Alternate for Borax

[chem geek]

I understand you want to use Borax for raising pH without raising the TA as much. For those who do want to use a pH Up equivalent that raises both pH and TA, one can use Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda instead (careful: this isn't the laundry detergent).

An alternative to Borax in terms of rising pH with not much rise in TA is to use lye / caustic soda / sodium hydroxide. The problem is that I don't think you can find this in regular stores though you can certainly get it online from many soap-making sites and it *might* be available in a hardware store. One pound of pH Up / Soda Ash / Washing Soda / Sodium Carbonate is roughly the same as two pounds (33 ounces weight, actually) of 20 Mule Team Borax and is roughly the same as 6.2 ounces weight of Caustic Soda / Lye / Sodium Hydroxide.

If you use lye, I would pre-dissolve it in a bucket of water first. You don't want it settling to the bottom of the pool and I think they come in pellets and not powdered.

As for your low TA helping to stabilize your pH, you are the poster-child for this effect and I thank you for your participation in your "experiment" to help figure it all out.

Richard