I’m considering trying NaOH for a pH boost. My main questions are:
1. Does NaOH affect alkalinity? And if so, how much?
2. Is NaOH stronger than kalk at boosting pH? ie, Can I expect to use a much smaller volume of NaOH to maintain a given pH than the equivalent volume of kalk?
The details:
My pH runs 7.7 - 7.9 even when pumping outside air into the skimmer (this actually had no effect). The indoor portion of my system (the DT) is built in wall and closed into cabinetry and the rest of the system is in the garage (ie not a living space where people are filling with CO2). So I don’t think atmospheric CO2 is the right rabbit hole to go down here. I am quite happy with my use of two part and I’m able to keep alkalinity super stable which is important to me. I’m currently dabbling a little in kalk in an effort to raise and/or stabilize the pH but I’m seeing much more of an effect on alk than pH which is not what I want. Additionally I obviously would like to boost pH at night however my system uses only 20% of the per hour alk demand between 12-6 AM as it does during daytime so any significant amount of kalk dosed overnight leads to alkalinity instability. This is why I’m specifically interested in trying NaOH.
1. Does NaOH affect alkalinity? And if so, how much?
2. Is NaOH stronger than kalk at boosting pH? ie, Can I expect to use a much smaller volume of NaOH to maintain a given pH than the equivalent volume of kalk?
The details:
My pH runs 7.7 - 7.9 even when pumping outside air into the skimmer (this actually had no effect). The indoor portion of my system (the DT) is built in wall and closed into cabinetry and the rest of the system is in the garage (ie not a living space where people are filling with CO2). So I don’t think atmospheric CO2 is the right rabbit hole to go down here. I am quite happy with my use of two part and I’m able to keep alkalinity super stable which is important to me. I’m currently dabbling a little in kalk in an effort to raise and/or stabilize the pH but I’m seeing much more of an effect on alk than pH which is not what I want. Additionally I obviously would like to boost pH at night however my system uses only 20% of the per hour alk demand between 12-6 AM as it does during daytime so any significant amount of kalk dosed overnight leads to alkalinity instability. This is why I’m specifically interested in trying NaOH.