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Thread: pH--soda ash vs baking soda

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    bbluvbasket is offline ** No working email address ** bbluvbasket 0
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    Question pH--soda ash vs baking soda

    You said to chime in more often so here I go! :-)

    Inground 32,000 gal. vinyl

    FC 5
    CC 0
    pH 7.2
    Alk 110
    CYA 20

    First question: I have had a cloudy appearance to my pool lately so have been trying to shock more, but can't seem to get it to stay. Then I tested my CYA and in two weeks it had dropped from 50-20. What's up with that?

    Second question. What is the difference between soda ash and baking soda? I use Mike's calcualator (BTW LOVE IT!!!! THANKS MIKE!!!!) and haven't had to raise my pH, just lower it with Muriatic Acid. He says to use Soda Ash. I have baking soda, but not soda ash....is it interchangeable? I don't really want to mess with my Alk because I think it is fine where it is, so if I understand this method correctly I shouldn't be using Borax unless I want to alter my Alk, right?

    Any suggestions or guidance??? Thank you all for your help. You guys are great!

    BB

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    prh129 is offline Lifetime Member Widget Weaver prh129 0
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    Default Re: pH--soda ash vs baking soda

    Borax will raise pH, baking soda will raise Alkalinity and I believe that Soda Ash will raise BOTH pH and Alkalinity so it looks like you need Borax if you want to raise your pH.

    As far as the CYA, did you do the test the same way in the same place both times? I did a CYA test a few weeks ago that game me a reading of around 40 then I did a reading a week or so later that was only in the mid-twenties but when I thought about it, I did the test in two different places and I didn't pay attention to the amount of lighting available in both cases so I think that was my problem. Lighting will affect how well you see the black dot so that's important.

    Peter

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    CarlD is offline SuperMod Emeritus Vortex Adjuster CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars
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    Default Re: pH--soda ash vs baking soda

    Strictly speaking both borax and soda ash can raise T/A too. But soda ash will raise it more. Normally, as pH goes up and down it changes the T/A as well. But, by adding soda ash, for any give pH, the T/A will be higher.

    If you want to raise your pH without raising your T/A, you have a 3rd option: Since your pH is 7.2, if you aerate your water your pH will rise cost-free without adding anything and without raising your T/A. You can aerate by leaving it uncovered, by pointing your return eyeballs near or at the surface, adding a small fountain, or just leaving it uncovered with the pump running. A crowd of kids works too, but only if you are convinced your water is clean of contaminants.
    Carl

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    Default Re: pH--soda ash vs baking soda

    My PB also said that, if you have a spa spillover, you can crank up the spa returns so that you get a lot of spillover, which will aerate the water better than the "dribble-over".

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    waterbear is offline Lifetime Member Sniggle Mechanic waterbear 4 stars waterbear 4 stars waterbear 4 stars waterbear 4 stars
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    Default Re: pH--soda ash vs baking soda

    airating is not without a price. It will slightly lower the TA while it raises the pH....which technique you use (borax, soda ash, airating) really depends on how much impact you want it to have on the TA
    Soda ash raises both pH and TA fast
    Baking soda raises ph slightly and rasies TA fast
    Borax raises pH while only slightly raising TA
    Airating raises pH while lowering TA, how much it lowers the TA is dependant on what the pH is when you start airating. the lower the pH the more you will lower your TA to get to the same target pH

    Hope this isn't too confusing!
    Retired pool store and commercial pool maintenance guy.

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    Default Re: pH--soda ash vs baking soda

    I've been using Washing soda for PH. It's 100% sodium carbonate.

    You can buy it at the super market.

    Is Borax the same chemical?

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    Default Re: pH--soda ash vs baking soda

    No, borax is borax.

    Borax is a somewhat generic name used to describe a number of closely related minerals or chemical compounds:And there ya go.

    Also, that washing soda (soda ash) is going to crank up your alkalinity. That's why most folks here use borax for pH control.

    Michael

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