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Pool Alkalinity Calculator
Pounds of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to raise total alkalinity.
How it's calculated
1.4 lb of sodium bicarbonate raises total alkalinity by about 10 ppm in 10,000 gallons. Pounds = (ppm increase ÷ 10) × 1.4 × (gallons ÷ 10,000). Add no more than about 10 lb at a time, circulate, and retest.
Example
A 15,000-gallon pool from 60 to 90 ppm: 3 × 1.4 × 1.5 = 6.3 lb of baking soda.
Total alkalinity targets
| Pool | Target TA |
|---|---|
| Liquid chlorine or salt | 60–90 ppm |
| Trichlor tablets | 80–120 ppm |
| Plaster, new | Per builder's start-up guide |