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To raise the total alkalinity I recommend Sodium Bicarbonate. Trust me, you can use baking soda to increase your total alkalinity.

With the pool pump OFF and the water motionless:

Stand in one spot and slowly pour, don’t dump, the Sodium Bicarbonate into the deep-end of the pool

Sprinkle the Bicarbonate at you would use a salt shaker.

Wait at least 2-3 hours for pools and 1 hour for your Hot Tub or spa.

Turn the pump back on and allow the pool to cycle for about 1-2 hours, or a complete turn-over of the pool water, and 45 minutes for the Hot Tub or spa then re-test the total alkalinity.

Make another adjustment if necessary using the above technique. Remember, patience is a virtue when adjusting pool chemicals.

This will raise the total alkalinity total alkalinity but take care in monitoring your pH because Sodium Bicarbonate affects both the pool alkalinity and your swimming pool pH level.

Remember, this may take a few applications but you should reach the proper level. Refer to the chart to see how much Sodium Bicarbonate your pool needs.

When filling a pool, first test the total alkalinity of the fill water so you can have a good starting point. You may realize no corrections are even needed.

How To Lower Your Pool Alkalinity

To lower pool alkalinity, either use muriatic acid or dry acid. Lowering the pool alkalinity may take a few applications, so patience is a virtue.

1. Add your pool acid standing in one spot using small circular motions, liquid or dry, to the deepest part of the pool with the filter off and the water motionless.
2. Muriatic acid should be added a little at a time, diluting it (if using liquid) prior to adding to the pool.
3. Allow the pool acid to do its job in lowering the alkalinity by keeping the pump motor off for at least 2-3 hours for pools and 1 hour for Hot Tubs.
4. Turn the pump motor back on and allow 4-6 hours for filtration, then re-test. Make another adjustment if you need by simply following this technique.

If you're thinking about lowering the total alkalinity by partially draining the pool and diluting your swimming pool water, you may want to think this through.

I would say only under extreme conditions should you do this. Not only will it take longer than using muriatic acid, but you'll waste alot of water. And if it doesn't work, well, you'll have to start all over again and probably use more pool chlorine than necessary.

Remember, patience is a virtue when using the best pool tips.

ALWAYS ADD ACID TO THE WATER, NEVER WATER TO ACID!!

Fill the bucket ¾ full of pool water and then add your muriatic acid. Start at the deep end of the pool and, with the filter off and water motionless, and stand in one spot. You need to use this particular technique in order to lower the pool alkalinity while minimizing the effect on the pH. Try to stay away from any returns or skimmers.

If your pool is in need of a large dose of pool acid due to an extremely high alkalinity level, 170ppm or above, I recommend doing this in stages, maybe 4-6 hours in between applications.

You can always add more but it’s a real bugger to get it out. You can re-test your swimming pool's total alkalinity after the pool water has had a chance to circulate completely. Patience is a virtue in dealing with swimming pool chemistry.

Always take the proper precaution by wearing heavy duty rubber gloves and goggles. Or if you prefer, you may use dry acid. This is much easier and safer than liquid acid.

Contact your pool professional if your pool alkalinity problem persists.

Remember when using pool acid and pool chlorine, safety should be your highest concern. Wearing heavy rubber gloves and goggles will minimize risk of injury.

Keep in mind, proper balance of your pool’s chlorine, swimming pool pH, pool alkalinity, and hardness is of the utmost importance in having a safe body of water.

You’ll also get less headaches, spend less money and time worrying, and not want to drain the pool water to only have a very big flower garden.

Raise Pool Alkalinity 10ppm	40oz. (2 ½ pounds) of Sodium Bicarbonate (pump motor off and water motionless)
Lower Pool Alkalinity 10ppm	¼-½ gallon of acid or 8oz. of dry acid in one spot in the deep end (pump motor off and water motionless)

20,000 Gallon Pool

Raise Alkalinity 10ppm	2.5oz. of Sodium Bicarbonate (pump motor and jets off)
Lower Alkalinity 10ppm	6oz. acid (pump motor and jets off)

500 Gallon Hot Tub

and

Chart - Lowering Total Alkalinity Using Muriatic Acid

Decrease	GALLONS IN POOL
(ppm)	1,000	5,000	10,000	15,000	20,000	25,000	50,000
10	2.56 oz.	0.8 pts.	0.8 qts.	1.2 qts.	1.6 qts.	2.0 qts.	1 gal.
20	5.12 oz.	1.60 pts.	1.6 qts.	2.4 qts.	3.2 qts.	1.0 gal.	2 gal.
30	7.68 oz.	1.2 qts.	2.4 qts.	3.6 qts.	1.2 gal.	1.5 gal.	3 gal.
40	10.24 oz.	1.6 qts.	3.2 qts.	1.2 gal.	1.6 gal.	2.0 gal.	4 gal.
50	12.80 oz.	2.0 qts.	1.0 gal.	1.5 gal.	2.0 gal.	2.5 gal.	5 gal.
60	15.36 oz.	2.4 qts.	1.2 gal.	1.8 gal.	2.4 gal.	3.0 gal.	6 gal.
70	1.12 pts.	2.8 qts.	1.4 gal.	2.1 gal.	2.8 gal.	3.5 gal.	7 gal.
80	1.28 pts.	3.2 qts.	1.6 gal.	2.4 gal.	3.2 gal.	4.0 gal.	8 gal.
90	1.44 pts.	3.6 qts.	1.8 gal.	2.7 gal.	3.6 gal.	4.5 gal.	9 gal.
100	1.60 pts.	1.0 gal.	2.0 gal.	3.0 gal.	4.0 gal.	5.0 gal.	10 gal.

and

Chart - Raising Total Alkalinity Using Sodium Bicarbonate

Increase	GALLONS IN POOL
(ppm)	1,000	5,000	10,000	15,000	20,000	25,000	50,000
10	0.14 lbs	0.7 lbs.	1.4 lbs.	2.1 lbs.	2.8 lbs.	3.5 lbs.	7 lbs.
20	0.28 lbs.	1.4 lbs.	2.8 lbs.	4.2 lbs.	5.6 lbs.	7.0 lbs.	14 lbs.
30	0.42 lbs.	2.1 lbs.	4.2 lbs.	6.3 lbs.	8.4 lbs.	10.5 lbs.	21 lbs.
40	0.56 lbs.	2.8 lbs.	5.6 lbs.	8.4 lbs.	11.2 lbs.	14.0 lbs.	28 lbs.
50	0.70 lbs.	3.5 lbs.	7 lbs.	10.5 lbs	14.0 lbs.	17.5 lbs.	35 lbs.
60	0.84 lbs.	4.2 lbs.	8.4 lbs.	12.6 lbs.	16.8 lbs.	21.0 lbs.	42 lbs.
70	0.98 lbs.	4.9 lbs.	9.8 lbs.	14.7 lbs.	19.6 lbs.	24.5 lbs.	49 lbs.
80	1.12 lbs.	5.6 lbs.	11.2 lbs.	16.8 lbs.	22.4 lbs.	28.0 lbs.	56 lbs.
90	1.26 lbs.	6.3 lbs.	12.6 lbs.	18.9 lbs.	25.2 lbs.	31.5 lbs.	63 lbs.
100	1.40 lbs.	7.lbs.	14.0 lbs.	21.0 lbs.	28.0 lbs.	35.0 lbs.	70 lbs.

If you have a large commercial swimming pool, 80,000 - 125,000 gallons, I would recommend to not use more than 1 - 1.5 gallons gallons at a time because if you go too low in one shot, you're going to have another swimming pool problem on your hands, like increasing the pool alkalinity.

Let’s Recap

1. What is total alkalinity?
Alkalinity is the buffer, or Drill Instructor, of your pool. Keeping your alkalinity between 80ppm-100ppm will stabilize the chlorine, pH, and hardness.
2. When do I test the pool alkalinity?
Test your alkalinity in the late afternoon or early evening when the temperature is a bit cooler.
3. Where do I test the alkalinity?
Test your alkalinity in the deep end of the pool or the furthest away from the filter.
4. Why do I test the alkalinity?
Testing your pool alkalinity and keeping it at the proper range will help lock in the rest of the chemicals; i.e. chlorine, pH, and hardness. It will lessen pH “bounce”, corrosion of metal parts, scaling in your pool, and skin and eye irritation for your swimmers.
5. How do I test the pool alkalinity?
Follow the manufacturer’s directions if you’re using either the dropper system or Test Strips. Many times it’s just adding an alkalinity indicator that turns the sample water green. Then simply count the drops until the sample turns red. If you can count, you can do this test with machine-like precision. With Test Strips, simply dip the strip in the sample water and match the test square to the corresponding chart.

So there you have it. The best information and technique around about your swimming pool total alkalinity level.

Remember to turn the pump motor be off when increasing or decreasing your alkalinity.

And you probably saved a little money, too.

Happy Swimming

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