Q&A for How to Raise pH in Pool

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Both my pH and my alkalinity are very low. How do I increase them?

Community Answer

Address alkalinity first -- add whatever adjustment based on gallon count. Then do pH. Separate by a day: alkalinity first, wait a day, pH next, wait a day. Chlorine will be eaten so fast you'll never have free chlorine but it is because the base chemical balance is not stable. Number one cause: skim and vacuum using gravity or straight to waste. Scrub the liner with a brush, row the pool of round to a tornado, vacuum over edge again, skim anything solid out. All solids must be out of the water. Add algaecide - wait four to eight hours. Then shock with chlorine -- 2 full gallons. People have trouble with balance because they think chlorine will skim and vacuum for them.

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Question

Can I use baking soda to raise ph in my pool?

Community Answer

The simple answer is yes. Baking soda will raise the pH. However, you'll have to add much more than if you use soda ash.

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Question

Will high alkalinity cause the pH to be low?

Community Answer

No, it should cause the pH to rise, not lower.

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Question

If I can't use soda ash to raise the pH in a vinyl pool, what should I use?

Community Answer

You can use Arm and Hammer soda wash for laundry. It is 100% sodium carbonate. Don't use the baking powder, that stuff is sodium bicarbonate.

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Question

Do I need to have the pool pump running after adding the pH lowering chemicals?

Community Answer

Yes. It circulates the water so that the chemical spreads throughout and also into the filter.

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Question

Why does my pool's pH not go up when I add soda ash?

Community Answer

It might take some time or you might not have added enough.

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Question

Can I use sodium carbonate in a vinyl pool?

Community Answer

Yes. You should be able to use Arm and Hammer soda wash, which is 100% sodium carbonate.

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Question

Will soda ash increase alkalinity?

Community Answer

Soda ash is anhydrous sodium carbonate which is a metal carbonate and when you mix it into water, it will then turn into sodium carbonate decahydrate which is a salt. So it won't increase the alkalinity of water.

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Question

Do I add soda to the skimmer or directly into the water?

Community Answer

You can add it directly to the water, but make sure your pump is running so the water is being circulated.

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Question

My chlorine level 3.0 and my ph is 7.2 but I have cloudy water. What can I do?

Community Answer

Check the total alkalinity. It shouldn't be higher than 120 ppm. If it is higher you will need to add some alkalinity decreased.

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Question

My pool is too cloudy. What should I do?

Community Answer

First, throw in 1 kg of chlorine and let the pump run for 12 hours or until the water is crystal clear. Next, backwash your filter and rinse. Clean your strainers and set it to normal filtration. Finally, don't forget to refill your pool!

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Question

My pool chl reading is 3.0, and my ph level is below 6.8. How do I rectify this?

Community Answer

How often are you adding fresh water to your pool? Sounds like you need to dilute it.

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Question

What do I do if I add chlorine to my pool and it makes it cloudy?

Community Answer

Adding chlorine sanitizes the water and helps to kill algae. Dead algae gives your pool the cloudy appearance. Make sure your water chemistry (pH, alkalinity) is balanced. You will need to run your pump/filter 24/7 until all dead algae cycles through and trapped by the filter. If after a couple days water still cloudy, try adding a flocculent to the water. This gathers dead algae together, effectively making larger particles that should get trapped in the filter. If the filter uses sand, backwash to clear dead algae from the filter.

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Question

How much chlorine should I add when I am closing the pool?

Community Answer

2 - 3 bags of shock for 10,000 - 15,000 gallons and run the filter for 8 hours. You can install the cover while running the filter. Don't get in under the cover or you will be overcome be chlorine fumes! Stabilize pH before closing, too.

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