OK, your KH is above 150ppm so the stability of your pH readings is
assured. To bring down pH and KH, use Muriatic acid that you can buy
at building supply houses and some good hardware stores. It is used
to clean cement.

If the KH reading comes from baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) it will
max at 8.4. If the KH reading comes from other sources such as quick
lime, or the lime in cement, it can go much higher, but HCL or the
commercial grade muriatic acid will directly consume the KH. Add
daily doses and check the KH to make sure you don't go below KH 150
ppm.

Regards,

Hal

On Fri, 21 May 2004 05:02:34 GMT, ~ jan JJsPond.us
wrote:

I added 1 lb of baking soda to 1,000 gallons giving me a KH of 179-200 ppm,
the pH, if anything, went higher into the 9s. Will check out the carbonate
cal. at Roark site. ~ jan

On Thu, 20 May 2004 13:09:15 -0400, Hal wrote:

Something I picked up he
- if KH is below 150 ppm or so, adding baking soda will raise KH and
shift pH down towards 8.4. Suggested dose 1/3 pound per 1000 gallons.
That will raise KH by 20 ppm. or about 1 degree. ½ pound per 1500
gallons.
- if KH is above 150 ppm or so, adding muriatic acid will lower KH and
shift pH down. Suggested dose 2 ounces per 1000 gallons.(per day)
Add acid to water, never water to acid!

So what is your KH?

Regards,

Hal

(Do you know where your water quality is?)