Is it even possible to raise the total alkalinity in a pool without raising the pH? Yes, you can easily do this but it will need to take practice to master the art of how to raise alkalinity in the pool without raising pH.
Causes of Low Levels of Alkalinity
Your swimming pool ( in-ground pool or above ground pools ) might have low levels of alkalinity because of the following reasons:
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- You might have lowered it yourself using alkalinity reducers like dry acid or muriatic acid. Here, you will need to add just the right portion to restore it to the right level.
- You might have backwashed your pool or drained part or all water and then added more water with low alkalinity.
- It might have rained or flooded. This will also lower the alkalinity levels.
Raising Alkalinity Levels
You can follow the following steps when raising the total alkalinity.
- Test total alkalinity – The first step is to test the water alkalinity level in order to know how high or low the alkalinity is. You need to raise it if it is less than 80 ppm.
- Buy sodium bicarbonate – Ensure that you buy enough to ensure that you effectively raise the alkalinity. You will need more than 5 pounds if the alkalinity level is extremely low.
- Know the amount to add – Find out how much baking soda you will need to add to your swimming pool. Simply add one-half of the recommended amounts to avoid adding too much chemical in your pool.
- Dilute – You might be required to dilute the baking soda (follow the instructions on the product label).
- Add to your pool – You can add sodium bicarbonate in the powdered form without causing any harm. However, ensure that you avoid the wind when adding it.
Raising Alkalinity without Raising the pH through Aeration
Your pool total alkalinity and pH levels are opposite south and north. What you do to alkalinity will have an effect on the pH.
So, what can you do to raise the alkalinity without raising the pH or vice versa? There is a process called aeration that you can use – many pool experts recommend it and pool owners have tried and tested it.
Aeration simply means that you need to circulate the air in your pool every time you raise the total alkalinity level in your pool. Not only air but also introduce some form of movements inside your swimming pool.
You can easily release this by turning on your swimming pool motor, using different water features as waterfalls, slides, or even hiring an air pump and inserting the hose into your pool to add air into the water.
In Conclusion
It might take time before you learn how to raise the total alkalinity without raising the pH levels. Thus, you need to keep on practising until you know how to do it effectively.
There are also professionals who can help you to achieve this but this means spending more. Of important, know that if you raise the alkalinity level you will also raise the pH.