Pool Alkalinity Calculator
Calculate the exact amount of baking soda or acid to adjust your pool's total alkalinity for stable pH levels.
Alkalinity Calculator
Adjust total alkalinity to stabilize pH
Ideal Range: 80 - 120 ppm
Total alkalinity acts as a buffer to prevent pH swings. Low alkalinity causes pH to fluctuate; high alkalinity makes pH hard to adjust.
Pool Volume
20,000 gallons
Amount to Add
11 lbs
Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
Tips
• 1.4 lbs per 10,000 gallons raises TA by 10 ppm
• Raising alkalinity also slightly raises pH
About Total Alkalinity
Total alkalinity (TA) is a measure of your water's ability to resist changes in pH. Think of it as a pH buffer - proper alkalinity keeps your pH stable. The ideal range is 80-120 ppm.
The pH-Alkalinity Connection
Low alkalinity: pH bounces unpredictably (pH bounce), corrosive water.
High alkalinity: pH tends to drift high, hard to adjust, cloudy water, scale formation.
Adjustment Order
Always adjust alkalinity FIRST, then pH. Raising alkalinity also raises pH slightly. When lowering alkalinity with acid, pH will drop too - you may need to raise pH afterward.