Adding borates.... 58lbs?!

[300winmag]

My pool keeps requiring acid, so I'd like to add borates to buffer the pH. However, pool math says I need 58lbs or borax to go from 0ppm to 50ppm in a 16,000 gallon pool. Is that right?!

Regarding the rest of the process, I want to lower TA to 60 and then add the borax and required muriatic acid to compensate for the pH rise from the borax?


Thanks

 

[jblizzle]

Yes. And 3.5 gallons of muriatic acid.

Or use 38 pounds of boric acid which you can get from duda diesel or other places and not need the muriatic acid.

 

[Saturn94]

IMO, boric acid is the only way to go. No handling of acid! Just add to the pool and enjoy the benefits.

 

[300winmag]

Thanks for the tip on duda; never would have found them on my own!

Out of curiosity, if my TA is 70, what would happen if I added the boric acid without first lowering the TA to 60?

 

[jblizzle]

I do not think anything special would happen. It will just be a little more difficult to lower the TA more if you want/need to.

 

[300winmag]

Do I just dump the dry boric acid in, or do I need to dose it via socks or something?

Is it best to add 1/2 of what pool math says and sneak up on it? Or just put the 38lbs in and call it a day?

Thanks!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Add it directly to the pool. You can do it in two batches and brush in between. It will dissolve very rapidly. Let your polaris cleaner roll around too to help mix it up. Keep the pumps running for 24 hours and you'll be all good. As long as 38lbs is what Pool Math tells you is right, you can go ahead and add all of it. Even if you overshoot your borates past 50ppm, it's fine. Some folks target 60ppm because they know they will have a lot of splash out or water loss during the season.

 

[300winmag]

Does my pH need to be spot on before I add the boric acid?

As the boric acid acts as a pH buffer, will future pH adjustments (reduction) require more muriatic acid, and the resultant pH will "last" longer? Or will it require the same amount (or less) of muriatic acid and the result will "last" longer?

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Does my pH need to be spot on before I add the boric acid?

As the boric acid acts as a pH buffer, will future pH adjustments (reduction) require more muriatic acid, and the resultant pH will "last" longer? Or will it require the same amount (or less) of muriatic acid and the result will "last" longer?

The boric acid will lower your pH by ~0.2-0.3 units. So just get it close.

To make pH adjustments after borates are added will require more acid (about twice as much) BUT you should be adding it less frequently so the total amount of acid you use really shouldn't change much.