High Borate (Borax)

[rhludwig]

I am using test strips to test the borate level in my 24k pool and it is difficult to get an accurate color reading. I think my borate level is somewhere in the 60-80 level. My PH is about 7.1 and my TA is about 110. The borate is on the high side and my question is can you have a high borate level without having the PH and TA levels also being high? Also, what problems would the high borate level cause? Thanks for any and all help/comments.

[waterbear]

Borates in about a 50 ppm concentration will only add about 10 ppm to your TA. They will form a seconday buffer system in the water (boric acid/borates) that will help stabilize your pH. They are also supposed to be algaestatic. Many people add borates to about a 50 ppm level for these very effects by using such products at ProTeam Supreme and Bioguard Optimizer! If you want to lower them you will have to drain some of your water.

To answer your question, yes you can have a high borate level with low pH and normal TA.