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re: Baking soda for pool

Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:01 pm to
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
78460 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:01 pm to
quote:

FWIW, baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a pH buffer. It's good to have some level of buffer in your pool so you don't over or under shoot your target pH.


adding a bag in the spring seems to make the water sparkle and yes, i struggle with low pH levels and generally have to add 2-3 bags a season.

liquid chlorine and baking soda is literally all i ever add to my pool.
Posted by GumboPot
Member since Mar 2009
119065 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:08 pm to
quote:

You guys are all much better pool owners than me. I throw some shock in there once a week and never check the chemical levels



I used to use chlorine tablets but over time you build up levels of cyanuric acid (aka, CYA) that are too high. Cyanuric acid is added to chlorine tablets to allow the chlorine to last a little longer...reside in the water longer.

I've moved away from the tablets and just use three scoops of calcium hypochlorite and one scoop of Eclipse 3 when the temp is above 70 degrees. When the temp is below 70 I use a lot less. Eclipse 3 is great because it has copper sulfate with a buffer and makes the water really pretty.
Posted by CarrolltonTiger
New Orleans
Member since Aug 2005
50291 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:10 pm to
quote:

ou guys are all much better pool owners than me.


Get a Floatron and save hundreds in pool chemical, and days in wasted time annually. One replacement rod costs about $50 and lasts two years.
Posted by GumboPot
Member since Mar 2009
119065 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:11 pm to
quote:

i struggle with low pH levels


I hope you don't have lead pipes.

My source water is well water and it's 7.8 to 8.9 pH. It runs a little alkaline.
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
116328 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:18 pm to
I am skeptical of those. Does that really work?
Posted by jmon
Mandeville, LA
Member since Oct 2010
8440 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:22 pm to
quote:

pour it directly into the skimmer so you don't discolor your liner.
quote:

don't discolor your liner.
quote:

liner.

Sir, this is the OT. Liner's are for poor's
Posted by ItNeverRains
37069
Member since Oct 2007
25634 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:22 pm to
Yes.
Posted by GumboPot
Member since Mar 2009
119065 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:23 pm to
quote:

Get a Floatron



I just googled this. It apparently works by emitting copper ions into the water via small electric current form the solar panel. They say to maintain copper ion levels between 0.3 and 0.5 ppm. Remove the Floatron when the level reaches 0.5 and introduce it back into the pool when in reaches 0.3.

They do recommend cleaning the electrodes weekly.
Posted by DrewTheEngineer
Baton Rouge (Oak Hills)
Member since Jun 2006
997 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:25 pm to
I've owned a chlorine pool for 15 years, and I don't think I've ever had to raise the pH, only lower it.
Posted by GumboPot
Member since Mar 2009
119065 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:29 pm to
quote:

I am skeptical of those. Does that really work?



I'm sure it works but it still needs maintenance. Looks like you have to clean the anodes weekly. I guess if you forget to maintain the unit after a month or so you'll end up with an algae bloom and have to rush to the store for chemicals.
Posted by CarrolltonTiger
New Orleans
Member since Aug 2005
50291 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:29 pm to
quote:

I am skeptical of those. Does that really work?



used it for about 20 years works great. What is there to be skeptical about? Same technology that let's astronauts drink cleaned up piss. Only minor complaint is it can create minor staining, as the copper ions have a blue residue.

No chlorine purchases, filters last longer, less work, less cost. Pool maintenance men and pool supply stores hate it so it must be good.
Posted by CarrolltonTiger
New Orleans
Member since Aug 2005
50291 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:30 pm to
quote:

They do recommend cleaning the electrodes weekly.


I clean mine maybe 4 times a summer, and it is just brushing off the little rod with a wire brush. takes 5 minutes.
Posted by GumboPot
Member since Mar 2009
119065 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:31 pm to
quote:

used it for about 20 years works great. What is there to be skeptical about? Same technology that let's astronauts drink cleaned up piss. Only minor complaint is it can create minor staining, as the copper ions have a blue residue.


Why not just buy copper sulfate from Amazon and maintain 0.5 ppm copper level?
This post was edited on 5/18/23 at 1:33 pm
Posted by GumboPot
Member since Mar 2009
119065 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:31 pm to
quote:

I clean mine maybe 4 times a summer, and it is just brushing off the little rod with a wire brush. takes 5 minutes.


Posted by MotorbikeMike
Chackbay
Member since Feb 2009
184 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:35 pm to
I would be very interested in switching away from my saltwater pool to something similar to this. What is the cost to purchase the Floatron and is the only upkeep to replace the rods every couple of years?
Posted by Tigerlaff
FIGHTING out of the Carencro Sonic
Member since Jan 2010
20903 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:36 pm to
Yes. Buy from Wal Mart and save money.
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
116328 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:37 pm to
You can get knockoff ionizers that do the same thing from my research for 100 bucks on amazon. Actual Floatron brand ones are like 300
Posted by GumboPot
Member since Mar 2009
119065 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:39 pm to
quote:

I would be very interested in switching away from my saltwater pool to something similar to this. What is the cost to purchase the Floatron and is the only upkeep to replace the rods every couple of years?




https://www.floatron.com/index.html
Posted by dgnx6
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2006
69030 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:39 pm to
quote:

I find it odd that you are having low pH issues with your pool. Is your water source low pH or did you put too much muriatic acid in your pool?


I spent a bunch of money on some muriatic acid to only use about a cap full and the pool was good.


but im new to the whole pool thing and brought a sample into Leslie's and they printed out some shite to follow. But hew its been looking good ever since.
This post was edited on 5/18/23 at 1:42 pm
Posted by billjamin
Houston
Member since Jun 2019
12677 posts
Posted on 5/18/23 at 1:43 pm to
quote:

pour it directly into the skimmer

Be careful doing this. Your putting pumps are sucking in a concentrated dose or any chemical you send in the skimmer. My buddy owns a pool supply store and he’s shown me pics of some really wiped out pumps from it.
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