Ready to add borates, do I really need to adjust TA?

[Pauls234]

I've thought about adding borates for the past 5 years or so, and now, since I finally got an SWCG last year, I need something fun to do with my chemistry.

Pool math says I need 50 lbs of boric acid to get my borates to 50ppm so plan to order from Duda Diesel.

The adding borates article says I should first lower my TA to the low end of acceptable range, but how necessary is that? My TA has always been high at 110-120 but Ph had been remarkably stable and tends to stick around 7.4-7.6. Even when I add cya to start the season, my Ph will decline a bit initially then just go right back to its happy place. I've been a tfper for 10+ years now and have deliberately adjusted Ph maybe 5 times, and probably once in the last 3 years because my Ph just self corrects if something causes it to get to the high or low 7s. Given the stability of my Ph I've never bothered to adjust my TA, ever.

With that fact pattern, is it still necessary or a good idea to adjust my TA down before adding borates? What are potential consequences if I just leave it as us?

Thx
Paul

 

[JoyfulNoise]

If your pH and TA are stable, then why are you adding borates? They’ll make little difference to your water chemistry other than requiring you to use larger acid additions when adjusting pH.

 

[Pauls234]

For the supposed even silkier water feel and extra sparkle, and I need to do something other than watch my SWCG work so flawlessly.

I've had the same 2 bottles of acid for a decade so I'd almost (but not really) welcome having to use more.

 

[JamesW]

In my opinion, the TA makes no difference to when you can add boric acid.

In fact, I would argue that adding it while the TA is high is actually better than waiting for it to be lower.

 

[Mdragger88]

As joyful noise mentioned doing so now will just mean when you do need to add acid you’ll be using more but if its not really something you need to adjust often anyway then it shouldn’t be a problem to add the borates now. No matter the ta - the borates being in the water means more acid is necessary for ph adjustment.

 

[Pauls234]

Thank you all, I'll move ahead with the borates and see how it goes.

 

[Brian PacNW]

I’m curious how your borate addition went. Any updates?

 

[Pauls234]

Yes, borates have been added. As noted, I had no chemistry issues so just did this for fun. Maybe the water feels a little silkier, but could be placebo effect. I did have one guest make the silky comment unsolicited.

It was pretty easy to add, dissolved quickly with help of some brushing.

I've also got SWCG and 12 seasons of TFP so my water was in pretty perfect shape as it was.