You can keep your alkalinity anywhere from 80 to 125. You can use baking soda for just raising alkalinity. It will raise your ph a little, but then you can take your ph down with muriatic acid. You use borax for just raising the ph. It is a good idea to keep the ph and alkalinity on the low side when you are dealing with metals. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have, I know how confusing it is at first, but you will get the hang of it!