pH & Alkalinity Calculator
Balance your pool water chemistry for optimal swimmer comfort and equipment protection.
Pool Volume
pH Levels
Ideal range: 7.2 - 7.8
Total Alkalinity
Ideal range: 80 - 120 ppm
⚠️ Safety Warning
Always add chemicals to water, never water to chemicals. Wear protective equipment when handling acids. Do not mix different chemicals. Allow proper circulation time between adjustments. Consult product labels for specific safety instructions. Provided as-is for informational purposes.
✓ Water Balanced
Your pH and alkalinity are in ideal ranges. Continue regular testing and maintenance.
Related Tools
Understanding pH & Alkalinity▼
What is pH?
pH measures how acidic or basic your pool water is on a scale of 0-14. A pH of 7 is neutral. Pool water should be slightly basic (7.2-7.8) for swimmer comfort and to protect equipment. Low pH causes corrosion, eye irritation, and rapid chlorine loss. High pH causes cloudy water, scaling, and reduces chlorine effectiveness.
What is Total Alkalinity?
Total alkalinity (TA) measures the water's ability to resist pH changes. It acts as a "buffer" that stabilizes pH. Ideal range is 80-120 ppm. Low alkalinity causes pH to fluctuate wildly. High alkalinity makes pH difficult to adjust and can cause cloudy water.
pH & Alkalinity Relationship
pH and alkalinity are closely linked. Always adjust alkalinity first to the proper range, then fine-tune pH. Adding acid lowers both pH and alkalinity. Adding soda ash raises pH with minimal effect on alkalinity. Baking soda raises alkalinity with a small pH increase.
Multi-Dose Strategy
For large adjustments, split the dose over 2-3 days. This prevents overshooting your target and reduces stress on pool surfaces. Always retest after 4-24 hours before adding more chemicals. Patience leads to better water balance.
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