How Do you test for borates

[lloyd329]

Sorry to interupt your thread. I haved a question about borax and borates. I use borax to increase my PH without having a large affect on the TA. What are borates and how do I test for them?

[PoolDoc]

Borates are compounds that combine boron and oxygen. Borax is usually sodium tetraborate decahydrate or sodium tetraborate pentahydrate.

Though we don't recommend strips, in general, the most practical test for borates (as ppm boron) are the Lamotte borax test strips. More info here:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?14994

[PoolDoc]

Note that I corrected the borax test strip brand to "Lamotte"; the AquaChem *borax* test strips are nearly unusable, but the AquaChem *salt* strips are to be preferred.

Sorry.