Baking Soda

[Venissa]

How much baking soda do any of you use in your tub?  It helps adjust PH right?

[Brewman]

I use baking soda to raise my alkalinity if it drifts down.  
Baking soda will also raise Ph somewhat but from what I've observed it has a bigger impact on alk.
 When I was on Bromine/MPS I had to add quite a bit of baking soda, now that I'm on dichlor, my water stays pretty balanced.  

[Venissa]

Excuse mt ignorance but what is the MPS?  And I thought Bromine was Dichlor?  Are there different types of Bromine?

[Dr. Spaâ„¢ Ret.]

MPS = non-chlorine shock
Bromine = Bromine
Dichlor = chlorine

[Brewman]

Bromine and Dichlor are both sanitizers- not the same, but different.

 Bromine is typically in tablet form, and is put in a floater or in a special dispenser built into some spas.  Once you get the floater dialed in, it's just a matter of putting in new tablets every few weeks.   Less daily routine needed- but it can drag down Ph.

MPS (potassium monopersulfate) is a type of shock, typically powder, that is often used with bromine.  Can also be used with dichlor (chlorine).
This isn't a sanitizer, just used in conjunction with one.

 
Dichlor is a form of chlorine- it is usually in powder form, and can be used as a primary sanitizer- instead of bromine (or yet some other sanitizer), and it can also be used as a shocking agent, with bromine or with itself.
 Dichlor has to be added on a certain schedule (there are lots of routines) it doesn't stay in the water long.  

I've used three different chemical routines- Baqua Spa (DONT ASK!), bromine, and dichlor.  I much prefer dichlor.  But bromine works fine for many people, too.  Just wasn't for me.

[Venissa]

Thanks all.
Gawd I love this forum!
I learn so much in here!!
 

[Venissa]

How much baking soda do any of you use in your tub?  It helps adjust PH right?

Back to my original question.
If you use baking soda for ph or alkalinity - how much would you use?

[Brewman]

I don't have an exact amount.  It would vary by the amount of water in your spa, and the amount you need to raise alk.  The one nice thing about the chemicals that are packaged for spa use, like Ph increase and decrease, etc.. often have tables on them to guide you.   Start out small, like a couple tablespoons and measure the result the next day, that will give you an idea.  I usually add an ounce or so at a time.

[Vinny]

I use baking soda to raise both but only worry about my PH. About 2 oz will raise my tub from 7.2 to about 7.6. But remember that if your alkalinity is high baking soda will make it higher, you need to use soda ash for just PH adjustments then.

[Tman122]

How much baking soda do any of you use in your tub?  It helps adjust PH right?

Back to my original question.
If you use baking soda for ph or alkalinity - how much would you use?

I use almost 5 OZ's over a few weeks to get my water where it needs to be. My PH starts at about 7.0 or below, Alk around 70-80. If I go a bit high 7.8 or so it's ok as dichlor dosing will bring it down slowly over time.