pH or Alkalinity

[jaybo500]

What's more important to correct when your pH is 8.0 and alkalinity is 80? Also, will sulfuric acid reduce pH while leaving alkalinity stable?

 

[duraleigh]

Use muriatic acid to lower your pH down to 7.4-7.6. I'd do that pretty quickly.

Then, test your TA again. If it's below say around 70, you can bring it up with baking soda. The baking soda will have little effect on the pH.

You can use Jason's calculator in my sig.

Ask any questions you may have. Lots of nice people here to help.

 

[jaybo500]

Thanks, but doesn't a low TA require bi-carb, and a low pH soda ash?

 

[PaulR]

Baking soda = sodium bicarbonate, raises TA without much effect on pH.
Soda ash = sodium carbonate, raises both pH and TA.
Borax (as in 20 Mule Team) raises pH without much effect on TA [included here for completeness].
--paulr

 

[Butterfly]

Hi jaybo500,

Recommended TA for SWG pools is 60 to 90, so yours is right in line.

Here's our Pool School article for pool-school/water_balance_saltwater_generator

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