FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Up | Spa Balancer

• 1 × 1.25 lb (20 oz) bottle of FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Up granules — sealed plastic container with screw cap
• Use directions, dosage guidance, and safety information — printed on the bottle label

• Raises pH and total alkalinity together — both go up with a single dose
• 100% sodium carbonate — pure active ingredient, no fillers or unnecessary additives
• Fast-dissolving granular form — broadcast directly into the spa water with circulation running
• Universal sanitizer compatibility — works with every common spa sanitizer system
• 1.25 lb bottle — handles approximately 30–40 routine adjustments for a typical 400-gallon spa
• 30-minute working time — test results show within half an hour for quick course correction
• Protects equipment — preventing acidic water saves heaters, seals, jets, and the spa shell
• Reduces sanitizer waste — chlorine and bromine work most efficiently inside the proper pH range
• Genuine Watkins Wellness — designed for the same spas the manufacturer builds

Sodium carbonate is a mild alkaline compound. When dissolved in water, it releases carbonate ions that bond with hydrogen ions (the ones responsible for acidity), neutralizing them. The result is fewer hydrogen ions, which means higher pH and higher total alkalinity — both effects from the same chemistry.

Day to day, here's what's happening:

• Acidic byproducts accumulate over time from sanitizer use, bather contamination, and ambient air exposure
• pH and alkalinity drift downward — slowly in a well-maintained spa, faster in heavily used or freshly chlorinated water
• Sodium carbonate dosing corrects the drift — neutralizing accumulated acid and restoring buffering capacity
• Alkalinity acts as the buffer — once alkalinity is in range (80–120 ppm), pH stays stable for much longer between adjustments

The relationship between pH and alkalinity is what most owners misunderstand. Alkalinity is the "shock absorber" for pH. Think of pH as a ball balanced on a flat surface and alkalinity as how thick that surface is. With high alkalinity, the surface is springy and the ball stays roughly where you put it. With low alkalinity, the surface is hard and the ball rolls around every time someone walks past. Fixing alkalinity first solves the rolling-ball problem; fixing pH first just resets where the ball is for a few hours before it rolls again.

Pro Tip: If your test strip shows alkalinity at 40 ppm and pH at 7.4, do not celebrate the "good" pH reading. Without alkalinity, that pH reading will be gone within a day. Always adjust alkalinity first to the 80–120 ppm range, then retest pH and adjust if needed.

When to Dose

• After a fresh fill — balance water before adding sanitizer
• When test strips show alkalinity below 80 ppm or pH below 7.2
• After any acid addition (pH/Alkalinity Down corrections, sanitizer shock that drove pH down)
• Weekly testing routine — adjust as needed to keep water in range

Standard Dosing Procedure

1. Test the water with FreshWater 5-Way Test Strips. Note both alkalinity and pH readings.
2. Run the spa with jets and circulation on, cover open.
3. Calculate the dose based on your spa's gallon capacity and current readings. The bottle's dosage chart provides specific amounts per 100 or 500 gallons.
4. Broadcast the granules evenly across the spa water surface — do not dump in one spot.
5. Run the circulation system for at least 30 minutes to fully dissolve and mix.
6. Wait at least 30 minutes, then retest.
7. Repeat the process until alkalinity is in the 80–120 ppm range and pH is between 7.2 and 7.8.

General Dosing Guideline

Approximate starting doses (always test before re-dosing):

• 1 tablespoon per 100 gallons raises alkalinity by approximately 10 ppm
• 1 oz per 500 gallons raises pH measurably; expect to retest in 30 minutes

Specific dosing depends on your spa's volume and current chemistry. Always reference the dosage chart on the bottle and test before adding more.

The Right Order of Operations

1. Adjust alkalinity first with pH/Alkalinity Up to get into the 80–120 ppm range
2. Wait 30 minutes, then retest pH
3. If pH is still below 7.2, add more pH/Alkalinity Up in small increments
4. If pH is above 7.8, use FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Down
5. If pH is in range (7.2–7.8) but alkalinity drifted high, leave the pH alone and let alkalinity settle naturally — or wait a few days and retest both

Storage and Safety

• Keep the bottle tightly closed between uses — moisture causes clumping
• Store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight
• Keep away from children and pets
• Do not mix with other chemicals — add to the spa water directly, not to a container of other product
• Use eye protection when broadcasting the granules; sodium carbonate dust is mildly irritating to eyes
• Indefinite shelf life when sealed and kept dry — sodium carbonate doesn't degrade

Pro Tip: Salt-system spas (FreshWater Salt and Hot Spring ACE) tend to drift pH upward over time as a natural byproduct of chlorine generation. If you own a salt spa, you'll typically use pH/Alkalinity Down more often than Up — but Up is still essential for the initial fresh-fill alkalinity boost and after any acid corrections.

• Brand: FreshWater® (Watkins Wellness)
• Manufacturer Part Number / SKU: 80040
• Net Weight: 1.25 lb (20 oz)
• Form: Granular
• Active Ingredient: Sodium carbonate (soda ash), 100%
• Function: Raises pH and total alkalinity of spa water
• Target Alkalinity Range: 80–120 ppm
• Target pH Range: 7.2–7.8
• Working Time: Approximately 30 minutes to full effect
• Sanitizer Compatibility: Chlorine, bromine, ozone, biguanide, FreshWater Salt, ACE, Ag+, MPS — all common spa sanitizer programs
• Spa Compatibility: All residential hot tubs, spas, and swim spas regardless of brand
• Storage: Cool, dry location; sealed bottle
• Shelf Life Sealed: Indefinite when stored properly
• Hazmat Classification: Non-hazmat — eligible for mail return per standard policy
• Country of Origin: Manufactured for Watkins Wellness, USA

FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Up is one of the most universally compatible water care products on the market. It works with every common sanitizer system and in every brand of residential hot tub or spa.

Sanitizer Systems

• Chlorine — granular dichlor, chlorine tabs, liquid chlorine
• Bromine — bromine tabs, two-part liquid bromine
• Ozone systems — pairs naturally; ozone reduces sanitizer need but doesn't address pH/alkalinity
• Biguanide (Soft Soak / Baqua Spa)
• FreshWater® Salt System — essential; salt systems tend to drive pH up over time but still need correction during fresh fills and after acid additions
• Hot Spring® ACE® Salt Water System — same as FreshWater Salt
• Mineral cartridge systems — including FreshWater Ag+ Silver Ion programs
• MPS / non-chlorine shock programs

Spa Brands

• All residential hot tubs and spas — Hot Spring, Caldera, Freeflow, Sundance, Bullfrog, Jacuzzi, Marquis, Master Spas, Cal Spas, and every other major brand
• Inflatable and portable spas — Intex, MSpa, Coleman, and similar (test before each use as bather load shifts balance quickly)
• Swim spas — verify dosage for larger water volumes

When to Use Up vs. Down

• FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Up (this product) — when alkalinity is below 80 ppm and/or pH is below 7.2
• FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Down — when alkalinity is above 120 ppm and/or pH is above 7.8

Works Alongside

• FreshWater 5-Way Test Strips — essential for measuring pH and alkalinity before and after dosing
• FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Down — the opposite-direction balancer for high pH or high alkalinity
• FreshWater Concentrated Chlorinating Granules — works best with properly balanced water
• FreshWater Ag+ Silver Ion Sanitizer — balanced pH extends Ag+ cartridge effectiveness
• FreshWater Salt System cartridges — properly balanced water extends cartridge life