Stabilise Pool Water with Better Alkalinity Control
Zodiac Alkalinity Up Buffer is designed to raise Total Alkalinity in pool water, helping stabilise pH and make water balance easier to manage. Correct alkalinity gives chlorine and other pool chemicals the right conditions to work more effectively.
When Total Alkalinity is too low, pH can move up and down quickly, making the pool harder to balance. By increasing the water’s buffering capacity, Alkalinity Up helps support swimmer comfort and helps protect pool surfaces, metal fittings and equipment from corrosive water conditions.
Features & Benefits
- Raises Total Alkalinity: Helps bring low alkalinity levels back into the correct range.
- Helps stabilise pH: Supports better pH control by reducing sudden pH movement, often called pH bounce.
- Supports chlorine performance: Balanced water helps chlorine work more effectively.
- Improves swimmer comfort: Helps maintain water balance conditions that are more comfortable for swimmers.
- Protects surfaces and equipment: Helps reduce corrosive water conditions that may affect pool surfaces, metal fittings and equipment.
- Suitable for chlorinated and saltwater pools: Ideal for pool water balance in both manually chlorinated and salt chlorinated pools.
- Pool water buffer: Uses sodium bicarbonate to increase alkalinity and support stable water balance.
How It Works
Total Alkalinity is the water’s buffering capacity. It helps resist sudden changes in pH, so the water is less likely to swing sharply after rain, heavy bather load, top-ups or chemical additions.
Zodiac Alkalinity Up Buffer uses sodium bicarbonate to increase the bicarbonate level in the water. This raises Total Alkalinity and helps pH stay more stable, without acting as strongly on pH as a dedicated pH increaser.
How to Use
- Test the pool water to confirm the current Total Alkalinity level.
- Calculate the required dose based on your pool volume and test result.
- Dissolve the required amount of Zodiac Alkalinity Up Buffer in a bucket of pool water.
- With the pump and filter running, apply the dissolved solution evenly around the edges of the pool.
- Run the filter for 4–6 hours after application.
- Retest the water before adding more product or making further pH adjustments.
Dosage & Coverage
- Total Alkalinity Dose: Add 200g per 10,000 litres of pool water to increase Total Alkalinity by 10ppm.
- Frequency: Test Total Alkalinity several times a season and adjust as needed based on your water test results.
Important Usage Information
- Always test pool water before dosing and adjust Total Alkalinity before adjusting pH.
- Do not overdose. High Total Alkalinity can make pH difficult to adjust and may contribute to cloudy water or scale.
- Do not add more than 2kg per 50,000L in any 6-hour period, as large additions may increase the risk of metal staining if metals are present in the water.
- Do not add Zodiac Alkalinity Up Buffer within 2–4 hours of adding Calcium Up or a hardness increaser, as this may cause very cloudy water.
- In cold water below 15°C, the product may dissolve more slowly and water balance changes may take longer.
Maintain Total Alkalinity at 80–120ppm for fully tiled, pebble and plaster pools, or 125–150ppm for vinyl and fibreglass pools.
A Better Pool Experience Starts with the Right Chemistry
Zodiac pool chemicals support the key parts of everyday water care, from balance and sanitising to algae prevention, clarity, stain control and equipment protection.
Each product has a clear role in helping pool water stay cleaner, more comfortable and easier to manage, so the pool feels ready to enjoy more often.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alkalinity Up the same as pH Up?
No. Zodiac Alkalinity Up Buffer is mainly used to raise Total Alkalinity. It may also increase pH slightly, but its main role is to improve the water’s buffering capacity so pH becomes easier to control.
Why should Total Alkalinity be adjusted before pH?
Total Alkalinity controls how stable pH is. If alkalinity is too low, pH can keep moving even after adjustment, so correcting alkalinity first gives pH a better chance of staying in range.
Why does low alkalinity make pool water harder to manage?
Low alkalinity reduces the water’s ability to resist pH change. This can lead to pH bounce, where the pH shifts quickly after rain, swimming or chemical additions.
Why should I avoid adding Alkalinity Up and Calcium Up close together?
Adding alkalinity increaser and calcium hardness increaser too close together can cause very cloudy water. Leave at least 2–4 hours between these products and keep the pump running.
Why is my pH still rising after I lower it?
If Total Alkalinity is too high, pH may continue to rise even after acid is added. In this case, do not add Alkalinity Up. Test the water and correct the high alkalinity issue first.
Can I use Alkalinity Up in cold water?
Yes, but it may dissolve and react more slowly in water below 15°C. Make smaller adjustments, keep the filter running and retest before adding more.
