Can you add pH up and chlorine at the same time?

Asked by: Andres Maraj

How long after adding chlorine can I add pH up?

A good rule of thumb is to never mix pool chemicals with each other. After adding Calcium Hypochlorite a user should always wait 24 hours before adding chemicals that would alter their pH.

Do I Adjust pH or chlorine first?

Generally speaking you adjust PH first, chlorine second, and worry about everything else more gradually. However, there are many situations where you can adjust two or more numbers at the same time if the correct combination presents it’s self. For example baking soda raises TA and PH.

What pool chemicals can be added at the same time?

You can add granular chlorine stabilizer (CYA) to the pool water using the skimmer. Liquid cyanuric acid can be mixed in a bucket of water first and then poured into the pool or skimmer.

In what order should I add pool chemicals?

First when you first fill up your pool or you're first beginning your water balance. You need to adjust your total alkalinity following that you need to adjust your pH.

Can I add alkalinity up and shock at the same time?

Never add chemicals at the same time, whether you’re balancing the water, shocking the pool, or adding a specialty chemical. For most water balance changes, the pump needs to run on the high setting for at least four hours before you can add another chemical or retest the water.

How long after adding pH down can you add shock?

It is always best to test first! Muriatic acid can create a hot spot of acid in the water that could potentially burn or irritate your skin. It is best to wait 30 minutes after adding it to your pool.

Should I lower pH before adding chlorine?

Maintaining levels between 7.2 and 7.6 allows chlorine to be effective. If the pH is too low it could cause corrosion of metal pool components, damage to the plaster, grout or pool liner, irritation of the skin and eyes and a breakdown of total alkalinity.

Can high pH cause low chlorine in pool?

A high pH level can be caused by several factors, the main culprits being additional chlorine stabilizers and sudden increases in temperature. In addition, high pH runs a risk with your chlorine, as your chlorine will no longer disinfect fully.

Should I adjust pH before shocking pool?

Lower the pH before shocking, 7.2 – 7.4 is best for shock efficacy. Dilute pool shock in a bucket of water for vinyl liner pools. Run the filter 24/7 until water is clear.

How do I bring up the pH in my pool?

To raise the pH levels in your pool, try adding sodium carbonate (soda ash) or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) until your pool’s pH levels are between 7.2 and 7.8.

How do I balance the pH in my pool?

Add soda ash if your pool’s pH level is below 7.2. Add Muriatic Acid or Sodium Bisulfate if it’s above 7.8. Continue to add appropriate product until your water has a pH level of 7.2-7.8 (ideally 7.4-7.6).

How much pH should I add to my pool?

A rule of thumb is 1.5 lbs. of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water will raise alkalinity by about 10 ppm. If your pool’s pH tested below 7.2, add 3-4 pounds of baking soda. If you’re new to adding pool chemicals, start by adding only one-half or three-fourths of the recommended amount.

Can you swim in a pool with low pH?

The answer to that is ‘No’. A pool with low pH is bad for you and other swimmers. Once your pool water pH becomes low, the water becomes acidic. Acidic water is corrosive to the pool components and toxic to your health.

Why is my pool pH always low?

The most common cause of a consistently low pH level in pools is using chlorine tablets or stabilized forms of chlorine. These have a pH level of around 3. Acidic rainfall, heavy leaf debris, and dirt/mulch in the pool can also lower the pH level.

Does baking soda add pH to pool?

As per standard, 1.25 pounds of baking soda is enough to raise the PH level of a 10,000-gallon pool by 10ppm, so to achieve a 100ppm alkalinity, you would need 12.5 pounds of baking soda for a 100,000 gallon of pool water.

Is alkalinity increaser the same as pH up?

pH & Alkalinity Increaser is sodium bicarbonate (also called sodium hydrogen carbonate). It raises Total Alkalinity, and pH which is too low. Since it has a pH of only 8.3, it will generally have a lesser effect on pH. Diluted in water, Alkalinity Increaser will not raise pH above its normal range.

How do I make my pool water crystal clear?

In theory, if you have a cloudy swimming pool, you can add chlorine to “shock it” and clear things up. Chlorine will get the job done. But, the amounts may vary and you may have to really pound the pool with chlorine to get the water totally clear.

Will baking soda clear up a cloudy pool?

The simple answer is No. Baking soda cannot be used to clear up a cloudy pool because it is a base. Bases raise PH levels, which causes the water to turn cloudy. Some people suggest using baking soda as a quick fix to high alkalinity levels, but it’s not reliable as a pool chemical.

Why is my pool cloudy after adding pH?

It drastically raises the pH in the water around it, which leads to clouding. This explains why the cloudiness does not happen all at once, rather the process creates a cloudy plume that slowly expands across the pool. This cloudiness is just calcium carbonate precipitating out of solution.

Why is my pool still cloudy after shocking it?

Cloudy or milky water after shocking is normal, and the water should clear up within an hour or so. Just make sure your pump and filter are running properly. If you add algaecide, keep in mind that some algaecide contains copper, which can actually make a pool cloudy.

Does vodka clean a pool?

Relax! Using vodka gives your pool a deep clean besides disinfecting it. However, a simple answer by pool research experts to the question “does vodka really clean a pool?” is no! This is because vodka would cause a chemical imbalance in your pool, leading to severe issues in the future.

What happens when you drink pool water?

“In addition to chlorine, which is found in most pools, swallowing some pool water or getting it up your nose could expose you to E. coli, norovirus and parasites like Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Shigella,” explained Geisinger primary care physician Dr.

Will vodka clean a green pool?

The short answer is (you may have guessed it): no. It’s not the best idea to clean your pool with vodka. Michael Dean, Co-Founder at Pool Research, a site that provides expert advice on all things related to pools, spends a lot of time advising people on how to clean their pools.

How do you clean a pool filter with muriatic acid?

Open The Filter Tank (Releasing the Pressure First) and Take Out The Cartridge Filter(s) Fill Up a Trash Can with a 20:1 Ratio of Muriatic Acid and Water. Soak the Cartridges in the Muriatic Acid Solution for 1 Hour. Rinse Cartridges with a Garden Hose and Reinstall.

Can you use vinegar to clean pool filter?

It’s important to pour in at least 1/2 gallon of vinegar. You might have to pour in more than a half gallon of vinegar if you want a 50% concentration. The filter needs to be soaked for 3 hours.

Can you use borax to clean pool filters?

Step 3: Add Borax to Your Pool



Switch on your pool’s water pump and filter and let them run. Add borax to the skimmer and leave the pump to run for 24 hours.