Low pH water will cause etching and deterioration of plaster, grout, stone, concrete and tiling. Any vinyl surfaces will also become brittle, which increases risk of cracks and tears. All of these dissolved minerals will hold in the solution of your pool water; which can result in staining and cloudy pool water.
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.
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. After retesting, you can always add more if the level is still low.
When the pH level is too low, chlorine actually sanitizes more efficiently, but the pool water becomes corrosive. It can damage pipes, pool liners, metal components, the pool pump and floaties such as beach balls, that remain in the pool too long.
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.
The pH of a pool should be between 7.2 and 7.8, with 7.6 being the ideal balance. Levels below 7.0 indicate acidic water. Levels above 7.8 mean that the water is too alkaline or basic. Both instances can lead to a cloudy pool.
For balanced pool water, keep the pH between pH of 7.4-7.6.
And there are two different chemicals you can use to raise the pH in your pool: Baking Soda aka sodium bicarbonate (sold as Alkalinity Increaser in pool stores). Soda Ash aka sodium carbonate (sold as pH Increaser in pool stores).
The PH rise is temporary, and as the chlorine is used up the ph will drop back to normal. Disregard high PH readings. We recommend shocking with liquid chlorine - granular products add additional things that you may not want in your pool. Non-chlorine shock is really meant for use in spas, or indoor pools.
According to research, algae generally thrive in high pH, especially between the range of 8.2 and 8.7. But some algae, often referred to as acidophilic and acidotolerant algae, thrive at very low pH.
pH level in swimming pool water
Aim for a pH level of between 7 and 7.6. If the water pH is higher than 8, anyone who swims in the pool is at risk of skin rashes, while a pH of lower than 7 can sting swimmers' eyes.
Simply drop 2-3 drops of lemon juice to an 8 fl oz (240 mL) glass of water. The acidity of a lemon naturally lowers the pH level of the glass of water. You could also just drop a lemon wedge into your water to give a stronger flavor and lower the pH. Lemon juice from a bottle works just as well, too.
Non-stabilized chlorines like calcium hypochlorite (cal hypo), sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine), and salt chlorine generators all tend to raise the pH of the pool. One common habit in the pool business is to add some acid to "offset" the pH rise that liquid chlorine causes.
Just as was said earlier, white household vinegar is the most preferable for lowering pH, and it can be applied by adding it directly into the pool without necessarily diluting it with water.
The pH may be too high.
If the pH becomes too high (over 7.8), it prevents the chlorine from doing its job. If you're not checking the pH and it has risen too much, you could be adding the right amount of chlorine, but it can't work correctly, and algae will begin to grow.
If your levels are off, you'll need to do a more extensive maintenance routine to balance the chemistry of the water and kill the bacteria and algae. If you're treating your pool for algae, you'll want the pH to be a little higher than you would typically want, at about 7.8. This will kill the bacteria or algae.
Just simple movement of the water will help limit the amount of algae present in the pond. Algae do not like moving water or surface agitation and prefer the still, stagnant areas to thrive. Surface agitation is also beneficial because it helps to mix up the algae that is already present within the water column.
Can you put too much shock in a pool? SKIMMER NOTES: It's unlikely but it could happen. It would take a lot of shock to really make the water unsafe for swimming. The best way to make sure you're safe to swim is to test your pool water and make sure free chlorine levels are between 1-4ppm for healthy swimming.
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.
Adding a recommended dose of shock to your pool can clear it right up. Poor circulation or filtration can contribute to cloudy water. Make sure your pump and filter are working properly.
Cloudy Pool Water: Causes, Treatment, and Preventive Measures. Cloudy or milky swimming pool water is caused by seven main issues: improper levels of chlorine, imbalanced pH and alkalinity, very high calcium hardness (CH) levels, faulty or clogged filter, early stages of algae, ammonia, and debris.
Most pool experts recommend a pool pH between 7.2 and 7.8. To raise or lower pH, a pool custodian simply adds acids or alkalis into the water. For example, adding sodium carbonate (soda ash) or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will generally raise the pH, and adding muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate will lower the pH.
It's OK if a little bit of it makes it into the pool water, but if you're concerned, test the water after using vinegar, and adjust any levels if necessary. All-natural and diluted to a cleaning strength of 6% acidity. Bonus Tip: Vinegar also shines up metal surfaces like a champ.
Not only can household bleach, such as Clorox, be used to shock a pool just like pool shock, but if you have hard water issues, it can also help reduce calcium in the water. This may seem obvious, but please make sure to use the unscented brand of bleach.
High chlorine levels decrease the pH of your pool's water, making it more acidic. The more acidic the water, the higher the likelihood of corrosion.