Measuring sodium tetraborate (borax)

[waterbear]

[URL="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004KZNPL2/poolbooks"]LaMotte borate test strips [/URL]are the easiest way to measure borate level. They are much easier to read than the AquaChek borate strips. If you are testing with a Taylor K-2005 or K-2006 there is also an add on drop based borate test kit available from Piscines Apollo in Canada that is excellent and more precise than the strips (even though the strips have enough precision for our purpose). This test uses two of the reagents and the comparator in the Taylor kit so it is not a stand alone borate test. You must have one of the two Taylor kits to use it (and should have a K-2006 anyway!) IF you have a TF-100 test kit from TF test kits this add on will not work since you do not have a 2000 series comparator.

Borax raises pH but has very little impact on TA compared to sodium carbonate, the usual pH increaser in pools, and no impact on adjusted TA (since it does not add any carbonate alkalinity at all) so if you are using it to raise TA you probably are adding WAY too much to your pool (once again , since it does not affect carbonate alkalinity it does not dissipate into the atmosphere by out gassing of CO2! ) The effective borate range for its benefits as an algaestat and pH buffer is 30 to 50 ppm and when added n this quantity the pH rise will need to be countered with the addition of muriatic acid at the same time.

HOWEVER, as Watermom said, the PROPER chemical to raise TA is baking soda (AKA sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate).
Borax is used two ways:
1. to raise pH with less impact on TA than sodium carbonate (pH increase)
OR
2. when added in a 30 to 50 ppm concentration with muriatic acid to counter the pH rise it is an algaestat and SECONDARY pH buffer that works together with the bicarbonate pH buffer that we call TA