Borate Testing & Dissipation Question

[Websherpa]

For the previous two years I used Borax and Muriatic Acid with what seemed like relatively accurate LaMotte Borate Test strips. Water sparkled and softer, pH more stable, level around 50ppm to start - definitely pleased.

Second spring the level was down to around 30ppm (and I brought it up again).

This year I could not find the LaMotte Test Strips anywhere in Canada (or in the US at a reasonable shipping fee), and could only get the Hach AquaChek Borate test strips.

Tested the pool and the strips indicate 0 Borate!? the strips indicate 80+ppm Borates (I was assuming no colour change equalled no boarates - see below. Same question applies though.) Is that possible? (I didn’t do a large water change, however there was a significant amount of snow and rain this winter/spring.... but 80 (when I thought I left it at 30-40 end of last summer!)?

Anyone know a good mail order source (or Canadian supplier) of the LaMotte Strips? (They were good enough that I don’t think I need to invest in a titrate test. BUT I need something. No one around here uses Borates in any number so LPS don’t test for it.)

Thank you!

 

[Websherpa]

Quick update if anyone is listening. I tested my Hach AquaChek Borate Strips in Reverse Osmosis water and it DID indicate a 15ppm level (which seems high perhaps)... BUT just realized that what I was taking as 0ppm Borates was not (since pad isn't changing colour in pool water test), it is indicating 80+ppm Borates. To me that seems overboard, although I "thought" I had the level at around 40ppm at the end of summer last year (LaMotte Test Strips) and maybe 20 - 15% of the water has been diluted and changed since then.

Thoughts?