How to add borates using Boric Acid

[@ericjaramillo5395]

I'm reading alot of conflicting information online and I've seen alot of your content so I know you know your stuff. could you think of why people say borax raises your ph?

[@KBP120]

Borax is a product that is made up of a different chemical composition than boric acid. Borax has a very high pH. 20 mule team Borax adds borates to your pool. Borates and Borax are two different things. Multiple different chemicals compositions contain borates, but some have a high pH (20 mule team Borax) and some have a low pH (boric acid).

[@drdrew3]

Borax raises your pH DRAMATICALLY - no question about it. For every 15 pounds of Borax you’ll need about a gallon of muriatic acid to get back to starting pH. In fact you can substitute Borax for soda ash specifically for the purpose of raising pH.

[@swimmingpoolchemistrydoner5569]

Sorry for the late reply. Borax has a 9 pH so it will raise your pH and also the alkalinity. Borax in smaller amounts is the same as using Soda ash.

[@cdfornal]

Just wanted to add that boric acid will bring your ph down a little, borax will drive it up much faster. So if pH is already low and you can use boric acid with a little bit of borax to keep ph where you want it while getting to 50ppm

[@swimmingpoolchemistrydoner5569]

No, you need to use one or the other. The Boric acid will drop the pH around two points for 50 ppm. Borax is the same as adding Soda ash, it will raise the pH and the alkalinity. that's why you need to offset it with acid.

[@curlingdan]

Why are you not adding it to the skimmer ?

[@swimmingpoolchemistrydoner5569]

BC this is an Acid and we don't want to had an Acid product into a skimmer.

[@curlingdan]

@@swimmingpoolchemistrydoner5569 so clearly much different than Borax as in 20 Mule team Borax ? I've added 3 boxes to my 7500 gallon pool, still have one to go but doing it slow and adjusting ph the next day

[@drdrew3]

@@curlingdan A 7500 gallon pool requires about seven of the 4 lb boxes of Borax to reach a level of 50ppm. And it would take about 1-3/4 gallon of acid to return the pH to baseline. If you know your pool’s correct volume the formulas are very very accurate

[@cdfornal]

@@curlingdan you can team borax and boric acid to get to 50ppm while using boric acid and a little borax to keep ph from dipping too low

[@presidentelectaaronp5443]

How come you couldn't just add it to the skimmer

[@swimmingpoolchemistrydoner5569]

The biggest reason is BC it's a type of acid and that wouldn't be good for the heater.

[@jran848]

I’m a pool pro. Do you add borates to all pools on your route? And where do you get the boric acid you are using?

[@swimmingpoolchemistrydoner5569]

Yes I use Borates on all customers that give me permission to use it. I don't add it without their knowledge. I give them all the info on Borates. I get Boric Acid from my local suppliers. You can also use Borax soap for Borates but you need to offset the higher pH of borax with acid.

[@jran848]

Swimming Pool Chemistry Done Right Thanks!!! How well does it work keeping algae away?

[@swimmingpoolchemistrydoner5569]

Awesome! But remember most mustard algae is bc of a lack of filtration or bad circulation. It's not an algaecide mind you it's an algaestat. It help kill algae b4 it grows but under the right conditions algae will still grow.

[@scottlandb6579]

jordan nierman I’m not sure where you service pools but, Pool Corp (SCP), now sells boric acid by a company named three elephant. For best deal ask for the 55lbs bag. It honestly looks like what swimming Pool Done Right is using. Know the formula, cause there’s no specific calculations on bag, & like CYA if you over dose it stays in pool.

[@scottlandb6579]

Swimming Pool Chemistry Done Right Interested in why you advise your customers your adding it (other than to charge obviously) Is there any specific reason for that?