Getting Started with Borax

[jhm]

Just thought I'd share my experience with everyone in case it is helpful. I'm about to start with Borax for two reasons.

First, I've never been able to keep my ph down without adding acid all the time. Higher borates have helped others control this so I'm hopeful this will get it under control.

Second, I've been battling mustard algae for about 1 1/2 years now, and I'm hopeful this will help that as well.

Here are my numbers going in for my inground pool about 23k gallons:

FC 5
CC 0
pH 7.5
Alk 90
Cal 220
CYA 45

Any helpful advice as I proceed is welcome. I plan to start adding Borax and Acid tomorrow. Hopefully sharing this will be helpful to others who have similar problems (assuming this helps me )

Jim

[waterbear]

adding borax is really a no brainer. Don't make it into something harder than it really is. Calculate how much you need, add half the amount and half the acid, brush, and add the rest. Wait 48 hours, adjust your pH to 7.6 and test your borate levels. Check them about once a month and when they drop to 30 ppm add enough borax and acid to bring them back up to 50 ppm.

[jhm]

thanks waterbear. you're the inspiration for this. even still i'm a little nervous putting that much borax in my water. but it sounds like it has positive effects on both my problems. i'm going for it!

[waterbear]

If putting the borax in makes you nervous you can always go out and buy a product like Proteam Supreme or Bioguard Optimizer or one of the other Tetraborate 'water enhancers' and use that. It will do exactly the same thing and cost twice as much or more!
The ingredient in these products is sodium tetraborate which is the chemical name for borax! Here is what Ben has to say about these products (but remember that this is before I did the "Great Tetraborate Experiment" in the China Shop!)
http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/grocery.html

Read the borax section!