If I am using baking soda instead of bioguard balnce pak 100 to raise alkalinity and the pool store says add 19 ponds should I add 19 pounds of baking soda?
Baking soda instead of Bioguard Balance Pak 100
- Thread starter jodyliebing
- Start date
I wouldn't add anything based on pool store advice. They often just say you need something so you'll buy it.
Get your actual TA number before proceeding. 19 pounds of baking soda will raise your TA by about 300ppm in 10,000 gallons or 150ppm in 20,000 gallons. Unless your pool is 30,000 gallons or more there is probably never a reason to add that much baking soda to a pool.
Balance Pak 100 is just baking soda, so you'd use the same amount.
Get your actual TA number before proceeding. 19 pounds of baking soda will raise your TA by about 300ppm in 10,000 gallons or 150ppm in 20,000 gallons. Unless your pool is 30,000 gallons or more there is probably never a reason to add that much baking soda to a pool.
Balance Pak 100 is just baking soda, so you'd use the same amount.
Thank you!! My pool is 23k gallons and my total alkalinity was 70 I added 8 pounds baking soda!! Will have water tested tomorrow. I think I need too invest in a good test kit!! I am a newbee! My pool was built lasy year and I spent WAY to much on chemicals. Could you also give me advise on shock vs bleach? I just want to make sure the water is safe for swimmers. I am currently using bioguard shock * swim. Like the product, hate the price.
70 is a fine number for TA. Why'd you waste money raising it?
Get your own test kit - a proper one - and take control of your pool.
May I suggest you spend a few evenings reading
Get your own test kit - a proper one - and take control of your pool.
May I suggest you spend a few evenings reading
There's an article in Pool School that will tell you. Or skip it and just go to tftestkits.net and get a TF100. I'd recommend springing for the XL option since you'll burn through a lot of reagents initially playing with the new toy. A speedstir is also worth the money.jodyliebing said:
By the by, if you are using trichlor tablets, which we don't recommend but which is common enough, then you should raise your TA up to around 120.
do you mean the 3 inch silk tabs that go in the auto chlorinator? I do use them , should I not??
If you read the pool school link in the upper right it will explain in detail, but to put it simply when you use trichlor it adds both chlorine and CYA stabilizer, at some point the CYA builds up to a point where it is "overstabilizing" your chlorine and then the only solution to the problem is to drain some / most of the pool water and replace it to get the CYA level back down to a manageable level.
oh my. Well I would be ok just not using it if it is not needed, I just listened to the pool place and they said keep it full!! Also another 150 dollars a season. Would I then have to use more chlorine when I add directly to the pool? Last summer I used a 1 pound bag a week sometimes 2.
Interesting....
The MSDS for Bioguard Balance Pak 100 lists the ingredient as 100% Sodium hydrogen carbonate
Which is just a fancy name for Baking Soda.
I bet it has a fancy price, too :grrrr:
The MSDS for Bioguard Balance Pak 100 lists the ingredient as 100% Sodium hydrogen carbonate
Which is just a fancy name for Baking Soda.
I bet it has a fancy price, too :grrrr:
After spending a few days on this forum I am SOO not surprised. I just ordered my pool test kit.
Spent two years using the Bioguard "system" before I found this site. I also have a 23K gallon pool. You can see my signature for the financial impact of following the advice and methodology here.
Welcome to tfp, jodyliebing 
Our recommendation is bleach/liquid chlorine for chlorinating. See this poolschool article: http://www.troublefreepool.com/pool-school/types_chlorine_pool Most likely the "bags" you were adding also were adding cya. What is in the "bags"? Once you get your test kit, post your results and we can go from there.jodyliebing said:
not sure what is in the bags, I will check. Also will post my results!! I love this forum 
No, tablet feeder chlorinators only work with trichlor tablets. There are related devices that can feed liquid bleach at a stead rate, but they work on different principals.
I am currently using leslies power powder plus and bioguard shock & swim. I am assuming that both products will raise my CYA??
Leslie's Power Powder Plus is cal-hypo, which does not contain CYA. Instead it adds calcium.
BioGuard Shock & Swim is dichlor, which does contain CYA and also lowers the PH.
BioGuard Shock & Swim is dichlor, which does contain CYA and also lowers the PH.
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