Borates are Coming!!!!

melsteph · 2025-05-02T16:01:41-0400

I am taking the plunge and going to add borates this year! This is my 6th season following all things TFP. Each year I have a goal to have a better pool than the year before so after researching and learning here, I decided to take the plunge.
Here were my levels last night:
TC 2.5
TA 100
CH 300
CYA 60
pH 8 * added Muriatic Acid

Borates arrive today from Amazon.

Am I ready to add them, according to my levels? Anything else I need to adjust? Tips, tricks, thoughts??
Oh and Happy Derby Weekend!
Melissa

PoolStored · 2025-05-02T16:09:19-0400

Why are you adding borates?
What product did you get? If you got powder, it is really problematic to add. Better to get GRANULAR from Duda Diesel

Granular Boric Acid, 55 lb [boric55] | DudaDiesel Biodiesel Supplies

Not tips or tricks...but nice read here:

Borates in pool - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

melsteph · 2025-05-02T16:13:08-0400

I did order the granular form

I battle high pH all year long so am hoping to stabilize that somewhat, as well as intrigued by the potential for more sparkle, softer feel, and hopefully some algae preventative.

Am I wrong?
M

Newdude · 2025-05-02T16:13:33-0400

melsteph said:
Each year I have a goal to have a better pool than the year before

melsteph said:
TC 2.5

CYA 60

FC is king. Nothing else matters if you get a swamp while pondering / doing it.

melsteph said:
Am I ready to add them, according to my levels?

You'll want the TA about 60. It will take more MA to lower the PH at 100 TA.

PoolStored · 2025-05-02T16:17:08-0400

melsteph said:
I battle high pH all year long so am hoping to stabilize that somewhat, as well as intrigued by the potential for more sparkle, softer feel, and hopefully some algae preventative.

Am I wrong?

Sparkle is overblown. I don't notice the softer feel, nor does my family. Will not give you any algae prevention. The benefit of borates is to reduce the pH in the SWG reducing the tendency to scale.

Now that you are going to add them, you need to be able to test borates. See the borates article for Borates testing.

For you FC, you need to follow this. Keep your FC at the top end of the range for your CYA. Link-->FC/CYA Levels

pH rising is due to your TA and the TA of fill water. Borates may reduce the frequency of acid additions, but not the amount. You will still want to lower your TA to reduce the amount.

PH TA Relationship - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Lower Total Alkalinity

A lower Total Alkalinity level can help a pool owner stabalize their pH increase. We'll explain how to lower TA with a little help from muriatic acid.

www.troublefreepool.com

Lowering Total Alkalinity (TA) Quickly with the Acid Aeration Method

Thought I'd make a post that might help others. We've had quite a few members this year with high TA, and I've been typing the same information over and over. I'm going to post this so I can link it to help others. High TA can cause rapid pH rise. High TA is typically caused by high TA fill...

www.troublefreepool.com