Testing and adding borates

[kaymaza]

Hey everyone so I was planning on adding borates into my pool to keep the pH more stable as I find myself adding muriatic acid on a weekly basis because the pH of my pool keeps trending upwards.

I used the test strips that came with my TF Pro Salt test kit. I took a picture of the test strip results and here are the results:



Is it above 100 ppm? As far as I know, no borates were added into my pool. My pool is relatively new and was completed back in November 2022. Appreciate any input thanks.

 

[mknauss]

Borates will not change your acid additions much. In the summer, you will need to add them about every 3-4 days. It might go to 7 days with borates.

The strips seem to be not giving good information. Others have reported it. Email [email protected] with your picture.

 

[PoolStored]

You can roll your own drop test that is much more accurate than the strips. With a 50ml water sample you can easily get high accuracy. @JoyfulNoise helped develop the final instruction set but Richard Falk (chem geek) established the chemistry for it. I use it every season to check my borate levels.

New borate drop test at piscines-apollo vs. test strip

Thanks, SunnyBlues. You have been reading and learning a LONG time to remember all those experts. Thanks for your testimonial.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Newdude]

As far as I know, no borates were added into my pool

Well then there you go.

The builder wouldn't have reason to add them so it wasn't one of the mystery adds at start up.