The industry standard has always been to use sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to raise total alkalinity and sodium carbonate (soda ash) to raise pH — the exception being if both total alkalinity and pH are low. … Sodium carbonate will actually have a dramatic effect on both pH and total alkalinity.

Does sodium carbonate increase alkalinity?

Sodium carbonate will actually have a dramatic effect on both pH and total alkalinity. … On the other hand, 12.2 ounces of sodium carbonate will raise the pH of 10,000 gallons of water by 0.4, as well as increase the total alkalinity by roughly 8.6 ppm.

What is the difference between sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate in pools?

pH is important to be in range in a swimming pool because it determines the effectiveness of chlorine. Sodium bicarbonate is used for raising Total Alkalinity if it is too low, with a not much effect on pH. Sodium Carbonate will raise the pH level if it is to low without effecting your Total Alkalinity very much.