Things You'll Need:
- sodium bisulfate or muriatic acid
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Step 1
When the pH in a swimming pool goes too high it causes different things such as calcium or metals to come out of solution and stain or plate out on the water line. You will notice a white line at the water level that will not easily rub off. This is an indicator that the pH is too high. It is common for the pH to be high in swimming pools with salt systems. The ideal range for pH is 7.2-7.6.
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Step 2
To adjust the pH down in a swimming pool, 2 products can be used. You can use a liquid product called muriatic acid or a granular product chemically called sodium bisulfate. The granular is much safer to use but usually costs a little bit more. The granular can be broadcast over the pool surface and will dissolve immediately. The liquid needs to be poured very slowly around the edge of the swimming pool. Both add with the pump running.
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Step 3
The dosage is the following: 1/2 lb or 1/2 a gallon will lower the pH 0.2 in 10,000 gallons of pool water. If the pH reading is 8.0 and you're swimming pool is 20,000 gallons, then you will need to add 2 lbs of the granular product to lower the ph to 7.6. 1 lb of granular is equal to 1 pint of muriatic acid. So, 2 pints of muriatic acid will make the same conversion.
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Step 4
The reaction can take up to 24 hours to completely change the pH, so do not retest the water until a day has past to get an accurate reading.
