Borates and SWCG is it worth it to you?

[Davegnh]

Been looking at taking another step to (maybe) simplify maintenance a bit more and maybe help extend life of SWCG by the use of Boric Acid. I have read info on pool school on it and I know its one of the last things to worry about and totally not needed. I am looking for 2 improvements reduction in the need of adding acid about 15 oz every 2 days and reduction of possible scale in SWCG. I also read that it help improves the feel of the water but not sure if that was true for a salt pool since I already like the feel of the salt water. Cost to add the needed 40-50ppm of Boric acid is about $40-50 so will probably not save any money over the cost of acid but if I only have to add acid once a week verse 2-3 times would make it worth it to me.

Looking for feed back from others that made the change did you see the benefits you hoped for? I am on the wall on this.

thanks,

 

[mknauss]

Adding borates does NOT reduce the amount of acid you will need to add. It may lengthen the times between needing to add acid. It will help reduce scaling in the SWCG if you are not able to maintain proper water chemistry.

 

[Davegnh]

That's not what I got from when I read this article. Borates in pool - Further Reading.

I thought the main point of borite was it it helps buffer PH rise?

 

[Davegnh]

If you meant I had the same amount of acid but once a week instead of three times a week that is a benefit I would like.

 

[mknauss]

If you meant I had the same amount of acid but once a week instead of three times a week that is a benefit I would like.

Correct. Example. You add 8 ounces three times a week now. You will add 24 ounces once a week with borates.

 

[jark87]

My personal experience with borates wasn’t great. The addition didn’t change my pH rise at all. What did help with pH rise was lowering Total Alkalinity. I try to keep TA in the 60-70 range and that has reduced my muratic acid additions.

 

[Davegnh]

Sometimes I just like to geek out on the chemistry and I think I may have been getting a little bit bored. Anybody that's home brewed once you perfect making a decent beer start playing with a water chemistry. I think I was looking for the next level with my pool. But probably will not mess with borites at this time.

 

[PoolStored]

I like borates and will continue to use them. I keep my TA at 60, Borates at 50. My pH sits at 7.4 all year long (which may be due more to the TA level than the borates, not the borates..test in progress on that, thread later). Only add acid when I open and close. We all like the feel.

 

[Davegnh]

I was thinking my acid use would go down as this second season with the new plaster pool. But haven't seen much of a change so far. Anybody else use borates can lend their opinion. My pH was 7.4 4 days ago now it's over 8 plus because I did not add acid 2 days ago. TA was at 70.

 

[generessler]

Correct. Example. You add 8 ounces three times a week now. You will add 24 ounces once a week with borates.

Thanks! I've been considering using borates for quite a while. This is a great explanation of what to expect. Very helpful.