Borates at 80 - is it a concern?

Choneykuhn

Gold Supporter
May 11, 2021
18
Clifton Kansas
Pool Size
8200
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair iChlor 15
48 hours ago I weighed all the Borax. I measured the acid and according to a strip my borates wound up at 80 rather than 50.
Is this a concern?
I am doing a TA adjustment to get TA a little lower. I am using MA down to 7.0 and the fountain to bring it up.
I did borates because I had terrible pH bounce.
So again. My question is… is the borate level a concern?
Pump currently runs 24/7. Have a call in to have a timer installed soon I hope.
Btw. Water looks gorgeous.
6000g
Vinyl
SWG
Heater
1 h pump/ 53 gpm
Sand filter

8180DAFF-4AA5-45DD-B834-0464D91904EB.png
 
I guess we need someone like @JoyfulNoise to answer that question.

My guess (totally guess, don't take as anything more than ignorant opinion) is the higher borates level won't harm your pool or equipment, but increased concentration will also increase toxicity.

 
80ppm is fine and, in my singular opinion, better than 50ppm. One really starts to see the buffering effect when you get up above 100ppm. 50ppm was chosen as the recommended level because you do start to see some buffering effect at that concentration and the overall safety margin is much larger. You really need to be well above 200ppm before there would be any noticeable risk to pets … and they’d have to exclusively drink pool water all the time. There is literally no harm to any equipment at the levels described above.

Cockroaches and ants, on the other hand, are staring at “liquid death” if they go anywhere near the pool water …
 
80ppm is fine and, in my singular opinion, better than 50ppm. One really starts to see the buffering effect when you get up above 100ppm. 50ppm was chosen as the recommended level because you do start to see some buffering effect at that concentration and the overall safety margin is much larger. You really need to be well above 200ppm before there would be any noticeable risk to pets … and they’d have to exclusively drink pool water all the time. There is literally no harm to any equipment at the levels described above.

Cockroaches and ants, on the other hand, are staring at “liquid death” if they go anywhere near the pool water …
Curious if other creatures like birds, squirrels, frogs, etc are harmed by borates in those concentration? It’s not like I want to have my pool serve as a drinking fountain but it’d be kinda nice if the liquid death was limited to only affecting ants and such.
 
Insects are most susceptible to boron poisoning because they don’t have an efficient mechanism for excreting the boron. It then builds up on their bodies and interferes with carbohydrate utilization which leads to death. Vertebrate animals have kidneys that are good at excreting out excess dietary boron. Smaller animals will be more sensitive. Amphibians and lizards will also have higher rates of toxicity. Although, if my pool is any indication, most wildlife thrives around it aside from the occasional unlucky baby squirrel or rabbit that falls in …
 
We have no pets. And the buffering effect is what I need. I was concerned about my equipment and the comfort/safety level of the water when we swim. From my reading I thought I was okay but always need reassurance when it comes to the equipment. An investment well worth the enjoyment but an investment none the less. Thank you for the information
 
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