pre dissolve it in water and distribute it.

[@NB-fi7mo]

Thank you for your video. If muriatic acid won't bring my alkalinity down lower than 170, will dry acid be any different? TIA

[@PoolSchooler]

My experience and understanding is that the dry granular acid will lower the alkalinity more and not affect the pH so dramatically.

[@PoolSchooler]

Have you tested your source water to make sure it's alkalinity is not 170. If it is then you'll be fighting a losing battle trying to keep it down.

[@kkhater]

I will try that soon. My alkalinity is very hight but my ph is very low. What brand of granular dry acid I can get from Walmart or lows?

[@PoolSchooler]

I'd do an online search (Google) for Dry Pool Acid. www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=dry+pool+acid&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[@CMurder9611zzz]

Do I need to dilute/dissolve the granules 1st or just sprinkle around the perimeter?

[@PoolSchooler]

Just sprinkle them around the perimeter of the pool. Easy peasy. 👍

[@gnickolas69]

So doing this will only lower the alkalinity and not ph? I just refilled my pool is Socal and we have high alkalinity fresh from the tap like 150. But my ph is good.

[@PoolSchooler]

So typically granular pool acid will lower the alkalinity much more with very little affect on the pH. It is a bit of a balancing act to get it balanced out but start by working on getting the alkalinity lower till it gets low enough for you then if you need to bring the pH back up a little bit throw in very little soda ash and that should bring that back up

[@Maxspeed7Dab]

So I was stupid and guessed how much baking soda to add to my pool to higher the alkalinity.... now my alkalinity is at 203 lol So in going to try this, but my ph is perfect at 7.6

[@PoolSchooler]

No worries. You got this. Easy to correct and lower. 👍

[@usielhernandez3485]

What kind of brand of Dry granular acid do you use?

[@PoolSchooler]

Just look up dry granular pool acid

[@brandonchapin1728]

My ph is 7.2 and Alk is 140 .... Should I adjust the Alk or leave it ?

[@PoolSchooler]

@@brandonchapin1728 I get your alkalinity down first use dry granular pool acid to lower it

[@jasonbayless6495]

Does it matter if the pump is on filter or circulate?

[@PoolSchooler]

I would set it to filter. You might as well filter the water when you run the pump.

[@CarolinaOats]

How much do I put in a 8x30 small pool? I added ph down but it’s not budging it’s very high on both. Also can I add this after using ph down? I already put 4 1 inch chlorine tablets, 1 clear balance & 2 pounds of baking soda. So far I’ve added in 3 cups and a half of ph down it’s not working. I’m frustrated. So I’m new to pools. What should I buy to be using in my pool and how often do I use it so I can order what I’ll need. Thank you sooooo much I’m in NC btw! 🫶

[@PoolSchooler]

Please see why reply to your other comment.

[@johnnybravo508]

Is the Leslie's dry acid the same? because the bucket says lowers ph and alkalinity

[@PoolSchooler]

It is the same, typically it will lower the alkalinity much more than the pH. Whereas the liquid muriatic acid tends to lower the pH more than the alkalinity.

[@johnnybravo508]

@@PoolSchooler got it. I learned something thank you so much

[@PoolSchooler]

@@johnnybravo508 You're welcome.

[@AncelmoShol]

How to check for clorine in 20×50 outdoor pool?

[@PoolSchooler]

@@AncelmoShol this video will answer your question Testing The Chlorine In Your Pool kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3rbgo2brpuSsLc

[@AncelmoShol]

@@PoolSchooler ok

[@johnnybravo508]

I've put 9lbs of dry acid and still alkalinity not going down im using the aquacheck that you recommended

[@PoolSchooler]

I know this may sound strange, but have you checked the alkalinity of your water source? Sometimes the source water can be so high alkalinity that you just can’t keep on top of it, especially since three evaporation. Your pool is constantly refreshing water on a daily basis and that could be. Another possibility could be, and this is not necessarily uncommon that if you’ve recently had your pool surface redone like Plaster or pebble tech sometimes the bonding material the chemistry of it can cause an unusually high and consistent alkalinity or pH, which you can’t alleviate till the product ages for several years. But I would definitely check your source water to see if it’s really high in alkalinity that could be the issue

[@johnnybravo508]

So I went to my local Leslie's. alkalinity still high at 192 they said it runs high in our area

[@PoolSchooler]

@@johnnybravo508 so, unfortunately that’s what you have to deal with and that’s probably what you’re going to have to be OK with when it comes to your pool water. To dump a bunch of muriatic acid keep bringing it down in the pool. It’s not expensive but it’s probably going to be a waste of that money, the good news is the high pH is not gonna be horribly detrimental to your pool.

[@johnnybravo508]

Yes, just hoping high alkalinity ain't bad for pool equipment

[@johnnybravo508]

Thank you!

[@HAULUUZ]

So my alkalinity is at 110 and ph is over 8. Will this work for high alkalinity & high ph and keep both from going back up? I keep having to put a few cups of MA a week for high ph. I was told since my pool is salt water alkalinity should be 50-80 ppm. Thanks!

[@PoolSchooler]

It should.

[@ClarenceBaskerville]

WHAT IF IT’S STILL HIGH

[@PoolSchooler]

Repeat the process using about 1 pound at a time. With the filter pump running wait about an hour retest and repeat as needed until your alkalinity gets to within the ideal range

[@johnnybravo508]

I need help, so I bought the 10lb dry acid from Leslie's I've added a little at a time I probably have 3lb left of it. Everything went down but the alkalinity @poolschool

[@PoolSchooler]

It’s possible that your water source that refills. Your pool is high in alkalinity. In that case it’s going to be what it’s going to be and you will drive yourself crazy trying to maintain low alkalinity. There’s also possibility and I’ve seen it happen before that, the chemicals used in the surface of your pool i.e. pebble tech or Plaster Can mess with your Pools Alkalinity or pH for that matter and you just have to be OK with it being where it’s at. The good news is unless it’s astronomically high. It’s not really a major issue.