pH Up & Algaecide: Is It Better To Add Them At Same Time?

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Can I Add pH Up & Algaecide At The Same Time?

Want to have fun in your pool throughout this summer? Then make sure that the chemistry of your pool water is balanced at all times and the pool chemicals are topped up each week. But can you add pH Up & Algaecide at the same time?

You should not add pH Up & algaecide at the same time. You need to check the pH level of the pool water, 24 hours after adding algaecide. You can then add the right amount of pH UP.

When chlorine is added to the pool it reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid. This makes the pool water acidic and lowers the pH level. 

Algae thrive at higher pH levels but start dying at the lower pH level caused by chlorination. As they die they consume the chlorine and pH level starts rising.

Does Algaecide Affect pH?

Algaecide is added to the pool as a support to the chlorine. Algaecide helps weaken the algae so that chlorine has an easier job killing them.

Algaecide, by itself does not affect the pH of the pool. However, addition of algaecide will hasten the process of the chlorine killing the algae. As the algae start to die, the demand on the chlorine starts dropping.

As less and less chlorine is required to kill the algae, the chlorine level in the pool starts rising. Higher the chlorine level, lower the pH and higher the acidity.

The pH level is, therefore, largely dictated by the balance between free chlorine (FC) & algaecide and the algae present in your pool water.

So algaecide helps lower pH level by lowering the algae level and increasing the free chlorine (FC) level in your pool.

How Long After Adding Algaecide Can You Add pH Up?

There is no point in adding pH Up & algaecide at the same time. You need to know the actual pH reading of the pool water first.

The pH level of the pool water will stabilize only 24 hours after the addition of algaecide.

You should add the algaecide, preferably sometime in the evening, with the filter pump running. You should run the filter pump for around 2-4 hours. This will ensure that the entire pool is populated with the algaecide.

Overnight the chlorine & algaecide duo will be killing off the algae. Meanwhile the pH level will be steadily dropping. 

You should balance the pH level of the pool the next evening, that is 24 hours later. Test the water and if the pH level is lower than 7.5 you need to add pH Up. 

Enter the actual pH level and the target pH level in the pool calculator app. It will tell you how much pH Up you need to add. No need to guess! 

What Can I Use in Place of pH Up?

The pH scale is a logarithmic scale that indicates the acidity or the alkalinity of your pool. Drinking water is considered neutral and has a pH of 7.0. 

A lower pH level than 7 indicates acidity and a higher pH level than 7 indicates alkalinity. A balanced pool should have a pH level of 7.2-7.8. The ideal pH level for your pool is 7.5. 

At this level the pool water will not corrode the expensive pool equipment  or burn your eyes. At the same time it is low enough to be a deterrent to algae growth.

When the pH level is below 7.5 you need to increase the pH. You can of course do this by adding pH Up or pH Increasers. However, you can also use household chemicals like Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) or Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate).

Baking Soda has a pH level of 8.0 while Soda Ash has a pH level of 11.3 – 11.7.

Addition of Baking Soda is very effective in increasing the alkalinity of the pool. It will also increase the pH level but to a lesser degree. 

Addition of Soda Ash, on the other hand, is very effective in increasing the pH level of the pool. It will also increase the alkalinity but to a lesser degree.

Recommended Swimming Pool Chemicals

Best All Purpose Algaecide

Kem-Tek Pool & Spa Concentrated Algaecide is very effective for prevention of algae and also helps to clarify cloudy pool water. It has a non-foaming formula and can be used in all types of pools. Order from Amazon using the link below:

Kem-Tek Pool and Spa 60-Percent Concentrated Algaecide, 1 Quart 2 Pack

Best pH Up

Clorox® Pool&Spa™ pH Up raises low pH in your pool so you can maintain a beautiful, swim-ready pool. The granulated formula dissolves fast, and the easy pour application bag makes raising your pH simple, and fast. Order from Amazon using the link below:

Clorox Pool&Spa 12104CLX pH Up

Best Baking Soda for Pools

Arm & Hammer is clearly the leader in Baking Soda. The product has multiple uses in the home, cleaning, laundry & deodorizing. It works great for increasing swimming pool alkalinity too! Order from Amazon using the link below:

2 x 13.5 Pounds Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda (27 Pounds Total)

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.