Adjusting your pH

The ideal pH is between 7.2 and 7.4. The pH can be measured using strips, drops, or an electronic tester.

A pool’s pH can fluctuate, mainly due to water quality.

What should you do if the pH is unstable? Which products are effective for increasing or decreasing pool pH? How to use pool pH correctors? What dosage of pH+ or pH- should be applied? We are going to answer these questions.

How to correct your pool’s pH?

Before anything else, it is important to exercise caution. The use of strong acids like hydrochloric or sulfuric acid can disrupt balanced water. It is therefore recommended:

• To use pH- or pH+ in powder form.

• To choose liquid pH- or pH+ if you have an automatic pH regulator.

When does your pool’s pH vary?

Tap water can differ depending on its source; it can be more or less hard, and therefore rich in lime. It is possible to measure the CH (calcium hardness) to know its concentration. The CH measurement should be carried out before any pH test.

Maintaining your pool with disinfectant products and chlorine can also influence the water’s pH.

External agents, organic waste, sunscreens, sweat, and splashing are all factors that can modify the pH.

How to use pH- and pH+?

pH+ and pH- correctors are applied in different ways.

pH- should be dispersed in front of the return nozzles for optimal diffusion.

pH+ must be poured into the skimmer (after dilution in a container of water) to avoid clouding the water.

It is crucial to know that pH is restored gradually and should under no circumstances be adjusted abruptly with high doses. Gentleness is essential, as adjusting too quickly will compromise the pH buffering capacity (TAC/Alkalinity). It is therefore fundamental to check your pool’s pH every week to monitor its progress. Each pH dosing operation should be spaced 1 to 2 hours apart.

In case of a major pH correction, the adjustment must be carried out over several days.

Dosage: How much pH- or pH+ should I apply in my pool?

The pH is constantly changing. Sometimes, it may be necessary to adjust the pH using a significant amount of pH+ or pH-. It should be noted that water with a pH of 6 is ten times more acidic than water with a pH of 7, and water with a pH of 5 is one hundred times more acidic than water with a pH of 7.

The amount of pH corrector to add to your pool varies according to the measured pH value.

Calculation of the quantity to apply to correct pool pH (in g/m3):

The action curve shows fluctuations.

• 1.8 kg of pH minus to lower the pH from 7.8 to 7.2
• 3 kg of pH minus to reduce the pH from 7.8 to 7