Adding Borates - A Few Questions

[KatyTXPoolOwner]

I'm about to add 55 lbs of boric acid if it will ever stop raining around here. (1st time to address borates; borates are at 0-1, I need 55 lbs boric acid to get to 50 ppm borates)

With that much to add, are there any suggestions on how to broadcast it across the surface? (half the amount first then test borates, a third of the amount first then measure, brushing in between, etc...)

Would it make sense to set the filter valve to Recirculate during the process?

Any other suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Just run your filter pump on high and leave it in filter mode. It dissolves before it will get sucked into the filter.

Use a plastic scoop or measuring cup of some kind (anything coffee can sized will work) and just scoop & broadcast all around the pool. Once you add about half your bucket, grab your wall brush and start brushing and mixing it up. Once the first batch dissolves, add batch number two and repeat. It's really quite easy to add, requires no pre-dilution in a bucket and dissolves fast.

Leave your pump running at whatever it's normal speed is for 24hrs then test.

 

[KatyTXPoolOwner]

Today marks a new dawn for my pool -- here comes 55lbs of boric acid!

Starting chemistry:
FC 6
CC 0
pH 7.8
CH 225
TA 70
CYA 50
BOR 1

Will update later.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Good luck.

(I measured my borates yesterday at 48ppm and needed to add 24oz of boric acid to bump it back to 50ppm)

 

[KatyTXPoolOwner]

About 3 hours after adding 55lbs boric acid, my pH dropped to 7.5 and borates jumped to 42. Will borates jump up a bit more? If not, should I shoot for getting borates to 50?

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Give it more time to mix. I've always waited 24hrs after adding boric acid to measure results. By the way, how are you testing for borates?

 

[KatyTXPoolOwner]

I have not yet bought any test for borates - local pool store is testing borates. How do the other TFP'rs test for borates?


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[JoyfulNoise]

Well, perhaps wait another day. Not sure what method the pool store is using but, as you know, you can only trust their testing so much.

My signature has a link for a drop based titration test for boron using mannitol. I use that procedure for testing and I get fairly accurate results from it. It uses a bunch of reagents from your current test kit but you do need to purchase two more chemicals - mannitol powder and a pH indicator. The details are in the link.