Pool pH and Total Alkalinity are critical for maintaining sanitary water conditions and safeguarding pool surfaces. However, unless you know what they are and how they contribute to overall pool balance, they can be difficult to manage. We'll go over what pH and Total Alkalinity are, why they're important for pool health, the effects of high and low pH/Total Alkalinity, and how to deal with severe situations that may come from an imbalance in this post. Now that class has started, let's get started!
What exactly is pH?
The pH balance in your pool is undoubtedly the most critical component in keeping the water clear and enjoyable. It is a scale from 0 to 14, with a pH reading of 7 being neutral, that determines how acidic or basic the water is. Anything with a pH of less than 7 is considered acidic, whereas anything with a pH of more than 7 is considered basic or alkaline. The optimal pH range for swimming pools is 7.4-7.6. (7.2-7.8 acceptable).
A good pH reading protects pool surfaces from corrosive damage, stains, and scale buildup while also keeping swimmers' skin and eyes comfortable. Chlorine can perform its work more efficiently with a balanced pH, keeping your pool clean, clear, and algae-free. As a general guideline, you can modify pH by doing the following:
In 1,000 liters, 1 oz. of pH Increaser (sodium ash or sodium carbonate) will elevate pH by 0.1.
In 1,000 gallons of water, 1 oz. of pH Reducer (sodium bisulfate) will reduce the pH by 0.1.
Always check the product label for guidelines and directions for balancing pH. When changing pool pH, it's easy to miss the mark because the temperature, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels of your water all play a role. Always test the pH level of the pool a few hours after adding pH chemicals to ensure that you've restored optimum balance.
What is the definition of total alkalinity?
Because total alkalinity is a measurement of all alkaline chemicals in the water, it is extremely closely related to pH. Alkalinity levels are important for preserving pH, and many people refer to it as a "pH buffer." Low levels of Total Alkalinity produce rapid pH swings, whereas high levels make pH adjustment difficult. However, rather of adjusting both at the same time, it's ideal to modify one first and then the other. Address Total Alkalinity first if it is out of equilibrium.
Which sanitizer you use determines the optimal Total Alkalinity range. The optimal TA range for calcium hypochlorite (cal-hypo), sodium hypochlorite (sodium-hypo), or lithium hypochlorite as a main sanitizer is 80-100 ppm. The optimal range for dichlor, trichlor, or bromine as a main sanitizer is between 100 and 120 ppm. Most manufacturers propose TA values of 80-120 ppm for a salt water chlorine generator. Maintaining the proper pH and Total Alkalinity balance is critical to keeping your pool water in good shape.
If your Total Alkalinity is too low (below 80 ppm) but your pH is higher than 6.8, you'll need to use Alkalinity Increaser (sodium bicarbonate). Use a pH Increaser (sodium carbonate) to raise both Total Alkalinity and pH if they are too low (TA less than 80 ppm, pH less than 6.8). Add pH Reducer if your Total Alkalinity is too high (sodium bisulfate).W
Lowering Total Alkalinity levels can be a time-consuming and frustrating operation, as sodium bisulfate lowers Total Alkalinity while also lowering pH. It's possible that you'll have to drop Alkalinity and then raise pH a few times before they're in the right range. Always evaluate the water using test strips or a test kit before adding any chemicals, no matter what adjustments you need to make. As you gradually bring levels into the right range, always follow the dosing and administration recommendations on the product label.
