Borate and low TA

[jorivesud]

Thinking of going with Borate in my pool.

Parameters are the following:
FC: 4
CC: 0
pH: 7.5
CH: 275
TA: 40
CYA: 40
Salt: 3400
SWG is not on yet, water too cold

Should I be concerned about my low TA before I add Boric Acid?
Or is it OK, to have it at 40?

My Ph kept climbing last year with a TA that was at 60 (got lowered from melted snow).
I also had CH of 450 last year (again lowered from melted snow).

I want to go Borate mainly to keep pH at check, and get the optimized sparkling benefit.

 

[pooldv]

I think I would raise it to 50 and then let the borate fly. I like some borates.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Borates have limited pH buffering capacity for falling pH (increasing acidity) so you need the carbonate portion of your total alkalinity to deal with that. Usually a minimum of 50ppm TA (mostly carbonate alkalinity) and an additional 50ppm borates makes the water pH very stable. I would not drop below 50ppm TA.

 

[jorivesud]

Ok, I will raise TA to 50-60 before adding borate.

 

[jorivesud]

Adjusted TA, but also saw my CYA go up again (was added in a sock in front of return 4 days ago)
Here are my full results now:
FC: 5
CC: 0
pH: 7.4
CH: 275
TA: 60
CYA: 60
Salt: 3400
Water Temp: 60
Will turn on SWG today, now that water has reached 60.

I seem to be all set for Borate. Or should I wait a little longer?

 

[pooldv]

Go!