How much does soda ash raise alkalinity?

[Stressed_era]

So I bought ph up not realizing it was sodium carbonate, not sodium bicarbonate. I usually buy the big bag of baking soda but Walmart was out of stock and I didn't want to wait or make any more trips.

Pool math doesn't give any option other than baking soda for raising alkalinity so Im not sure how much I can add.

My alkalinity dipped down to 55-60ppm. I wanted to bump it to 70. Since I didn't know how much to use I used the ph calculator in pool math instead.

My ph was 7.2, so I put my target at 7.6 and added 11-ish ounces of the soda ash to reach the target. I have a feeling I'm probably close to the 70ppm alkalinity but unsure.

How long before I can accurately test alkalinity again?

Pool before soda ash
7600 gallons
FC 6
Cya 20-25 (a little low I know)
pH 7.2
Alk 60ppm

Also, do you have to pre mix soda ash? I did, but just wondering if it's really necessary.

 

[Bperry]

Your TA is nearly perfect at 60ppm why are you wanting to raise it?

 

[Stressed_era]

Your TA is nearly perfect at 60ppm why are you wanting to raise it?

Pool math recommended 60-80 so I usually try to keep it in the middle. And I'm using tablets while I'm away so I wanted to bump pH and alk up a bit. Probably not really necessary.

 

[Newdude]

Try to keep it in the middle...... Probably not really necessary.

Correct. Get them in range and let PH and TA settle themselves. Fighting those two is a favorite trick of the pool store to keep you on a never ending (and spendy) roller coaster. I'm on season 3 with this also vinly pool local to you and I've yet to touch the TA. I adjusted Ph twice the first season being so happy to have the pool back, once last year, and I probably won't for a few more years. (Unless it needs a spring adjustment at opening)

 

[Stressed_era]

Yea I usually don't touch either of them after opening. But I was using tabs this year to get the cya up since I got a new liner abd refilled. I know that's not what we do around here but it's worked out for me because I have the solar cover on until around 2.30pm so I wasn't really losing much FC to the sun with the floater under the cover. Then I angle my return jet up for the rest of the day to keep the ph from dipping due to the trichlor.

Only problem with this method this year is I'm going to have a bunch of liquid chlorine left over. I bought 2 cases about a month ago and haven't needed to use much. Next year I'll be on full liquid chlorine again.