To test the water, start by collecting a water sample in your tester that’s at least 18 in (45. 7 cm) below the surface. Make sure the water reaches the “fill” line on the column of your tester. Add 2 drops of sodium thiosulfate to your sample and swirl the tube to mix. Then add 5 drops of the total alkalinity indicator. Swirl the tube to mix, and your water should now be green. Add the sulfuric acid reagent one drop at a time. Make sure to count each drop and swirl the mixture after each one. Stop adding drops when the water turns from green to red. Multiply the number of sulfuric acid reagent drops you added by 10 to get the total alkalinity in ppm.
For a rectangular pool, calculate the volume in gallons by multiplying the pool’s average depth by its width and height, then multiplying the total by 7. 48. For circular pools, calculate the volume by using the formula V = πr2h, with V being the volume, r the pool’s radius, and h the pool’s depth. Once you solve for V, multiply that by 7. 48 to get the volume in gallons. Calculate how much baking soda you’ll need to raise the alkalinity by 10 ppm by using the formula ((Gallons of water in pool) / 10,000) x 24 = ounces of baking soda needed. If measuring in grams, replace 24 with 680. You can also purchase an alkalinity increaser to add to your pool. However, the main ingredient in these increasers is sodium bicarbonate, also known as. . . baking soda! So stick with just buying baking soda in bulk if you want a cheaper option.
When dealing with baking soda, protect your skin and eyes by wearing rubber gloves and safety goggles.
Compared to something like baking soda, soda ash will raise your pool’s pH levels pretty drastically. So if you’re only looking to raise the alkalinity without affecting the pH levels, it’s best to use baking soda rather than soda ash. For kits that use liquid solutions, gather a water sample at least 18 in (45. 7 cm) below the water’s surface. Then add 1 drop of the sodium thiosulfate solution and swirl to mix it in. Add 5 drops of the phenol red indicator, swirl to mix, and compare the color of your water to the scale on the side to determine the pH level. For kits that use a dissolving tablet, simply drop the red phenol tablet into your water sample and shake vigorously until it dissolves. Compare the color of your water sample to the scale on the side to determine pH.
For a rectangular pool, calculate the volume in gallons by multiplying the pool’s average depth by its width and height, then multiplying the total by 7. 48. For circular pools, calculate the volume by using the formula V = πr2h, with V being the volume, r the pool’s radius, and h the pool’s depth. Once you solve for V, multiply that by 7. 48 to get the volume in gallons. Calculate how much soda ash you’ll need to raise the pH by 0. 2 by using the formula ((Gallons of water in pool) / 10,000) x 6 = ounces of soda ash needed. If measuring in grams, replace 6 with 170. Wear rubber gloves and safety goggles to protect your skin and eyes from any possible irritation.
Avoid pouring the mixture near the water filter. If it goes into the filter immediately, the filter is going to dilute it and make all of your previous hard work useless.
Soda ash can turn the pool water cloudy if not completely dissolved, so leave your filter running to keep the water removing around during those 8 hours.
Rainwater flooding your pool is a common cause of low alkalinity, since the water becomes diluted. Other things such as acid rain, sweat, and even urine can also lead to low alkalinity levels.
Cloudy water Corrosion on ladders, pipes, or other metal parts Buildup of algae Irritated skin or eyes when swimming
High alkalinity is mainly caused due to chlorine not fully oxidizing things in your pool.
