How are my numbers?

[KurtV]

You're kidding, right? Where did you EVER come up with this? There is nothing in Bleach that is related to Total Alkalinity. Bleach is basically Sodium Hypochlorite in a saline (Sodium Chloride) solution. It doesn't have the requisite Carbon atoms to affect Total Alkalinity.

Perhaps you have it confused with one of the other B's of B-B-B--Baking Soda, which WILL push T/A up.

You wouldn't happen to work for a pool store, would you?

My guess is that chemical balance was thinking of pH. It's a common belief that bleach will raise pH and I think it actually will to a very small extent. Come to think of it, to the degree that it does raise pH, I think it would also raise TA a bit.

[CarlD]

My guess is that chemical balance was thinking of pH. It's a common belief that bleach will raise pH and I think it actually will to a very small extent. Come to think of it, to the degree that it does raise pH, I think it would also raise TA a bit.

Actually, not. Bleach IS alkaline, but the acidic reaction of chlorine in the water (ask Chem_Geek if you need an explanation) negates it almost perfectly. So bleach neither raises nor lowers your pH.

In that line, Di-Chlor is almost perfectly neutral in pH, but because of the chlorine acidic reaction, it lowers pH. Chlorine by gasification also makes the water VERY acidic.

[KurtV]

Actually, not. Bleach IS alkaline, but the acidic reaction of chlorine in the water (ask Chem_Geek if you need an explanation) negates it almost perfectly. So bleach neither raises nor lowers your pH...

I'm perfectly well aware of Richard's explanations of these processes. That's why I said that bleach will cause pH to rise "to a very small extent". After rereading Richard's explanation (see posts 9, 12, and 14 in particular), I'm still pretty sure that particular statement is accurate. The point of my post, however, was not to argue a fine point about pH and TA. I was simply trying to point out, in a non-confrontational way, what might have been the basis for chemicalbalance's statements.