Low pH / High TA: Borax..? Borate test strips in Canada?

[Daf-Tekno]

Dear TFP,

I'm experiencing low pH (6.2-ish) and high TA (140-ish).
Every time I raise the pH with 'pH+', the TA also goes up!

And I only know how to lower TA by using 'pH-', so I'm going around in circles at the moment!

I've read that some people use Borax on its own to raise pH without raising TA.
But other posts seem to say that you need to use it in conjunction with muriatic acid, as Borax will raise pH AND TA, but then the acid reduces the TA to give you the end result of higher pH without increasing the TA.

The ratio of one to the other to achieve this effect isn't given, so I'm not sure how to do this.

It sounds like, if I start adding Borax, I need to keep an eye on borate levels to ensure they don't get too high.
However, I live in Canada, and it appears that the $9 LaMotte (or similar brand) borate test strips are simply not available here anywhere.
I cannot find any borate test system available to buy in Canada, even though Home Depot, Lowes and Wallmart all sell them in the States...?!

(Getting a US store to ship 1 $9 bottle would cost $25 postage and $75 customs brokerage!?!)

Why on earth is this?!? Why is there an apparent boycott on borate test strips in Canada?

The Borax angle starts to hint at the 'BBB' sanitisation system, where I assume I'd no longer add chlorine whenever levels are too low, but bleach instead (?), and would no longer add a bunch of chemicals on a weekly basis.
This approach sounds intriguing, as it also says it can be far more cost effective giving the same or better results, but how can I consider operating a system where I cannot keep an eye on the fundamental content level of one of the main constituents?

Or is there another way to keep watch on such a BBB system without a borate test kit?

Any ideas on this would be much appreciated.
Thank you.

Jacuzzi J480 (2007) 1700 litres, ozonator, Delta UV lamp

[Watermom]

Hi and welcome to the Pool Forum --- not TFP!

I noticed that you are also posting over on TFP. It is usually best not to post on both forums as it makes it harder to help and get help when the advice is not all from the same place and all together. So, better if you will pick one forum or the other.