Sodium Tetraborate

[waste]

I went today to get my tap water tested for phosphates & metals. The guy at the pool store GAVE me a bucket of Sodium Tetraborate. Since it was free, I took it! After thinking about it, the name sounds familiar.

Is this stuff the same as Borax? The brand name on it is ProTeam Supreme.

BINGO

The folks at ProTeam love their borates, it seems to be their panacea for just about any pool problem (except low pH, though that's the only thing I know it works for ) In fairness, I cannot say that their products don't perform as advertised, we just started using/ carrying their line at the end of last season, so the only thing I have personal experience with is the Winter Kit (Results - the same as our regular closing chems - some pools open swampy, some slightly green, and some clear). One last thing, it isn't exactly the same as Borox is sodium deca (maybe penta?)borate... but what's a few borates between friends

[waterbear]

Main difference between 20 mule team and the borates sold as miracle pool additives is the price and the number of water molecules attached to the borax molucule. This just means that on a weight for weight basis one will supply SLIGHLY less borate. Their action once dissoved is indentical if the ppm borate is the same. Considering the HUGE difference in price I will stick to borax! Some of the pool additives use a mixture of sodium and potassium tetraborate but this really has no impact on it's effects. Probably more a price thing for the manufacturer.

(Yes, I admit that I like to read MSDS for fun. You can learn a lot that way!)

[bassadict69]

This guy went on & on about how this stuff helps the chlorine to no have to work as hard...makes the water softer...helps to not dry out your skin & burn your eyes...etc...etc...etc.

Heck it was free! So I guess it will save me a feww dollars by not having to buy Borax for awhile.