Sodium Bisulfate: Top 4 PH Downs For Stress-Free Pool Maintenance

What if we told you that there is a chemical that could make your pool maintenance routine easier and more effective? A chemical that could lower the pH and alkalinity of your pool water, prevent algae growth, and keep your pool equipment in top condition. Are you intrigued? In this article, we share our thorough research on sodium bisulfate. 

Keep reading to discover what it is, how it works, simple using instructions, and… *drum roll* top 4 pH downs to best suit your pool. In addition, we understand how safety is important to you, so we’ve analyzed the differences between sodium bisulfate and muriatic acid to understand why sodium bisulfate is the safer option. 

Comparison Table 

As choosing pool chemicals is a responsible task, we’ve explored the market to find the most beneficial sodium bisulfate pH downs for you. Our research includes an analysis of the top 10 chemicals people like and rate the most. We have checked more than 150 reviews to find distinctive advantageous features of each model. As a result, this helped us to get an objective ranking of the best sodium bisulfate for your pool, which we will gladly present to you! 

Large bucket

Small bag

What Is Sodium Bisulfate?

You may not hear about sodium bisulfate, but it’s popular as a chemical to cope with improper pHpH is a measure of how acidic or basic the water is in your pool levels. It’s also called dry acid because it comes in a powder form. Sodium bisulfate is an absolutely safe and effective way to lower the pH level, as it will let you forget all the worries about keeping your pool healthy and glassy. The high pH level in its turn can cause problems like cloudy water and equipment damage. 

What Does Sodium Bisulfate Do To Pool Water?

Now you know what sodium bisulfate is, so let’s figure out how it works. When you add sodium bisulfate to your pool water, it looks to its enemy – a surplus of alkalinity. Then sodium bisulfate fights it (scientists call such fights “a reaction”) and as a result, your pH level will be lowered to a neutral range. This not only keeps your pool water crystal clean, but also helps to protect your pool equipment from corrosion and damage. Plus, sodium bisulfate is easy to use and won’t cause such skin or eye irritation to you (as muriatic acid) or harm the environment. 

How Much Sodium Bisulfate To Add To Lower PH And Alkalinity

If you’ve tested your pool water and found that the pH and alkalinity levels are too high, don’t worry! Sodium bisulfate is here to save your day, as a certain dose will lower not only the high pH, but the alkalinity level too. The amount you’ll need will depend on the size of your pool, so it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

As a general rule of thumb, on average you’ll need about 1 to 2 lb of sodium bisulfate per 10 000 gallons of water to lower the pH (depending on your current pH level). Check the table below to find the approximate amount of lb for certain pool sizes.

* – all the calculations are done in lb.

Note: These are average calculations. Read manufacturer instructions carefully!

Let’s imagine you have a 20 000-gallon pool. On one sunny day, you have decided to test your water and discover your pH at a level of 8.2. So what’s the best way to lower it? On average, you’ll need to add about 4 lb of sodium bisulfate. How to do this? Simple, add it slowly, little by little so there won’t have any unexpected drops in your pH level. That’s it, now you should wait for a few hours (sodium bisulfate takes some time to do its job in your pool) to see if the pH level is ok and if you need to add more.

Best Sodium Bisulfate PH Downs In Detail

Large Bucket

Green Gobbler Sodium Bisulfate PH Reducer

The Easiest and Safest Usage

Pros

• The most compact and practical bucket with a metal handle (in general more solid than In The Swim one)
• Scent-free
• The price per ounce is very affordable (compared to smaller bags)
• Easy-to-follow instructions

Cons

• Lower total alkalinity impact compared to In The Swim (if you want to affect TA)
• Some people found it not as effective as muriatic acid 

Also, you may know this sodium bisulfate pH reducer under the brand name “Pool & Spa”. If you’ve used it in the past, you know it takes Schwarzenegger’s strength to open that blue lid (compared to In The Swim one). We’ll hurry to satisfy you because, after the rebranding, there’s no problem anymore. But despite all the changes, this sodium bisulfate still has its high quality and clear labeling. 

You can choose your Green Gobbler/Pool & Spa sodium bisulfate pH reducer in 2 packages: 25 or 50 lb (In The Swim has more options here). Either way, you’ll receive it in a convenient plastic bucket with a metal handle, so you can use and store it with maximum safety and convenience.

In The Swim Pool Granular PH Reducer

The Greatest Impact on pH

Pros

• The best pH influence, unlike Green Gobbler
• The widest choice of bag sizes
• Instructions are clear and include everything you need

Cons

• No instructions on how to safely handle it
• The bigger dosage may be needed to be compared to Clorox

In The Swim sodium bisulfate’s impact on pH can lead a lot of people to be pleasantly surprised. 

In addition, if you prefer to buy large packs to get the best price per ounce and use them for an extended period, In The Swim Sodium Bisulfate pH Reducer may be a good choice. 

If needed, you can purchase this product in 4 sizes (which is two more than Green Gobbler can suggest): 5, 10, 30, and 50 lb. It is clear that the larger the package you pick, the lower the price per ounce. Also, In The Swim sodium bisulfate is good for lowering alkalinity, while Green Gobbler has a slightly smaller effect on it in comparison.

But before buying, we want you to consider the fact that some buyers needed to use more of In The Swim sodium bisulfate pH down (than stated in manufacturer instructions), as they describe its dissolution as superfast. 

Small Bag

Clorox Pool PH Down

The Friendliest Composition For Skin And Eyes

Pros

• The safest compound reduces the chance of skin or eyes irritation by close to 0
• Free mobile app for a better experience
• Good at controlling pH in saltwater
• The price is super low (even compared to large buckets)

Cons

• Available only in a 5 lb bag
• The soft pouch may be uncomfortable to store (compared to plastic buckets)

Are you looking for a safer alternative to muriatic acid? Clorox is a perfect choice as it is very hard for its compound to harm your skin or eyes. Moreover, it has a competitive advantage on one of the first things you pay attention to. The price! Usually the bigger packaging — the lower price. But this Clorox sodium bisulfate pH down is an exception. Even though the package is small (only 5 lb) it has the lowest price per ounce. 

But unfortunately, Clorox doesn’t offer bigger bags (like In The Swim or Green Gobbler does). So if you have a huge pool or want to buy pH down once in a while, you’ll need to buy tons of these pouches and find a way for practical storage.

Also, you can be completely sure about getting personalized instructions as Clorox has an option of downloading a mobile app (but with HTH pH down you can get them without downloading an app). This app allows you to calculate the amount of sodium bisulfate needed for your pH level and pool size. 

HTH Sodium Bisulfate PH Down

The Fastest Effect

Pros

• You’ll experience the fastest effect (compared to other reviewed pH downs)
• Compatible with vinyl-lined pools and saltwater systems
• You can get free instructions on lowering pH by sending a photo (don’t need an app compared to Clorox)

Cons

• Zip lock on a bag can be difficult to open (compared to Clorox one)
• A bit pricey

Maybe you don’t need that much sodium bisulfate, that is where HTH pH down can be an option you’re looking for. It works on average 10% faster than Clorox, allowing you to have a minimum pause in your swimming session. Similar to Clorox sodium bisulfate, you can get free instructions by just texting your pH levels on a special number. As a result, you’ll get free personalized instructions.

HTH pH down comes in a soft pouch (like a Clorox one), which makes it not much practical and safe to use and store. And the main difference is that the HTH sodium bisulfate is more expensive than other reviewed pH downs. Although the cost may be a concern, the rapid results and mobile support for pH reduction may make it a worthwhile investment for you.

Sodium Bisulfate vs Muriatic Acid: Strong And Weak Points

You may be asking yourself, “Why should I choose sodium bisulfate when I can just buy muriatic acid?”. Well, we compared the two to give you the most constructive answer possible. But even though muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate are chemicals, they are similar to motorcycles and bicycles. Yes, they have the same mission – lowering your pH, but there are some important differences:

📄 Chemical composition. Muriatic acid is a liquid, while sodium bisulfate is a dry and granular powder. So each chemical state needs its approach.

📊 pH Adjustment. Muriatic acid is stronger than sodium bisulfate. While sodium bisulfate is weaker, it can reduce both the pH and the overall alkalinity of the pool water.

🧪 Dosage. As we’ve already known, muriatic acid is stronger, then it’s obvious that you’ll need less amount (compared to sodium bisulfate) to get the same effect. 

🥽 Safety. Want to secure yourself? Then sodium bisulfate is the choice! Sodium bisulfate is less likely to cause chemical burns, respiratory irritation, or pool equipment damage as it is not that strong and concentrated. Also, as mentioned earlier, sodium bisulfate is mostly used in larger quantities, so the risk of accidental exposure may be lower. 

📦 Storage. Both chemicals should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from heat sources and incompatible materials. Muriatic acid should be stored in a ventilated area as it can release vapors. Sodium bisulfate can be stored in standard storage containers, but should still be kept away from other chemicals.

✨ Simplicity. To make using muriatic acid safer, you’ll need to dilute it in some capacity first. Also, you’ll need to use protective clothes (including rubber gloves, respirator, goggles, long-sleeved shirt, and pants). While sodium bisulfate is simple to use in its dry state.

In addition, it is important to mention the price, as it is one of the main criteria that divide all pool owners into two groups. Some prefer muriatic acid, as it is a strong and inexpensive means of controlling the pH in the pool. Others are willing to pay a little more for sodium bisulfate to get an impact on alkalinity and a safer option.

Conclusion

As you see, sodium bisulfate is a fantastic product for maintaining the perfect swimming pool water chemistry. It can quickly and effectively lower pH and total alkalinity levels, helping to prevent unsightly corrosion and scaling. What’s more, its ease of use (especially with our instructions) and compatibility with a wide range of pool types make it an excellent choice for both homeowners and professional pool maintenance. 

With sodium bisulfate, you can be sure that your pool will always be crystal clear, hygienic, and safe to swim in. So why wait? If you’re looking for a way to keep your pool in tip-top shape, consider using sodium bisulfate as part of your pool maintenance routine.

FAQ