Getting started with the BBB Method

[CarlD]

And Washing Soda is the same as pH Up! and Balance Pak 200. All commercial pH increasers are Soda Ash, aka, Sodium Carbonate. So is Arm&Hammer Washing Soda (It will be next to 20 Mule Team Borax in the laundry section).

So...why use Borax instead of Washing Soda to increase pH? Because Washing Soda increases both pH and Total Alkalinity and Borax only increases pH. This is confusing because with both, Total Alkalinity will rise, but that is because Tot Alk rises when pH rises---but Washing Soda raises it more, and, if you return to your original pH, your Tot Alk will be higher.

Also, if you LOOK at the Alkalinity Raisers in pool stores, it's key ingredient does not say "Sodium Bicarbonate" but instead will say "sodium hydrogen carbonate". Don't be fooled. It's just an alternate name for Sodium Bicarbonate.

Carl

[PJM361]

I know this is real old, but the borax says sodium tetraborate so the only time we should use sodium carbonate is if both PH & TA are low ? Or should we always use borax & baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) And what about sodium percarbonate which is in Oxy clean?