What is alikinity?

Can you use baking soda in pool instead of PH plus?

yes, it has nothing to do with cleaning your pool though . soda ash raises the level of PH in you pool, baking soda does the same but it actually raises the TA (total alikinity), thereby stabalizing the PH and using less soda ash, you can buy soda ash alot cheaper at a farmers coop instead of the pool store. It has alot to do with cleaning the pool. If your pool has a concrete bottom and you just used muratic acid to wash it for painting then yes you have to use either soda ash or baking soda to neutralize the acid before painting.