Bromine Chemistry Question

[PoolDoc]

Inset corners -- 3' 90 deg radius x 4 => 3^2 * 3.14 * 3.2 * 7.46 = 700 gallon deduct
Steps: 1/2(4' inset * 2.8 deep) * 6 wide * 7.46 = 250 gallon add

Shallow part of pool: 20 * 40 * 3.2 * 7.46 = 19,098 gallons add
Deep part of pool: 20 * 20 * [(8.3 - 3.2)/2] * 7.46 = 7,610 gallons
[Probably should be [(8.3 - 3.2)/3] -- but it depends on the shape of the slope and hopper ]

19098 + 7610 + 250 - 700 = 26,258 total

[FormerBromineUser]

Thanks for the calculations! My kid, a physics major, promises to get an accurate measure of the deep end as soon as he has time. Kids.

PoolGeek: Guess what??? My husband swam for the first time last night after the addition of borates and he says his hair and skin are MUCH better! His hair (what's left of it... tee-hee) was soft, not sticky. His skin, not overly dry or sticky. He said there is a definite difference! He said he loves the "feel" of the water now. Hmmmm.

I am wondering, though, even with a pool of 26K, why it only took 18 boxes of Borax to get my borates over 50 (it still looks to me to be closer to 80). The "recipe" in http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...stant-to-Algae calls for 10 boxes per 10K. Is there any other test you can run for borates that is more accurate and not cost prohibitive? I'm really puzzled.

[PoolDoc]

1. It looks like I may have an error there; I'm going to have to check because 2 info sources, aren't in agreement.

2. BUT, how were you testing? If it was the AquaChek . . . they are pretty much unreadable. Test some tap water with known borates (0.0) and see what you get.

[chem geek]

It's 7-3/4 boxes (76 ounces weight each) of 20 Mule Team Borax per 10,000 gallons for 50 ppm Borates. To balance the pH, this requires 282 fluid ounces (35-1/4 cups or 2.2 gallons) of full-strength Muriatic Acid (31.45% Hydrochloric Acid). You usually alternate adding back and forth so that you don't have the pH swing too wildly.

I'm glad the feel of the Borates are working out. I think the main effect is a reduction of surface tension and/or a surfactant effect and that may make the hair not stick together as much and the skin feel a little more silky, but quite frankly the effects aren't noticed by everyone and I'm suspicious that some of it isn't just the placebo effect.

[FormerBromineUser]

PoolDoc: I bought the borate LaMotte test strips as recommended. May I test borates with distilled water instead of tap? Our tap is softened well water....

ChemGeek: Your borax/volume ratios agree better with my results although it appears I am testing higher than 50. Maybe Ben can use your ratios to compare with his other "info sources". The placebo effect works for me if it makes my husband happy with my new water recipe: pool forum vs. pool store! But he is ADAMANT about the improvement since adding borax. I can't speak to it; 75 degrees is way to cold for me. I read that you use borates, Richard. Have you gone swimming in water without borates to see if YOU notice a difference? Just a thought.

[chem geek]

I've noticed the shimmering effect and a lowering of surface tension with the water meniscus being more flat, but I haven't noticed effects on the skin or hair nor has my wife, but she does water therapy exercise in the pool every day for about an hour so she's in there a lot. She didn't make any comments when I boosted up the borates this year after it dropping by dilution from the winter rains. Everyone's different though.

[FormerBromineUser]

Hello!

While I am waiting (and waiting) for my CYA to reach 30, I have been thinking. p.s. I am adding dichlor every few days and keeping FC between 2.5 and 3.5, CC=0. And, yes, Ben, I am keeping the pool open for several hours a day, but it's hardly being used because IT'S SO COLD!

Anyway, a month or so ago I took a pool sample to Leslie's to get some metals tested and they told me my phosphates were high. I haven't worried about it as everything I had read said as long as you don't have any algae blooms not to be overly concerned. However, I have been following the "ozinator experience" which led me to: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...+my+phosphates ...and that's what got me thinking.

I have enlarged the views on my profile and avatar pictures and emailed Ben larger images of them. I am hoping that you will be able to see the extent of my "greenery" around the pool. There's usually more plants and flowers but we had a killing-winter and I lost a bunch of plants. I do not use plant food/fertilizer but I have a LOT of mulch around the pool.

Hopefully you experts will be able to see the pictures and can offer advice as to whether phosphates may be an increasing problem in the future and need to be dealt with. So far, thanks to you all, everything seems to be perfect except for the weather and resulting low pool usage.

Thanks!

Randy