Starting to add borax

[Suley]

Hi everyone!

I am starting to add borax to my pool for the first time. Pool calculator says 1112oz by weight for 40 ppm from 0 ppm. Thats a lot of borax!

Any tips on adding it to the pool? Should i just gradually add it so that it doesnt sit at the bottom while keeping an eye on pH?

Also the pool paramaters are: (pool is closed)

FC 1.5
CC 0
pH 7.7
CYA 65
CH 260
TA 90
Temp 49F

Any tips from where to get borax at a good price?

Thanks!

 

[George N]

This should help: http://www.troublefreepool.com/so-you-want-to-add-borates-to-your-pool-why-and-how-t4921.html

I got mine from Walmart.

 

[zea3]

If you use 20 Mule Team Borax, you can find it in the laundry aisle. Places like Walmart or Target usually have the best prices. However, if you use borax you will also need MA to bring the pH back down to normal levels. Read this thread about adding borates for directions. Borax dissolves pretty quickly, so if you dust it around the perimeter of the pool with the pump running it will mix in fairly quickly. You may want to go ahead and drop the pH down to 7.2 before you start adding borates since you are at the upper end of the recommended range at this time.

You may also choose to use boric acid which does not require MA to lower pH, or a commercially prepared tetraborate pentahydrate solution from a pool store. Pool store borates will be much more expensive. You can select your source of borates on the pool calculator to determine how much you will need.

 

[Suley]

Thanks for the replies!

You guys are wonderful!

I had lost the link to that post and couldnt find it by searching!

Just called a local target and they said they have 20 team mule borax 76oz for 3.49.... this is the best price i have seen yet...guess what i am doing as soon as i get off work?

 

[RobbieH]

You think that's a lot of borax, you should have seen how many boxes I had!

 

[Suley]

LOL!

I brought half of it yesterday as the target only had 7 boxes.... once you see it physically, it doesnt seem all that much!

 

[duraleigh]

Suley, do you have the appropriate amount of acid to reduce the pH?

 

[RobbieH]

I took a pic... I don't recall if this was all of it, but I don't think so.

 

[bobodaclown]

Been there done that. I switched to Boric Acid, much easier and about the same price.

 

[Suley]

WOW!

I think I am more comfortable now... since a 44K gallon took that much, mine should be almost half of that which is exactly what was calculated by the pool calculator...

Right now i am stocking up on the supplies as the $$ becomes available and will be doing the conversion as soon as i have it all together... So yes I will be getting tons of acid too...

Actually, I have to do quite a few things before opening the pool this summer... ascorbic acid treatment, replace spa drain cover, replace the suction side and return valves, maybe replace some missing tiles and boy o boy it will be a dream come true to have a SWG also!

I think it is too late for boric acid now since i have 7 boxes of borax in the garage already!

 

[bobodaclown]

You can use both. The nice thing about boric acid is you really don't need nearly as much acid.

 

[nupooldude]

I'm considering adding borates to my 30,000 pebble tech salt pool. How much boric acid is needed in comparison to buying Borax? Does boric acid come in different concentrations? Chemistrystore.com sells a 50# bag of boric acid for $81.00. Seems even cheaper than using Borax from Wal-Mart. Am I missing something? Just checking as I've never used borates in my pool.

 

[George N]

I don't know the answer to your question but someone will be along soon that does, just wanted to say welcome to the forum!
The POOL Calculator will show you, see my sig.

 

[bobby1017]

There are also choices of "granular" or "powdered" boric acid, which one of these is preferred? Just as a reference my 33000 gal pool would need 79 lb to get to a 50 borate level.

 

[nupooldude]

After a little research (and shipping costs and MA costs) I can accomplish the same borate level with Borax from Wal-Mart for less than buying BA from the online sources. Shipping is a killer/deal breaker.

 

[Melt In The Sun]

Bobby, I think I remember somebody recommending granular because the powder blew around and made a big mess.

 

[nupooldude]

Bobby, I think I remember somebody recommending granular because the powder blew around and made a big mess.

Never used either, but I would guess the granular would be easier to handle, but slower to dissolve.

 

[bobodaclown]

Using boric acid was a little more expensive but you don't need to purchase acid and overall it was easier for me. I believe pool calculator will figure out the amount if you use boric acid vice borax.