The reason this is worth mentioning is that chemical automation controllers can read pH in real-time with a probe, but controllers do not know what the alkalinity of the water is. Depending on the controller, this can lead to overuse of acid, which can compound into much bigger issues. The role of Total Alkalinity in water chemistry If your total alkalinity is low, you need to raise the alkalinity. So, how to raise alkalinity in the pool? Put on your protective gear. Wear a long-sleeve top, rubber gloves, goggles or other eyewear, and a face mask to prevent inhaling fumes. With that being said, they are still different measurements and they can still act independently of one another, which means it’s not impossible to see a pool with high pH and low alkalinity, or vice-versa. What is the Ideal Alkalinity Level?

Immediately retesting your water isn’t necessary, but make sure you complete another test within 24 hours. If your pH and total alkalinity are within the normal range, congratulations! But, if you find they’re still high, repeat the process again. How to Lower pH with Muriatic AcidMethod Two: Slowly pour the acid into the pool near your return jets and let the pump circulate it. For above ground pools, add the acid slowly by walking around your pool so it doesn’t get concentrated in a single spot. Did you notice that total alkalinity is not measured on the pH scale? This is an important distinction to make because this is usually how pH and alkalinity get confused. Total alkalinity is measured by the amount, or concentration (ppm)in the water, not by how alkalinethe water is. It’s okay to use less and add more later. Remember, it’s easier to add more to correct your water balance than to adjust the pool chemistry if you add too much. 3. Add the pH Decreaser to Your Pool Unfortunately, many pool chemicals you add to your water can impact your total alkalinity. Similarly, low chlorine levels and a high bather load can increase your pH and alkalinity levels. Cyanuric Acid That’s why adjusting your alkalinity before adjusting your pH is so important: it can help bring your pH into range. Your total alkalinity should be between 100 and 150 parts per million (ppm). If you find that your total alkalinity is too low, but you have a pH higher than 6.8, use an alkalinity increaser. If your total alkalinity is too high, using a pH decreaser or pH reducer like sodium bisulfate will bring down both your alkalinity and pH.

Alkalinity, acidity levels … there’s no need to get hung up on terms. The most important reason you should lower your pool's pH is that chlorine, the main chemical in your pool, won't work as well in high pH water. Start by testing your pH and alkalinity levels so you know how much you need to lower everything. If your total alkalinity is also too high, don’t worry: the pH decreaser will lower your alkalinity as well. 2. Measure Out the pH Decreaser Aside from that, the cyanuric acid in stabilized forms of chlorine (including most tablets or granular chlorine) also contributes alkaline substances to the water, and these will inflate your total alkalinity reading. If both your pH and alkalinity levels are too low, you can add soda ash to help bring them up. But what if you only need to bring your pH into range?

How Do Alkalinity and pH Affect Each Other?

Then, start the aeration process. In this process, the pump will help the solution to spread out and dissolve other particles in your pool. Q: How much should I use to lower my pH?A: In The Swim recommends a dosage of 1.5 lbs per 10,000 gallons. Keep the pump running for an hour (longer for larger pools) to allow the acid to fully circulate throughout your pool.

Note: This process is very similar to adding muriatic acid; the only differences are less emphasis on safety gear and no water-to-acid ratio.The most effective and easiest to control, at least in terms of raising your total alkalinity, is bicarbonate. You can add bicarbonates to your water by simply adding sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Keeping your swimming pool water clean and sanitary is one of the most important steps for pool maintenance. Let In The Swim’s 3 inch chlorine tablets for pools help. With a powerful active ingredient and slow dissolving formula, our chlorine tablets will keep your swimming pool water sanitary longer, saving you time and money. Non-stabilized chlorines, like liquid chlorine (bleach) or cal hypo, each have a high pH. So you can have lower alkalinity, like 80 ppm, or even lower than 80 ppm if your LSI allows for it. Salt chlorine pools will often struggle with scale buildup that flakes off the salt cell and blows into the pool. Salt pools, in season, can usually benefit from lower levels of alkalinity, like 60 ppm, provided the LSI remains balanced. The key is to measure acid and dilute it before pouring to avoid overcorrections. Too much acid with lower alkalinity will cause bigger problems, so be careful. HTH Spa pH Minus Micro Balls pH & Alkalinity Reducer corrects high levels of pH (above 7.6) or alkalinity (above 160mg/l). High pH or alkalinity can lead to problems with cloudy water and scaling of surfaces and pipework. High pH will make chlorine sanitisers less effective and high alkalinity can make it difficult to adjust the pH