Fighting Algae with Borax

[waterbear]

If you have never used borax to adjust pH it's a safe assumption. I would pick up some AquaChek (or Proteam) borate test strips. I order my Aquachek borate strips from here:
http://www.diywatertesting.com/

Very fast shipping and good price!

[Tredge]

Just wanted to provide an Update.

I ordered those strips and waterbear was right on target for the amount of borax to add.

I am very pleased to report that borax works! I've had to deal with mustard algae every year (I live next to a large marsh full of it). Every year I go through a shock cycle and it never really goes away completely...until this year!

My pool is algae free and crystal clear.....but most importantly...its staying that way without weekly shocking.

Thanks waterbear for the help!

[waterbear]

It wasn't me, it was the borax!

[topless]

I saw this thread and am interested in resolving my multi-year battle with mustard algae. I looked for the thread mentioned in the China Shop, but didn't see it.

I have been shocking my pool for a month in between rains and if I don't keep the chlorine about 25ppm, the algae comes back in a day or 2. Last week I had the pool covered for 4 days while it rained and it set me back from seeing the bottom of the pool, to not being able to see the bottom step.
The pool has been clearing back up, and can see the bottom of the shallow end, again.
I've been lowering my TA by adding acid and aerating, which is working.
When I opened it after the 4 days, I could see the mustard algae on the steps before I vacuumed.

[chem geek]

The thread is here.

[topless]

After reading and re-reading the test thread, I decided to add the borax and acid to my pool. I've been battling mustard algae and even with FC in the upper 20'sppm the pool just wouldn't clear out completely. About 3 years ago I got talked into the Bioguard Optimizer plus and it worked, but not understanding how or what to test for, eventually I lost the benefits.
This morning my pool before was still a little cloudy, I couldn't see the main drain. I backwashed the filter and vacuumed to waste.
FC -15
cc -.5
cya -50
temp -80
ph 7.3-4
TA- 220

I added 8 boxes of borax and 2.5 gallons of muratic acid, within 30 minutes the cloudy bottom cleared up. After an hour I checked the ph, it was right at 7.4.
6 hours later, I added 7 more boxes and another 2.5 gallons.
I just ran all tests
FC 5.5
CC- under .5
cya -under 50
ph 7.2 (I'm aerating to bring down the TA, 2 weeks ago it was over 300)
TA-190
temp -81
The water is crystal clear, I can see sand grains on the bottom next to the main drain.
This may not be the best thing, but considering I've been shocking my pool for 4 weeks, (over 120 gallons of bleach and about 60 lbs of cal-hypo) I am quite pleased with the results.

[waterbear]

I guess we're getting some empirical proof that borates do kill algae!

[jhm]

It wasn't me, it was the borax!

Someone in another thread expressed concern about dogs drinking pool water with a high borax level. Any truth to that? I don't think I can keep my dog from drinking the water, but I read your whole other thread and the borax looks like it will kill two birds with one stone for me.

Thanks!

[Tredge]

Chemgeek had shown that borax at 50ppm is really no more 'toxic' than chlorine at normal levels. (At least thats how I read it).

Anyways....my dog drinks out of the pool regularly and shes very healthy. The way I see it that water is the cleanest she'll ever drink.

Most dogs can handle far more toxins than humans can due to their exceptionally large livers.

[jhm]

Chemgeek had shown that borax at 50ppm is really no more 'toxic' than chlorine at normal levels...

Awesome! Time to pack in the Mule Team.