Yeah, you got it. plus Borax will only raise your pH and not mess with your alk. Soda ash will do both. So, if your alk is fine and your pH is low and you add soda ash, then you gotta go back to the store and buy something to lower your alk back down to where it already was and then that new addtion will cause your pH to drop so you gotta go back and buy some pH up and then.............. while the cash registers go 'cha-ching!'