Only after the two have been well combined will the pH and alkalinity be consistent throughout the hot tub, and you need to wait until these measurements are consistent before moving on any further. The guys at Everything Hot Tubz were Fabulous! Though used to quickly lower the pH and alkalinity of pool water, muriatic acid is also used as a household cleaning solution, especially when it comes to cleaning stains and grout. The container doesnt state the concentration of sodium bisulfate versus other ingredients. You will need to balance the pH and alkalinity of your water nearly every week if you use the hot tub regularly. You could also look for a generic pH decreaser, alkalinity decreaser, or combination decreaser chemical at a pool supply store. JavaScript is disabled. This partly explains why sodium bisulfate costs more than muriatic acid. Understand the relationship between pH and total alkalinity. From the, Sulphate attack occurs under balanced water conditions, even at concentrations below the maximum recommended concentrations. Please consider. AJH Trade Group is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This requires approximately 12 ounces (354 mL) of 31% strength muriatic acid or 16 ounces of sodium bisulfate granules. Slowly pour the acid near your return jets to let the pump circulate it; Keep your pool filter circulating to let the chemical dissipate (normally within an hour); Retest your water chemistry after an hour or two. Muriatic acid is more dangerous though. This means that every time you add sodium bisulfate to your pool water, you increase the sulfate concentration in the water. no, do not use sulfuric or sodium bisulfate in the Orenda Startup process. You will get much more visibility by. Per its namesake, a major component of sodium bisulfate is sulfates. Fewer hydrogen ions will cause the pH to spike. We can convert in reverse to double-check our math. EPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. Additionally, muriatic acid works faster and is cheaper per dose. This is based on reducing pH from 7.9 to 7.5 in a 17,000 gal (77,284 L) pool. Similarly, signs of high pH also include poor sanitary conditions, cloudy water, the formation of scales, skin irritation, and eye irritation. The lifespan of the hot tub's filter will also decrease. Allow the pump to circulate the water for three to six hours after you add the decreaser. Commercial pools have brands like, Do not add undissolved sodium bisulfate to your pool. Afterward, fill the hot tub back up, balance the pH and alkalinity as needed, and continue to monitor the conditions as usual. Scoop water out of your hot tub into an 8 gal (30.28 L) plastic bucket until that container is three-quarters full. If levels are still high, repeat the process while adding less muriatic acid each time. On average, a gallon of muriatic acid costs roughly $20 to $25. Huge Discounts on Slightly Blemished and Open Box Hot Tubs and Swim Spas! Test the water chemistry to see how much youll need to add; Based on the manufacturers instructions, calculate how much muriatic acid youll need to add to lower the pH to the normal range; Add your muriatic acid while keeping your filter running. You should completely drain the water in your hot tub at least once every four to six months. Shop Perfect Pourz at the Amazon Dining & Entertaining store. Here, Ill be providing you with a quick guide on using sodium bisulfate to lower the pH in your pool. Test the pH and alkalinity of your pool water so that you know how much you need to lower it; Follow the manufacturers directions to see how much sodium bisulfate youll need; Pour the product into the water near the return jets and deepest end of your pool, while keeping your pumping running; Let your pools filtration system circulate and dissolve the product in the water; Retest the water chemistry within 24 hours and repeat if necessary. In this case, say were trying to lower the pH from 7.9 to 7.5. Monday - Saturday 9:00am - 3:00pm, Service Phone Lines: 12th Annual Year End Savings Event! With a bit of chemistry knowledge and some research, I learned that sodium bisulfite reacts with water to form sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, the latter of which is a weak alkali. This means the rest of the pool structure is much less likely to be damaged by the sulfates from dry acid. Ed and Johnny went above and beyond what was expected. Now I will feel better using the sodium bisulfate. This means that to lower the pH any more will mean additional sodium bisulfate and therefore, more sulfates to your pool water. 1 pound (16 oz.) Website Design by Sitewired Web Solutions. The main difference is the byproduct left behind. Give the water a chance to balance. Like muriatic acid, sodium bisulfate lowers pH and alkalinity and is also used in household cleaning products and other applications. Because the sulfates from sodium bisulfate are notorious for damaging concrete surfaces once theyre above 300 ppm, its safer to use sodium bisulfate in either a fiberglass or vinyl pool. Periodically drain the water. of 38.5% sulfuric acid, Whew. They were timely, efficient, reasonably priced, and gave that extra customer Having had 2 unbelievably bad experiences and given mis-information by the original manufacturer and terrible follow up and service from another hot Denver Hot Tubs | Everything Hot Tubz | Denver Swim Spas and Used Spas. The reason is that gunite is built using a rebar framework that is covered in a concrete and sand mixture. Mix the chemical together with a small amount of water. More precisely, pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water. If you use our referring links, it costs you nothing extra. See footnotes. In my pool, I use MA and a stenner pump because I'm scared of the MA and prefer to only handle it once / year. When the alkalinity of the water becomes high or low, the pH will follow shortly after. - EPA.gov, This is a far more serious problem than the carbonate scale for two reasons. The cost of sodium bisulfate, like that of muriatic acid, depends on the amount and concentration of the product. Is sodium bisulfate or muriatic acid safer? for every ounce of muriatic acid, you need ~1.31 ounces of sodium bisulfate to do the same thing. I have gotten full strength MA on my skin many times and I assure you Im not a zombie extra on the set of The Walking Dead. Okay, the math checks out. Signs of high alkalinity include the formation of scales along the sides and bottom of the tub, cloudy water, skin irritation, eye irritation, and poor sanitary conditions. Hello , This is an inactive thread. First and foremost, unlike the. During this time, the pumps should circulate the water and acid together more thoroughly. I assume that by corrosive you mean to skin and surrounding structures and not to the internal plumbing and mechanics of the tub, correct? This time, instead of converting to one sulfuric gallon, let's convert to one pound of sodium bisulfate: 1 pound of 93.2% sodium bisulfate = 12.1 fl.oz. Similarly, even if you suspect that the pH of the water is high, you should take a precise measurement of the actual pH by testing the water with a pH testing kit or testing strips. I don't keep and acid around outside of the acid that's in the container that the stenner pump pulls from. Vinyl pools are characterized by having a sheet of vinyl between the water and the pool structure. Hot Tub Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer) High | How to Lower, How to Fix a Slimy Feeling Hot Tub (Clear Biofilm), Vapor reduction technology reduces 90% of harmful vapors that come with traditional muriatic acid, The difference between this and traditional muriatic acid is not very noticeableStings the eyes even though fumes are reduced, Very quick and efficient (works in under 15 minutes), Fumes can be quite intense (a mask is recommended). 9.6 4.45 = 2.15. The higher the sulfates, the faster the rate of etching. , sulfates compound corrosion issues when chlorides are present. Adding chemicals to the water so often can cause excess build-up, and you will likely notice that it is becoming more difficult to balance your water conditions. Monday to Friday: 10:00am-6:00pm If the water pH is higher than this ideal range, the water is too basic or alkaline. O. Phone: (303) 806-9400. As long as you handle it with appropriate care, youre not in any danger. Sodium bisulfate does not create sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide in water at typical spa pH. As a general rule, you will need 1.6 lbs (725.75 g) sodium bisulfate or 1.3 qt (1.23 L) muriatic acid for every 10,000 gallons (37.85 kL) of water to drop the total alkalinity by 10 ppm. The pH may not be balanced yet, however. Both muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate are good options for lowering the pH and alkalinity in your pool, though each has its pros and cons. So yes, for an equivalent dose, sodium bisulfate leaves behind 2.15x the sulfates than sulfuric acid does. At the end of the day, just know that whichever option you choose, youll be sure to have your pH back down to normal; its just a matter of time (literally). Both sodium bisulfate and muriatic acid are dangerous chemicals and should be handled with care. In this article, Ill be helping you compare and contrast the two most common chemicals used to lower pH and alkalinity, muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate, so you can decide which option is best for you. Muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate both have their pros and cons. Always pre-dissolve it in a bucket of water. The local spa store sold me some "pH down", which is sodium bisulfite. Once you balance the alkalinity, the pH will gradually adjust to it. In this sense, pH reduction products include both muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate. An example is some inground pools and many above-ground pools. process calls for industry-standard muriatic acid (31.45% HCl). Perhaps youve recently tested your pool water chemistry and noticed that the pH and alkalinity are too high, so youre trying to find the best ways to lower them. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Here are some of the best-reviewed products on the market right now: Muriatic acid is cheaper per dose to lower pool pH and total alkalinity. The cost of muriatic acid depends on the amount and concentration of the product. Dilute it with water first in a bucket then add it to your spa. Start out slow and take your time. When the alkalinity and pH get too high, chlorine-based disinfectants are less effective. Can't say enough. Because fiberglass is constructed using small glass threads, polyester resin, and weather-resistant gel, its much less prone to damage caused by sulfates. To lower both total alkalinity and pH, you will need to add an acid. Your chemistry is wrong. As the topic title states, I have a situation where my TA is very high as is my pH. So, while this product is good at lowering the pH by virtue of the sulfuric acid, it either does nothing for or increases TA by virtue of the NaOH it adds to the water. Determine your initial measurements based on total alkalinity. Rapid changes in he pH are often symptomatic of low alkalinity, as well. Hot Tubs, Swim Spas, Patio Sets, Gazebos and More, Hours: It is being practiced by thousands of pool owners just like you. Additionally, its stronger and will cause more damage to surfaces or body parts if its spilled or splashed. Muriatic acid is a highly corrosive and hazardous chemical that is the diluted version of hydrochloric acid. While Supplies Last, See Store for Details. The muriatic acid most commonly used in pools is 31.45% HCl, ) is perhaps the purest, safest pH reducer on the planet. We may earn a small commission. A sodium bisulfate pool system generally involves a specialized feeder to dissolve the acid in the water, then feed the acidic solution into circulation. Note that if you see corrosion, etched plaster, or stained plaster, the pH and alkalinity are probably too low. Any new postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. 2 H2O. Test the total alkalinity of the hot tub. Related Reading: What Is Muriatic Acid for in a Pool? Adding the acid too quickly can cause damage to the sides, bottom, and equipment in the hot tub. As a result, the water quality deteriorates, causing build-up and other problems in the hot tub. Pour the acid in gradually instead of dumping it in all at once. As a general rule, you add about 10 ppm worth of sulfates for every pound of sodium sulfate you use in a 10,000-gallon (45,461 L) pool. An ideal range for alkalinity is between 80 and 120 ppm.