"Great Value" Bleach raising pH?

[bottomcat]

Okay, sorry for the lazy question. I watched the youtube video linked here about adding MA and I added what I guessed to be around 15 oz. Now, how long should I wait before testing and letting bathers in the pool?

[bottomcat]

Well I waited about 2 hours and retested. pH was still around 7.7 so I did an acid demand test, which indicated that I needed between 9 oz and 1 pint of acid to get to 7.4. I'll test again in the morning.

[FormerBromineUser]

I had a long day at work. You can swim as long as your pH is between 7.2-7.8. I am glad it is for sure under 7.8 now. I sure hope this takes care of your "burning" issue!

[bottomcat]

Thanks FBU. I tested this morning and it is at 7.5. Water is really clear too. Thanks and have a great Sunday!

[swimdaddy]

Sounds like everything is under control but wanted to add a little to "stir the pot" if you will. Ben has talked a bit about some pools running at a natural pH of 8, and that actually being an easier to maintain pH AND more comfortable. My pH tends to run higher, 7.6-8 at times, and I really don't worry about it much. The pool is clean and comfortable and that's all that matters. I find my eyes feel better with then pH is closer to 8.

The problem is that you cannot know how high your pH actually is once it gets to 8 because the test only goes that high. I have though about getting a digital tester so I can test more accurately. Maybe someday.

[Anonymous [GDPR] European in the UK]

bottomcat, you could, if you like playing, add the acid to bring down the pH to 7 and then aerate the pool water with a shop vac or pointing the returns skyward etc raise the pH but this will have the effect of lowering your ALK.
Bicarbonate causes a buffering of the pH in water at around 8.4. Too high really isn't it (needed for tiled/plaster pools but not vinyl) so if you run like I do with a ALK level between 35-40ppm the pH is way more stable at 7.4.

The stoopid pool industry hasn't made a distinction between one type of pool and another. Then there are other pH buffers which are more acidic so could oppose the ALK level like the CYA stabiliser or adding a little magnesium chloride instead 100% of sodium chloride, (you could still add magnesium chloride to a chlorine dosed pool as well)