Baking soda doses for 5,000 gallons
| Alkalinity | Pounds / ounces | Metric | pH change |
|---|---|---|---|
| TA 40 → 80 | 2.8 lb | 1.3 kg | +0.27 |
| TA 50 → 80 | 2.1 lb | 953 g | +0.19 |
| TA 60 → 80 | 1.4 lb | 635 g | +0.12 |
| TA 70 → 80 | 11 oz | 318 g | +0.05 |
How much baking soda for a 5,000 gallon pool
In a 5,000 gallon pool, 11 oz (318 g) of baking soda raises total alkalinity by 10 ppm. Going from 60 to 80 ppm takes 1.4 lb (635 g). Baking soda nudges pH up only a little, so it is the tool for alkalinity, not for pH.
Run it with your numbers
Add
1.4lb
of Baking soda / alkalinity up (sodium bicarbonate)
22 oz635 g
Raises total alkalinity from 60 ppm to 80 ppm in 5,000 gal. pH moves to about 7.5.
- Side effects: pH +0.12.
- Retest after the water has circulated.
Check the product label. Strengths vary by brand, so enter the % printed on yours. Add one chemical at a time, into the water, and never mix chemicals.
Save this test and get reminded when it is time to retest.
Pool Calc for iPhoneComing soon to the App StoreAbout baking soda
Plain grocery-store baking soda is the same chemical as pool "alkalinity increaser", usually for less money. Broadcast it over the deep end with the pump running, or dissolve it in a bucket first.
Add no more than 40 ppm of alkalinity at a time, then retest after a few hours. If your goal is higher pH rather than higher alkalinity, use soda ash or borax instead: baking soda cannot push pH above about 8.3.
Dosing a 5,000 gallon pool
That is about the size of a 15 ft round × 52 in above-ground pool (about 5,070 gal), or a 16 ft round × 48 in above-ground pool (about 5,260 gal). At 5,000 gallons, most doses are measured in fluid ounces or ounces rather than gallons or pounds. Above-ground pools of this size usually have vinyl liners, so keep calcium hardness modest and add everything in front of a return jet, away from the liner wall.
Questions
How much baking soda do I put in a 5,000 gallon pool?
11 oz per 10 ppm of alkalinity. From 60 to 80 ppm, 1.4 lb.
Does baking soda raise pH?
Slightly. It mostly raises alkalinity. To raise pH, soda ash or borax works better.
Can I swim after adding baking soda?
Yes, once it has dissolved and circulated, usually within an hour.