Getting ready to add borates to my pool...

[AviatorBimmer]

I've read the article on Borates and have decided to add borates to my salt water pool. I just need to get some Borate testing strips to make sure I get a correct value to enter into Pool Math before determining how much I will need.

In a nutshell, I just need to drop my TA down to 60 (currently 70), stabilize my pH at 7.6 and then just follow Pool Math's suggestion for how much borax and MA to add. Correct?

Also, is this ok to purchase?:

Borax from Walmart

Am I on the right track? I don't want to ruin my pool. lol

 

[PoolStored]

Also, is this ok to purchase?:

Borax from Walmart

Others may differ in opinion. I would get Granualted BORIC ACID from Duda Diesel. Granulated Boric Acid at Duda. Maybe a bit more expensive, but super easy to use, and will not affect TA like Borax will.

You should read this: Borates in Pools

 

[AviatorBimmer]

Other may differ in opinion. I would get Granualted BORIC ACID from Duda Diesel. Granulated Boric Acid at Duda. Maybe a bit more expensive, but super easy to use, and will not affect TA like Borax will.

You should read this: Borates in Pools

With Boric Acid I don't need to add MA initially and actually I need to add HALF of what I would have needed if adding Borax alone, as per Pool Math. Sounds better to me!

I'll order that 55 lbs bucket of granulated Boric Acid from Duda Diesel.

 

[riny]

If you have a BioGuard dealer nearby, you can also use BioGuard Optimizer. This is the same 100% boric acid and if you're lazy, you won't have to wait for shipping. (Note: make sure you get Optimizer and not Optimizer Plus.) I did some research and couldn't find any other pure boric acid product among the common pool store brands.

I added borates a few weeks ago and I'm so happy with the results! I only wish I'd done it sooner.

Since you mentioned test strips: a lot of people complain that the strips are inaccurate and the colors are hard to distinguish. @JoyfulNoise came up with a drop test for borates that several of us have used successfully. If you already have a TF test kit (ideally with Speed Stir) then you just need a few additional items for this test.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

If you have a BioGuard dealer nearby, you can also use BioGuard Optimizer. This is the same 100% boric acid and if you're lazy, you won't have to wait for shipping. (Note: make sure you get Optimizer and not Optimizer Plus.) I did some research and couldn't find any other pure boric acid product among the common pool store brands.

I added borates a few weeks ago and I'm so happy with the results! I only wish I'd done it sooner.

Since you mentioned test strips: a lot of people complain that the strips are inaccurate and the colors are hard to distinguish. @JoyfulNoise came up with a drop test for borates that several of us have used successfully. If you already have a TF test kit (ideally with Speed Stir) then you just need a few additional items for this test.

The test existed long before I contributed to that thread. It was actually developed and sold by a Canadian pool care company that went out of business. I simply revived the thread and added some details about how to do the test. So no credit needed here, others contributed to it more than me.