Leslies Ph Down (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take for pH Decreaser to work? ›

After adding pH increaser or decreaser you'll want to wait about two to four hours, although some chemical manufacturers suggest a full turnover cycle, before retesting. The smaller the increments you need to adjust for pH, the less time you'll need to wait for the results to become stable.

Liquid Acid (Hydrochloric Acid or Muriatic Acid)

Evenly pour the liquid acid around the edge of the pool, avoiding splashing or pouring outside the pool. Allow the acid to mix with the pool water. Test the pH levels again in 4-6 hours to confirm the desired level has been achieved.

Simply put, if your pool water is too acidic it can corrode your pool equipment, cause etching on surface materials and cause skin, eye and nose irritations on swimmers.

Just as you can raise the pH with baking soda, you can lower pool pH with vinegar. It is not, however, the most effective additive for this purpose. You'd have to add so much vinegar, in fact, that it would raise the sugar level of the pool and become food for microbes.

8) How long after adding chemicals can I swim? Alkalinity Balance, pH up, pH down, Calcium Balance, Water Stabilizer, and clarifier are all swim-safe chemicals. Wait about 20 minutes, and you are free to swim. We suggest adding algaecide, Super Erace, and shock at night, after everyone is out of the pool.

Yes, chlorine shock does affect the pH levels of the water. When chlorine is added to water, it reacts with the organic matter present, such as sweat, oils, and any urine in the pool. This chemical reaction causes the pH level to rise, making the water more alkaline.

A pH level of 7 means that water is neutral; above 7 means the water is alkaline, while below 7 indicates acidity. 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.

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.

Here are common causes of an alkaline pool: Algae can raise the pH. Adding strong liquid chlorine, calcium or lithium hypochlorite chlorine may raise it. Suddenly heating the water, whether from a pool heater or a string of sunny days, could up the pH.

What is the best product to lower pH in a pool? ›

Sodium bisulfate and muriatic acid are the two main chemicals used to lower the pH of pool water. In most pool shops and online, these chemicals are called pH reducers or pH minus products. So, if there is a preferred chemical you wish to use, always check the content label before purchasing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends swimming pools to have a pH of 7.2–7.8, with 7.4 to 7.6 being the optimal range. They also advise that swimming pools have a free chlorine concentration of at least 1 ppm.

Clear pool water with a green tint may be from pollen, chlorine-resistant algae, or most often from a too-high pH level.

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.

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. This corrosion can affect metal piping, equipment, and the surface of your pool (tiles, liners, concrete, etc.).

Leslie's Alkalinity Up raises Total Alkalinity levels to more acceptable ranges to prevent such harm and keep the pH where it is. Just add 1-1/2lb of Alkalinity Up for every 10,000 gallons in your swimming pool to raise the alkalinity level by approximately 10 ppm.

The amount of acid you need to add to balance your pool pH levels depends on factors such as the pool's size, current pH and Total Alkalinity level, and the type of acid you use. A general rule of thumb is to add one quart of muriatic acid per 10,000 gallons of water to lower the pH by 0.1.