Borated Pool: “Side Effect”

[ckendalls]

I “Borated” the pool (Boric Acid) after getting our new pool balanced and seemed to sense a water quality feel/sparkle others have mentioned. Also I don’t get the chlorine itch I usually get from many pools. But after the long hot summer I just came to realize .... I didn't have a hint of the intermittent skin fungal issue that can crop up in this hot humid environment and always did when I was a young swimmer AND the old man toenails are clear now...... Not a clinical trial but ... antifungal treatments have never lasted for me and I gave up on those PITA treatments a while ago. I’m a microbiologist and wondered before if these borate levels were high enough to be anti-fungal given the limited exposure and relatively low borate [conc]? I just looked it up and the 50 ppm level is close to that used in eye washes and other “hygiene” products... Anyway I’m a believer at this point... but I guess I’ll have to heat the pool and keep swimming...

 

[ajw22]

Interesting observation.

 

[duraleigh]

Over the years, borates have been frequently associated with several beneficial side effects in addition to pH stability. To my knowledge, they have never been associated with unwanted side effects.

 

[JJ_Tex]

I'm thinking a new marketing slogan for borates "Eliminates Old Man Toenail or your money back!"

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Is this the first pool you've used a Salt Water Chlorine Generator (SWG) before? That could explain a lot of your increased skin comfort.

Maddie

 

[ckendalls]

Is this the first pool you've used a Salt Water Chlorine Generator (SWG) before? That could explain a lot of your increased skin comfort.

Maddie

Yes. 1st personal pool, period. But I didn’t go with borates for a while and I still felt the occasional itchiness before borates.

 

[ckendalls]

Interesting observation.

I won’t be posting pictures for proof....?

 

[ckendalls]

Over the years, borates have been frequently associated with several beneficial side effects in addition to pH stability. To my knowledge, they have never been associated with unwanted side effects.

Honestly, I didn’t really see a change in pH stability with Boric acid. I was hoping to. I still add the same regular amounts of acid. Its the water quality factor and the beneficial skin effects that sells me.

 

[ckendalls]

I'm thinking a new marketing slogan for borates "Eliminates Old Man Toenail or your money back!"

Stop the Rot! Borate your pool!

 

[YippeeSkippy]

We generally recommend not adding Borates until your pool is quite stable, over all the "newness" of curing, not needing frequent adjustments, yada yada yada

Glad to hear you're itch free now!

Maddie