Will raising TA also raise ph?

Fndr70

Well-known member
May 22, 2019
63
Pennsylvania
Pool Size
20000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-9)
I’m a perfectionist and my TA is 50. Allowable according to pool math but not idea. I would like to raise it to 60 or 70.

My ph is 7.4-7.6. Will adding the recommended amount if baking soda to raise TA significantly raise my ph?
 
No, 50 TA is just fine, and gives you a little room to minimum.
With a TA of 50, your pH should be fairly stable around 7.8 or so.
 
Last edited:
So you’re saying go ahead and raise the TA?
No.

The lower the TA the better, down to 50.

You are okay with a TA of 50. Any change to your TA will raise your pH, putting you on a yo-yo as you lose equilibrium between TA and pH.

If you want to be a perfectionist, don't follow general guidelines from a robot and learn what is ideal for your pool.

  • Baking Soda = big TA change, small pH change
  • Borax = big pH change, small TA change
  • Soda Ash/Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate) = big pH change, big TA change. Probably more TA change than you want. It is never recommended for use.
 
I will read up in those but if 50 is ok why does pool math all say the ideal is 60-80?.
Because PoolMath is being conservative. It does not know the specifics of a given pool environment for everyone worldwide.