How to Add Borate to Your Pool Using Boric Acid Powder
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Boric Acid Powder is a great way to add borates to your pool to bring it to 50 ppm. The rule of thumb is 2.4 lbs of boric acid per every 1,000 gallons of water. But using the www.poolcalcul...
Is a very easy way to calculate how much boric acid to use.
If you are interested in ordering boric acid you can get it here:
www.dudadiesel...
It is pretty easy to add - simply measure the amount of boric acid you will need and broadcast it into the deep end of the pool with the equipment running.
Here are the proven benefits of having a Borate level of 30-50 ppm:
Lower Chlorine usage: The Borate helps reduce chlorine usage by eliminating Carbon Dioxide and also by keeping the pH stable. Chlorine lasts longer when the pH is right at 7.6-7.8. When the chlorine is in the ideal range the killing element in chlorine the HOCI is at the most balanced percentage so the chlorine in a pool with a pH of 7.4 is 30% more effective than in a pool with a pH of 8.0. This is a big factor in creating the safest swim environment and the borates will keep the pH much more stable and in turn, make the chlorine much more effective.
pH is stable: The pH won't change much in a pool with Borate in it. So, if you have a Salt Water Pool this is a must since the pH tends to rise dramatically. In fact, in a Salt Water Pool the pH can rise to over 8.4 very rapidly. You will find yourself putting tons of acid in each week just to keep the pH below 7.8. With borates in the pool, the pH will be stable and easy to control. It is a must for a pool with a Salt Water Generator. It also will keep your salt cell from building up calcium rapidly since it sequesters the Calcium in the water. This means the salt cell will remain clean and your salt system will run much more efficiently.
Water is more sparkling: The Borate is more reflective so when the sun hits the pool the water will really sparkle. The fact that it sequesters calcium will give the water an added clarity and you will notice the sparkle is almost blinding. The difference is very marked and noticeable and it is a good bonus benefit of borates.
Softer and less irritating water: The water feels softer and doesn't burn your eyes. It also will keep your skin and hair hydrated so after swimming your skin won't be as dried out. Borax has been used for a very long time as a softener for laundry. You will find it in the laundry aisle and it makes sense that it will also make the water feel softer and prevent dry skin.
Less Algae growth: Boric Acid is a known Biostat. This prevents the algae cell from forming and multiplying. Thus, a pool with a Borate level between 30-50 ppm will prevent algae growth. Since borate prevents the algae cell from growing, algae blooms will be a thing of the past. No more algaecides or shocking the pool, algae just won’t grow in your pool any longer.
Borates in the water also don’t evaporate so the initial dose will not need to be added every season. Simply measure the borate level at the beginning of the season and add a maintenance dose to bring the level back up to 30-50 ppm. It can leave the water through filter backwashing, splash out and is diluted by freshwater.
In some estimates, you will use 40% fewer chemicals in your pool during the season. Imagine cutting your chemical use and cost in half! This is one of the best benefits of adding borates. Since it buffers the pH you will need less acid week to week. Since it enhances the chlorine by keeping the pH stable you will use less chlorine each week. And since it prevents algae from growing you will not need to add algaecides or add large amounts of a shock to your pool. There really is no good reason not to add borates to your pool.
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Every topic I checked about pool, you already got at least one vedio. You are a legend. Even how to choose boric acid or borax. Thanks again.
I also use Duda and I learned that it's easier to use the granular boric acid vs the powder. The powder floats and gets stuck in my tile line. I add the granular via panty hose in front of a return jet to distribute it.
The other benefit to borates is that they make your water shimmer as well.
Great video, thanks!!
The powder is a bit messier but I just skim it with my leaf rake to knock it down. Yes, sparkling water for sure! 👍
great tip about adding the powder/granuals using a nylon/sock in front of the return jet, no drift of the powder by casting it out over the pool. I created a funnel to fill the sock by cutting the bottom off of a take out food container and poured the powder in a sock.
Oh wow. I only added a pound and a half. Lol my pool is 12,000 gallons. I do notice tho, when I added borax in the past to help balance the water, I did not have algae growth those seasons. Now I know why from watching your previous pod casts.
Excellent video David!
Thanks Trey! 👍
One of the biggest benefits of adding borates IMO is it really helps keep your salt cell plates from scaling. My friend's pool last year had high CH (600ppm) and when she added a SWG, it was a struggle all summer with scale on the plates weekly. Fortunately, it was so fresh, she was able to just take the cell off and hose out the deposits with water only. This year I added borates to her pool and even though her CH is now 750ppm, there hasn't been even a hint of scale on the plates. Boric acid is the way to go over borax because the pH remains virtually unchanged.
Right on! 👍
Thank you!! Love your podcasts and videos!!
Perfect, hope this works for me, going to order! Thanks for videos.
Very informative video. Thx for simplifying it. 👍👍👍
Thanks for the great feedback Bill!
Love your channel
Thanks for the awesome channel and podcast David! I have 55lbs of boric acid powder to add to my pool. Can I do it all at once? And brush / mix it in? Or should I do 10 pounds a day or something like that until it’s all mixed in. Thanks again!
You can usually add it all at once.
@@SPL Thanks for helping us all out! Love the channel! 👍
Are there any negative effects to worry about when adding this? If it prevents algae growth in pools, I’m considering adding it to all my pools on my route
The only negative effect is that it will take twice the amount of acid to lower the pH/ALK down after adding it. With that said, the borate will buffer the pH so it won't go up as much. So that is not a real issue for most pools. I say add it to every pool and you will see a huge difference.
Some people say it bad for pets that drink pool water.
@@pamwebb6606 It is safe. A dog would have to drink over 6 gallons at one time without peeing to reach any toxic levels.
I know that if your CYA levels are too high, it can decrease the effectivity of the chlorine. Does the same thing happen with borate levels, and should we be concerned about combined CYA+Borate levels? Thanks!
No. Borates levels work in high CYA.
Is this product like or the same as Optimizer? (Not Optimizer+)
Very similar to that.
Can Boric acid and Pool RX be used together? Thanks.
Yes. No issues.
@@SPL in poolrx instructions it says not to use with boric acid..so can i still use or na?
@@freddymaxximus6605 I’ve used both in pools. It’s fine. But I’ll be honest if you’re using a pool rx then just stay w/ the pool rx. If you’re concerned about copper / boric acid there is no issue.
Hi, when I calculate 50 ppm, I only get 0.42 lbs boric acid per 1,000 gallons of water: 1000 gal x 8.34 lbs/gal (density of water) x 0.00005 (50 ppm) = 0.42 lbs. What am I getting wrong?
David us a de scoop 2 lbs of boric acid powder I thought I measured this out de scoop is either 2 or 2.5 lbs. forget.
for Salt water pools, i'm seeing different PPM's, some say 60-70 PPM instead of 50 ppm of borates, is 50 ppm still okay for salt water pools? or it has to be 60-70ppm?
Yes, because of how the chlorine is introduced out of the return jets. The higher CYA level helps protect the high concertation of chlorine entering the water.
@@SPL so regarding borate PPM, is 50 ppm fine for salt pools? or borate has to be 60-70 ppm? I've seen some posts where they said you need higher borates for salt pools, while some say 50 ppm is fine, so do you know which is fine? i got boric acid just enough to hit the 50 ppm mark for the salt pool, do i need more?
What happens if you add too much? Like over 100ppm? Will it hurt anything?
70 ppm would be the max. EPA states 35 ppm. I don't think 100 ppm is harmful per say since the EPA tests things at crazy over use levels. Like 10x dosing.
How often do I have to add more borate to keep it at 50 PPM? Just test it?
Usually after 1 year you can retest the borate level.
is this instead of chlorine?
No, it helps the chlorine last longer.
I have to put in 95lbs in my pool.... WOW 😲
Yikes. You god a big pool there.
Q. Boric acid obtained from which fruit?
A) Apple
B ) Banana
c)Waterlemon
d)All of these
could i pre-mix the boric acid with water in a 5 gallon bucket, and do that multiple times before dumping into the pool? i just don't want bunch of lumps or powder sitting in the plastic when i just dump it straight into the pool
yes. Or add it through the skimmer with the pool running. A product like Bioguard optimizer is made for skimmer use
I’ve used that to kill cockroaches in my garage in the past but why should I add boric acid to my pool?
Yes, that is one use. It is harmless to humans and dogs -you would need to drink 6 gallons a day to build up any kind of ill effect. But in the same line as it kills roaches by breaking down the shell, it also destroys the algae cell membrane. Meaning your pool will pretty much never get algae. It is a secondary buffer to Alkalinity so the pool's pH will be much more stable.
@@SPL , Wow, I didn't know that. I'll give it a try. Thanks.