Boric Acid

[tcat]

I just ordered 35# of Boric Acid to hopefully reduce my MA requirement. My pool is "open" year around, but only heated from March to October. Should I wait until March to add it, or does it really matter? I typically bump up my CYA in March. Pool is at 52 degrees. I run my SWG at it's lowest setting which keeps FC in the 5-7 range.

 

[PoolStored]

Do it in March to avoid dilution/loss to rain and overflow between now and then if you get winter rains.

Also, run the "effects of adding" borates before you add it...addition will lower your pH...allow your pH to rise above target first, by the amount of pH drop from effects of adding, so that the addition puts you at your target after addition.

 

[tcat]

Do it in March to avoid dilution/loss to rain and overflow between now and then if you get winter rains.

Also, run the "effects of adding" borates before you add it...addition will lower your pH...allow your pH to rise above target first, by the amount of pH drop from effects of adding, so that the addition puts you at your target after addition.

Pool math shows add zero MA if I add 32# of Boric Acid. The reason I bought it rather than Borax. It would take a higher dollar amount of Borax & MA than the cost of the BA.

 

[ajw22]

Does not matter when you add the boric acid.

Get your TA set to where you want to lock it in, as it becomes more difficult to adjust TA with borates in the water.

Borates in pool - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Before you start on borates, adjust your TA level toward the low end of the appropriate range for your pool type. See the Recommended Levels chart for appropriate levels.

 

[PoolStored]

Pool math shows add zero MA if I add 32# of Boric Acid. The reason I bought it rather than Borax. It would take a higher dollar amount of Borax & MA than the cost of the BA.

Adding 35 lbs of boric acid in your pool will lower ph by .3. Adjust your TA as @ajw22 indicated, then let pH rise to .3 above your target, then add the boric acid.

 

[AUSpool]

And the borates will lower the CSI a little, ~ -0.05 - -0.1.

I just ordered 35# of Boric Acid to hopefully reduce my MA requirement.

I have always been under the impression that borates don’t reduce the acid demand but rather decrease the frequency between acid additions to maintain the same pH. More acid will required at each addition to move the pH the same amount as compared to without borates. The net effect is the same amount of acid over the same time frame.

In theory the borates should help reduce the scaling of your SWG cell.