I am a new pool owner and trying to learn the chemicals. We have a local pool store that tests the water for free and sells you what you need.
This week they told me to put in sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sulfuric acid. My pH was 7.6 which is pretty close to what we want. Why would I want to add in one chemical which raises pH and another chemical that lowers pH? Wouldn't the net effect of the 2 chemicals be neutral?
I'm wondering if they are just trying to just sell me extra chemicals that cancel each other out????? I have spent over $100 in the last month on pool chemicals. This seems excessive, especially since it only costs about $60 to have someone do it for you.
Here were my test results and what they told me to put in this week. My pool is 10,000 gallon concrete and is located in SW Florida.
chlorine: 5.0 ppm They said don't add any this week.
pH: 7.6 - was told to add 2 cups of sulfuric acid.
Alkalinity test: 70 - was told to add 5lbs of baking soda. Also, What exactly is an "alkalinity" test. I remember from chemistry class that acidity/alkalinity was "pH".
Stabilizer test: 50 - was told to add in 3 lbs of cyanuric acid. We've had to add in 2 lbs every week for the last month and the number have stayed at 50. From what I have read, 50 is the high side and you don't want to go over that. They said they want to get this number above 70.
This week they told me to put in sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sulfuric acid. My pH was 7.6 which is pretty close to what we want. Why would I want to add in one chemical which raises pH and another chemical that lowers pH? Wouldn't the net effect of the 2 chemicals be neutral?
I'm wondering if they are just trying to just sell me extra chemicals that cancel each other out????? I have spent over $100 in the last month on pool chemicals. This seems excessive, especially since it only costs about $60 to have someone do it for you.
Here were my test results and what they told me to put in this week. My pool is 10,000 gallon concrete and is located in SW Florida.
chlorine: 5.0 ppm They said don't add any this week.
pH: 7.6 - was told to add 2 cups of sulfuric acid.
Alkalinity test: 70 - was told to add 5lbs of baking soda. Also, What exactly is an "alkalinity" test. I remember from chemistry class that acidity/alkalinity was "pH".
Stabilizer test: 50 - was told to add in 3 lbs of cyanuric acid. We've had to add in 2 lbs every week for the last month and the number have stayed at 50. From what I have read, 50 is the high side and you don't want to go over that. They said they want to get this number above 70.