Boric Acid the easy way

[bobodaclown]

Hello All,
First this is a great site! :-D Thanks for all the help, advice and such.
Started my season going with the 20 Mule team and acid, got my Borates up to 50. Season has wound down and my borates measured around 30. Time to bring them back up. I was going to use the 20 Mule team again, but getting the supply from Wally World was a PITA the last time.

I decided to do the Boric Acid direct route. Ordered 25 lbs (needed 16 for my pool) from Duda Diesel (Boric Acid, 25 lb - FREE SHIPPING • Granular Form / Tech Grade 99.9+%).

The Boric Acid was about $54 for 25 lbs delivered. Added 16 lbs. It took a whole 15 minutes to complete the job. Measured out a pound at a time and poured it into the pool. Dissolved pretty quick and the borate level read about 50 according to the strips.

Overall I was satisfied with how using boric acid worked out. Quick and Easy.

 

[duraleigh]

Nice work, bdc......you are a true BBB'r! :lol: :lol:

 

[susa]

Any measured impact to levels other than borate ?

 

[chem geek]

Boric Acid is slightly acidic, but adding 50 ppm Borates to a pool with 80 ppm TA would only lower pH from 7.5 to 7.3.

 

[bobodaclown]

I actually went from 30ish to 50ish and didn't measure a significant difference 7.5 to 7.4 or so. To me 7.4 to 7.6 changes from orange to red and 7.5 is an orange red shade. Hope that makes sense.

 

[bobodaclown]

7/12 update. We've had lots of rain and parties (read splash out) so I need to top off my levels. I have a tough time reading the strips so I've purchased the borate drop test kit. My borate level is about 35 so I need to top it off. I've ordered Boric Acid again (25 lbs for $53 delivered). Duda Diesel on ebay. No price increase yet (it's the same as last year). I'll need to add 12 lbs.

Pool is looking good. No problems. I've only needed to shock twice in the year I've owned my pool. Borates, a SWCG and this site. Nothing but great thing to say about them!

 

[bobodaclown]

5/6/13 Finished up the boric acid I purchased from Duda Diesel. Added 12 lbs to top off from the season. It was at 36, brought it up to 52 according to pool calculator. Now only if the CH came down. All is well.

 

[msipos]

Great idea! I wiped the Walmart out of 20 Mule Team and this is the better way to go! Found Duda still selling on ebay now 40 lbs boric acid for $70....I need 110 lbs to get to 50 if the amount to add is the same poundage? Poolcalculator gives me 1766 oz to add or would that calculation be different for boric acid?

 

[bobodaclown]

Yes, you use much less boric acid. In pool calculator you can select borax or boric acid and it adjust the amounts for both.

 

[msipos]

How do you add? Do you mix in a bucket of water first or not necessary and just dump in the pool and brush around until dissolved?

 

[chem geek]

Just add it to the pool over a return flow or distributed around and brush any that settles. It dissolves reasonably quickly.

 

[bobodaclown]

Bought 25 lbs from Duda again $53 delivered. Added the whole thing in 3 stages. I was low, started at about 18, added 10 lbs brought it to 31.5 (7 drops), then another 10lbs 40.5 (9 drops), added the last 5lbs. It should be between 45 and 50, calling it quits for the night. I'll measure in a few days. Need to order some refills from Dave.
Used the Borate drop test. Needed to add the drops to cancel out the chlorine. Took two tries before I figured that out.
Overall life is great!

 

[Chad628]

May I ask where you get a drop test kit for borates? I use the Lamotte test strips but have trouble interpreting the results.

 

[bobodaclown]

Here's the link to the discussion:

new-borate-drop-test-at-piscines-apollo-vs-test-strip-t34664.html?

I think it may be discontinued.

 

[bobodaclown]

Just did my reorder of 25 lbs. They've still got great pricing.

 

[markhyman]

If ordering larger quantities (55 lb pail), it seems that the shipping charge may be slightly less if you order via Ebay than at the website. Still awesome pricing, though.

 

[SunnyOptimism]

I'm on the verge of doing borates in my pool and I've just decided to pay the extra cost and do boric acid instead. I'd need about 44lbs to get my pool to 50ppm and so I'm willing to pay the extra cost (not that much in my opinion) to just go straight in with BA as opposed to fiddling with borax/MA.

To each his own I suppose....


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[jblizzle]

I ordered two 25 pound bags last week (they put it in one box) as it was cheaper than the big bucket with shipping accounted for. Have not added it yet.

 

[bobodaclown]

Wow I can't believe that I started this thread 3 years ago. Still using Duda Diesel myself.

 

[norwood451]

How much Per gallon of the Granular Form Boric acid is needed to get to 50? I only have a 650ish in ground spa. How big is you pool?