Fighting Algae with Borax

[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!

[Kimrst]

I added borax to my intex pool the begining of the season and I've not had the mustard bloom this year either. Its been too long since I did it to remember how much I put in my 6500 frame pool, but I know that is the thing that I'm doing diffrent this year and its working. I'd advise all kiddy poolers to try this in the begining of the season and see if it doesn't work for them. Kimrst

[leejp]

I'm in the Northeast and I generally have to adjust the PH up after heavy rains (which are acidic). Can the Borax be added over several years of time and still be effective?

And... is there a place where one can purchase Borax in bulk?

[waterbear]

To be effective it needs to be in the 30-50 ppm range. Adding borax for pH control generally will not get it into that range. You can probably purchase either the decahydrate or the pentahydrate form in bulk from a chemical supply. Here is a link for the decahydrate form (same as 20 mule team)
http://www.chemistrystore.com/borax.htm

Their prices are actually higher than the grocery store or walmart where you can buy a 4.75 lb box of 20 mule team borax for under $3!

Edit: To achieve 50 ppm borates in your 26k pool (assuming that no borates in the water) you would need 97.5 lbs (about 20.5 boxes of 20 mule team) and would need about 6 gallons of muriatic acid to bring the pH back in line and create the boric acid/borate buffer system in the water.

[leejp]

To be effective it needs to be in the 30-50 ppm range. Adding borax for pH control generally will not get it into that range. You can probably purchase either the decahydrate or the pentahydrate form in bulk from a chemical supply. Here is a link for the decahydrate form (same as 20 mule team)
http://www.chemistrystore.com/borax.htm

Their prices are actually higher than the grocery store or walmart where you can buy a 4.75 lb box of 20 mule team borax for under $3!

Edit: To achieve 50 ppm borates in your 26k pool (assuming that no borates in the water) you would need 97.5 lbs (about 20.5 boxes of 20 mule team) and would need about 6 gallons of muriatic acid to bring the pH back in line and create the boric acid/borate buffer system in the water.

Are Borates effective in controlling bacteria as well? Since going BBB and running appropruate FC for my CYA I have not had an algae problem but did have pink bacteria once. Those buggers are prety persistent. The original owners of the house used Baquacil (Bioguard Softswim) but converted and I think the bacteria may be left over from way back then.

So about ~$100 for the"experiment". If Borates can help with Bacteria it may be worth a try.