How do you get your alkalinity down in your pool?

Question

I have a 4x18 steel frame pool from wal-mart, we have well water and alkalinity if off the chart! What do we add and how much? I think it hold 16000 gallons of water, but I could be wrong. I've only added clorine, since well water has absulutly none. Water looks fine, very clear, but test reading very high.

Answer 1

Go to a spa/pool store they have the chemicals to either raise or lower the PH of your pool.

I have a hot tub and all I use is the baking soda to keep the alkalinity up and Bromine and infrequently, a little anti-foam.

Answer 2

To lower total alkalinity, you would use sodium bisulphate (sold as pH minus, dry acid, etc) when the pH allows, since it will lower both total alkalinity and pH. If the pH is in the acceptable range (7.2 - 7.6) and as long as the water isn't cloudy, there really isn't much you can do with the total alkalinity without lowering the pH as well. I would wait for the pH to rise above 7.6 before trying to lower it.

How high is your chlorine reading? If it is extremely high, it can cause false color readings on some of the liquid test kits, making the pH reading look like anything from extremely high to very low. If the chlorine levels are high (over the top on your test kit, if you're using liquids) I'd wait for the chlorine level to come down a bit before trusting the accuracy of the other readings.

Oh, and what are the dimensions of the pool? (Round, oval, how deep, etc.? A standard 18' round above-ground will hold only about 7,500 gallons)

The next answer is good also, but I've only recommended that in deeper pools. (mostly inground gunite. However, the amounts he's recommending shouldn't be a problem. Never tried it in an above-ground... should work the same way....)

Answer 3

Good answer from the other pool guy but one other trick is available to you. Although muriatic pool acid will lower pH along with alkalinity there is a way to keep the pH drop to a minimum. Turn your pump off for half an hour letting the pool stagnate (no circulation), then add the acid (never more than 1/2 gallon, 1/4 gallon for a small pool) directly into the deepest part of the pool in one spot. Because acid is heavier than water it will collect in the bowl of the pool and lower the alkalinity rather than the pH. After 1 hour you can turn the pump back on and circulate the water. Re-test 24hrs later for accurate results.
You use the same acid to lower pH and not alkalinity by "walking" it around the perimeter of the pool while the pump is running. When using acid please wear safety goggles and rubber gloves for your protection, the acid will etch anything it touches so be careful!!! Do not store acid near your chlorine as chemical reactions can be nasty!!!The dry acid is safer but not as readly available.

Answer 4

I have an above ground 24 ft x 4.5 ft pool and have had a hard time this year with the water being green. My test strips show all my levels are high. Please help. Not sure how to get the levels back down.