What do borates do? Arguably the most important function of borates in pool water is to serve as a buffer, and many of the other attributes stem from this one. Borates are excellent at holding pH; this is the reason why it is so difficult to adjust the pH to neutral with some borate products.
http://thepoolpros.com/borate-chemistry
In home swimming pools, borax is a useful replacement for the soda ash commonly used to raise pH. Unlike soda ash (sodium carbonate), borax will raise your pH, without having a large effect on your alkalinity.
http://poolsolutions.com/gd/using-household-borax-in-swimming-pools.html
The average cost of each algae bloom can cost you $10-$20. Why repeat the same processes over and over again with the same poor results. One 50lb bag of Borax will treat a 25,000 pool for 1 year. 2 lbs per 1,000 gallons of pool water will give you 40 ppm an guarantee no algae. Borax has been called birth control for algae, and has been used by several companies like US Pools in the late 1990’s & early 2000.
http://www.thepoolpros.com/borax.html
In a situation with borate in a pool at neutral pH, most of the borate is present m its undissociated trivalent form, and some is present as the tetrahydroxy borate anion. When you add acid (H+ or protons), some of the tetrahydroxy borate anions lose a hydroxyl group (OH-) to form water with the protons.
http://thepoolpros.com/borate-chemistry
Borax is available under the 20 Mule Team brand, usually in the detergent section of grocery stores, WalMart, KMart, or similar stores. Sodium tetraborate decahydrate is the chemical name for one form of borax. Borax is also sold in the pool industry in a slightly more concentrated form, sodium tetraborate pentahydrate, for a much higher price. But, once they are dissolved in water, both chemicals are identical. J ust in case you aren't sure, you can check the side label for the ingredient name:
http://poolsolutions.com/gd/using-household-borax-in-swimming-pools.html
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. Water is more sparkling: The Borate is more reflective so when the Sun hits the pool the water will really sparkle.
https://poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/03/adding-borates-to-your-swimming-pool.html
Can you use borax to raise pH in swimming pools? The most commonly sold product for that purpose is sodium carbonate, aka soda ash, sold as Ph Up by pool stores and as Washing Soda by grocery stores. You can also use 20 …Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster (sodium tetraborate). It can be found at many grocery stores.
http://www.answers.com/Q/Is_Borax_added_to_a_swimming_pool_safe_for_people
ADDING BORATES TO YOUR POOL: There are two ways to add Borates to your pool. You can do it with pure Borax - 20 Mule Team Borax that you will find at Walmart or your Grocery store or by using a Borate product that you can purchase online or at your local pool store.
https://poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/03/adding-borates-to-your-swimming-pool.html
3. Clean Toilets. To clean toilets, simply pour one cup of borax into the water, stir it up, then let it sit overnight. The next day, scrub it with a brush and your toilet will be sparkling clean. 4. Unclog Toilets. Scoop as much water as you can out of the toilet, then add 1/2 cup of borax. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, then add 2 cups of boiling water and flush. Repeat as necessary. 5. Unclog Drains. Use a funnel to pour 1/2 cup of borax down the drain, then slowly add 2 cups of boiling water.
http://urbansurvivalsite.com/surprising-uses-for-borax/
Borax is a safe alternative Borax is perfectly safe in swimming pools. We started using it in our inground pool two years ago and would not use anything else. Not only is it less expensive (a lot less expensive) but the water feels softer when we use it.
http://www.answers.com/Q/Is_Borax_added_to_a_swimming_pool_safe_for_people
what do you use borax for in a pool
We use borax for in a pool because it is a useful replacement for the soda ash commonly used to raise pH. Borax is a useful replacement for the soda ash commonly used to raise pH in a pool.