If you wonder why the ph levels of your pool are high, then alkalinity would be the biggest reason. The average level of alkalinity in the pool should be between 80 to 120ppm. If the levels are higher than 120ppm, then you should take measurements to lower the alkalinity levels.
If you are here, you might want to know the methods you can use to lower your pool’s alkalinity levels. Don’t worry. We’ll guide you step by step that how you can lower alkalinity levels in your pool that will also automatically reduce the ph levels of water that would not be harmful to your body.
We’ll take you through the five easy steps; after following them, alkalinity levels in your pool will lower.
Table of Contents
Step 1
When you are on the mission to reduce your pool’s alkalinity levels, the first thing you should do is to measure the accurate levels of pH and Alkalinity.
There are many kits in the town which are very helpful in this mission, but we recommend the LaMotte ColorQ Pro 7 digital test kit, and we also use this because of its accurate results. You can get these in the local store near your house or buy them online from Amazon.
Last week I tested my pool, and I got to know that the pH levels of my pool’s water are 8.2 and the Alkalinity is 250; let’s take these numbers so you’ll understand the situation more precisely.
Step 2
When you have the current pH and alkalinity value, you should know how much you want to lower the alkalinity and pH levels. So i have decided that I want to reduce the alkalinity levels between 100 to 110ppm, and it will automatically drop the pH levels under 7. Then i have to raise them till 7 with another process which is called the aeration.
There is an acid that is used to lower the alkalinity of your pool which is muriatic acid. When you have the current alkalinity levels, you need to know how much muriatic acid will be required to lower the alkalinity level to 100-110ppm. So, this would be calculated by the pool calculator.
The process is to lower the alkalinity levels; you don’t have to worry about the pH levels. We’ll maintain the pH with another process when the once we’ll drop the amount of alkalinity.
Step 3
This step is crucial in all the steps because, in this step, you’ll add the muriatic acid in your pool that will lower the alkalinity levels.
First, you should know how much water capacity your pool has; in my case, the water in my pool was 30000 gallons, so I have to use the 3 quarts of the muriatic acid, but you have to put the muriatic acid according to your pool.
Don’t put the muriatic acid in one place in your pool because that will damage your pool so, spread the muriatic acid in the whole pool in a balanced way.
The muriatic acid will make sure that your pool’s pH and alkalinity levels drop down to the point where you want them to be according to the amount of acid you put into the water.
Step 4
Now, when you are done with muriatic acid now, it is advised that at least wait for six to 7 hours so the acid can do the magic, and after that, check the levels of ph and alkalinity with your testing kit.
The result will differ from the previous one, and if you didn’t see the change wait for more than six hours and test again because sometimes it can take up to 24 hours to reach your desired levels.
In my case, the alkaline levels drop after 12 hours, and I have to test the water two times; then I get the 100ppm alkalinity and 6pH levels, but maybe you get your desired results after the first 6 hours.
Step 5
Now the alkalinity process is completed, and you have got your desired levels of alkalinity in the pool. But now, the pH levels are down to 6.9, and you want them to be expected.
So, you have to wait for two days because, in two days, aeration will happen. In that process, the pH levels will increase to their average level naturally, and it will not rise to that because the reason it raises is now standard.
Your pool now has lower levels of alkalinity, and also, the pH level is decreased to its normal, and you can use the pool now.
Aeration process
The process in which you make your pool’s pH levels increase naturally, but you might be thinking about how this happens.
When you leave your pool to the open-air, the carbon dioxide mixes with the water, making an acid called carbonic acid.
That acid is responsible for dropping the ph levels in your pool, but when you remove that acid from the water, the amount of pH will automatically rise.
So in the aeration process that carbonic acid is removed, which increases the pH levels.
Artificial aeration process
The aeration process is done naturally to remove the carbonic acid from the water, but there is an artificial way to remove the carbonic acid.
For the artificial aeration process, you need an air compressor and a pipe with many holes. You have to put the tube at the end of the pool. The holes in it will release carbon dioxide.
This process will remove the carbonic acid from the water and balance the pool’s alkaline and pH levels.
Side effects
The increase and decrease of the pool water’s alkalinity are hazardous, and both have different side effects. So, always make sure that the levels are balanced in your pool.
When the alkalinity levels are higher in the pools, they also increase the pool’s pH levels, and the working of all other chemicals like chlorine, which is in the water to remove bacteria, is also affected.
And if the alkalinity levels are low, then all the pool’s equipment and related to the pool will be destroyed. Not only this, but it also has very hazardous effects on human health.
Reasons for High Alkalinity
There are two most common reasons for the high alkalinity: sodium bicarbonate and the other is water sourcing.
When you are having the low alkalinity in the pool, then people want to make it high by adding the bicarbonate, but when they put it in the water, they don’t know that how much amount is needed so, they put a lot then that cause high alkalinity in the pool. So, always make sure to measure the alkalinity levels and out amount which is needed.
The other reason that causes the high alkalinity in your pool is your water source; sometimes, your pool’s water has a balanced level of alkalinity.
But when it is filled that water has a higher amount of alkalinity, make sure that always check the alkalinity levels after filling so you find out that your water source has high alkalinity or not? And then you can change your water source if you find out that the water source was responsible.
Summary
The higher the alkalinity level is not a bad thing until it creates cloudy water or raises the pH levels with it. First, you have to check the alkalinity levels and pH levels by some good brands testing kit.
If you find the alkalinity level and pH levels higher, then the standard level for alkalinity is 80ppm to 100ppm, and pH is 7.
So, if both are high, you have to put the muriatic acid in the pool, which will lower the alkalinity and pH levels in the water, and then with the aeration process, the pH will rise to its normal levels. You are done lowering your alkalinity in the pool.