Soda Ash

Written by Matt Young

For normal operations, pH should be between 7.2 – 7.8. A pH of 7.4 is ideal.

If you test pH to be lower than 7.2, confirm the reading on the controller and look for discrepancies. Test a few more times. Ensure that all of your testing equipment is clean, and that you are using the plastic cap to cover your test vial during your Palin test. Go slow, and compare your results with the controller pH.

If pH is definitively below 7.2 we must add a strong base, like Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash) to boost up the pH. Use the table below to determine the amount of Soda Ash to add to the pool in order to raise pH by the desired amount.

* Turn the acid feed off when adding Soda Ash to the pool. Keep it off for 30 minutes and then promptly turn it back on.

Adding Soda Ash to the Pools:

Small Pool – 20,000 gallons
To Raise pH: .1 ppm Add: 80 grams
  .2 ppm   160 grams
  .3 ppm   240 grams
  .4 ppm   320 grams
  .5 ppm   400 grams
Big Pool – 35,000 gallons
To Raise pH: .1 ppm Add: 140 grams
  .2 ppm   280 grams
  .3 ppm   420 grams
  .4 ppm   560 grams
  .5 ppm   700 grams