Isn’t Spa Up the same as baking soda?

[Sjde]

I decided to switch from using SpaUp to baking soda. Same stuff, right? But could they be different somehow?
Spa Up says to add 3 Tb for my size hot tub to raise pH. I started with 5 Tb based on my past experience with this tub and it ended up needing 12 Tb! I did two at a time, waiting 30 minutes in-between each before retesting. Took forever.
This is at our vacation rental and there have been 2 groups since I was last here and our service guy comes out after each one, but he's obviously not adding enough.


That's the problem in a rental. NONE of them keep adding and retesting. They check it and then throw some chemicals in and leave.
But who'd have guessed it would take this much? That's why I'm wondering if it was because it's baking soda now.

My Spa Up says soium bicarbonate, but I wondered if there are stabilizers or some inactive ingredients that don't have to be labeled.
I've never before seen it needing this much to raise the pH.

Maybe it wasn't because I switched to baking soda-couldve just been a coincidence?


The pH was well below 6.8 to start . And the alkalinity reading was nonexistent too, although that came up more easily.

 

[mknauss]

Sodium Bicarb (baking soda) raises pH a little but raises Total Alkalinity alot. Aeration will raise the pH naturally or borax will raise the pH with a small effect on TA.

If you have a 0 TA your pH is in the 4's. That does not happen naturally. A significant amount of acid or acid containing product (trichlor, dichlor) were added.

 

[Sjde]

If I use Washing soda (sodium carbonate I think) does it matter if it's the powder or liquid? is one preferred?

 

[mknauss]

Do you mean 20 Mule Team® Borax Natural Laundry Booster? Borax?

Or Soda ash as ARM & HAMMER® Super Washing Soda Detergent Booster?

 

[Sjde]

Soda Ash, because it comes in 2 forms. I think Borax is only a powder.

 

[mknauss]

I only know soda ash as a powder.

Be very careful using soda ash. Unless you have negative TA and crashed pH you are better off using baking soda to raise your TA and aeration to raise your pH.

 

[Sjde]

The Washing Soda/soda ash I have found is now a liquid. I had been using baking soda but if you look at my original post you'll see why I may buy Washing Soda. I had exactly the situation you describe.

- - - Updated - - -

Does the PoolMath app give you all 3 options?

 

[mknauss]

Ok, as long as you know what it does.

Poolmath assumes powder.

 

[jblizzle]

They are all solid powders. If you are finding them in liquid form it means they perhaps are pre dissolved in water and you are likely paying more for Less product.

 

[PoolguyinCT]

They are all solid powders. If you are finding them in liquid form it means they perhaps are pre dissolved in water and you are likely paying more for Less product.

& paying for insane shipping costs, they are a gimmick.