The right chemical balance is not only important for the clarity of the water but also for the efficiency of your robot pool cleaner. But what if you discover that your pool’s alkalinity is too high, but you don’t want to drop your pH level in the process? In this guide, we’re going to show you how to lower alkalinity in pool water without upsetting your pH balance too much, so that you leave your water in pristine condition, both aesthetically and functionally (you also want to keep your pool vacuum and pool cleaning robot working at peak performance).
What Is Alkalinity, and Why Adjust It?
The alkalinity of pool water is the amount of dissolved bicarbonates, carbonates, and hydroxides. It serves as a buffer to stabilize the pH and prevent wild swings. In a pool, the ideal alkalinity range should be between 80 – 120 ppm (parts per million). Excessively high alkalinity can lead to:
Cloudy Water: High alkalinity may make your pool water appear cloudy and unwelcoming.
Valves are even more important in determining your alkalinity level and thus water chemistry.
Scaling: High alkalinity can cause your pool surfaces to scale, which will make your pool robotic pool cleaner and other equipment work harder and can even cause them to fail.
Although pH and alkalinity are both similar measures, they are two different things. A high alkalinity will render a high pH, but it is possible to lower alkalinity without much impact on pH.
Lower Alkalinity But Not pH
These are the ways to reduce the alkalinity of your pool without drastically changing the pH:
Over Small Quantities, Use Muriatic Acid or Dry Acid
Muriatic acid (also known as hydrochloric acid) is a common chemical that reduces both pH and alkalinity in pool water. But to reduce alkalinity without substantially impacting pH, you’ll have to add the acid gradually and in small quantities.
Here’s how to do it:
- Check if the water has alkalinity or pH problems
- Adjust the pH in the pool by adding muriatic acid, in small doses.
- Run the filtration system to circulate the water for a few hours.
- Twenty-four hours later, retest the alkalinity of the water. If necessary, add more acid in small amounts until the desired alkalinity is achieved.
How It Works: When added slowly, muriatic acid neutralizes the alkaline substances in water, decreasing alkalinity without dropping the pH too low.
Add Sodium Bisulfate (Dry Acid)
Using sodium bisulfate is another alternative when one needs to decrease alkalinity without significantly altering pH. This dry version of the acid is more stable than muriatic acid and doesn’t cause as much of a pH shift when used in measured amounts.
Steps to follow:
- Check the alkalinity and pH of your pool.
- Swim your dosages in small quantities, according to how many pools you have.
- Let the chemical solute to the water and mix through the water.
- Wait at least 24 hours, then retest the alkalinity. Make further slight adjustments if required.
Why It Works: Sodium bisulfate lowers alkalinity without significantly adjusting your pH down, making it a great option for more delicate adjustments. It can still lower pH slightly, though, so test your levels frequently.
Dilute with Fresh Water
In some instances, the best option for reducing alkalinity in the pool is diluting the pool water with fresh water if the alkalinity in your pool is too high. This works exceptionally well if you have had a surge of chemicals or rainwater that has driven your alkalinity upwards.
To dilute:
- Check your pool’s alkalinity and pH.
- Adding clean water (non-chemical) to the pool will dilute the alkaline substances.
- Note that this will also drop your pool’s total dissolved solids (TDS) and chlorine levels, so be prepared to adjust your chemical levels afterward!
- This approach is natural and works for its purpose, though it does require time for the water effect to be visible, depending on the water needed to be added.
Circulate The Water With A Pool Cleaning Robot
If you have adjusted the chemistry in your pool, make sure the chemicals are spread throughout the pool properly. Robot pool cleaners, such as the Beatbot AquaSense Pro or Beatbot iSkim Ultra, can increase circulation so that water-coagulating chemicals like muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate are properly mixed.
This will:
- Distribute chemicals uniformly.
- Assist in minimizing the chances of pH sporadic
- Enhance the robot pool vacuum cleaners and cleaning appliances.
- Other Tips to Keep Alkalinity and pH Levels in Check
Testing The first step is to test your pool’s alkalinity and pH, and this should be done regularly. Striking the right balance of both is vital to ensure your pool stays clean and your robot pool cleaner works effectively.
Proper Filtration: Ensure your entire filtration system is operating correctly, from skimmers to vacuum cleaners, to avoid debris from building up that can compromise water chemistry.
Use a Pool Cover: Using a pool cover when the pool is not in use will help cut down on debris that can impact your pool’s chemistry. This will discourage the buildup of organic matter that might raise alkalinity.
Do Not Use Alkaline Chemicals Too Frequently: Pay attention not to include a lot of alkaline chemicals, such as baking soda in your pool.
Conclusion
The good news is that you can lower alkalinity in your pool without altering the pH—if you know how to. You can succor the simplest pH drops by using muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate or even by watering down with clean water — ideality alkali levels are only a few leaplings away. Remember to always check your pool’s water chemistry regularly and use robotic pool cleaners such as Beatbot models to keep your pool sparkling clean & free from scaling or debris. If you properly balance them, you will be able to maintain the aesthetic and functionality of your pool and equipment.
