Pool Chemistry
Water balance fundamentals, CYA-chlorine relationship, pH management, and alkalinity adjustments.
5 articles
How to Raise Alkalinity in a Pool
Add 1.5 lbs of baking soda per 10,000 gallons to raise pool alkalinity by 10 ppm. Step-by-step dosing guide with exact amounts and wait times.
Pool pH: How to Lower It, Raise It, and Keep It Balanced
To lower pool pH, add 12–16 oz of muriatic acid per 10,000 gallons to drop from 7.8 to 7.4. To raise it, add 6 oz of soda ash. The real fix for drifting pH is getting alkalinity right.
Pool Shock Treatment: When, How, and How Much
Shock your pool when chlorine demand exceeds normal dosing — not weekly. Learn the triggers, choose the right shock type, and calculate exact amounts by pool size and CYA level.
CYA and Chlorine: Why Your Pool Store Gets It Wrong
CYA protects chlorine from sunlight but also reduces its killing power. Learn how the CYA-chlorine ratio works and why generic chlorine targets are dangerous.
Pool Chemical Calculator Guide: The 5 Numbers That Matter
A complete guide to pool water chemistry. Learn the 5 key parameters every pool owner must understand — FC, pH, TA, CH, and CYA — and how they interact.