Pool Borates FAQs
As a general rule of thumb, adding about 20 ounces (by weight) of Borax per 10,000 gallons of pool water will raise your pH by approximately 0.2. However, this varies depending on your pool's current Total Alkalinity (TA) levels. For exact dosages tailored to raising borate levels or custom pool sizes, use the calculator above.
You should add Borax when your pH drops below 7.2, or when you are intentionally trying to establish a 30–50 ppm borate level to act as a pH buffer and algae inhibitor. Always test your water first and ensure your Total Alkalinity is already balanced (ideally between 80–120 ppm) before adjusting the pH.
Overdosing Borax will cause your pH to spike dangerously high (above 7.8), which leads to cloudy pool water, calcium scaling on pool equipment/surfaces, and skin/eye irritation for swimmers. Additionally, if you exceed recommended borate levels (above 80 ppm), the water can become toxic to pets who might drink from the pool, requiring you to partially drain and refill the pool to dilute it.
No, they are entirely different chemical compounds. Baking Soda is Sodium Bicarbonate, which is primarily used to raise Total Alkalinity with a minimal effect on pH. Borax is Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate, which is highly alkaline and aggressively raises pH while introducing borates into the water. Never swap one for the other blindly!
When you mix Borax (a base) with vinegar (an acid), they undergo a neutralization reaction. They essentially cancel each other out, weakening the effectiveness of both chemicals. While not explosive or toxic, mixing them inside your pool chemistry routine is counterproductive and will cause erratic pH swings.
Yes, Borax will raise your Total Alkalinity slightly, but much less than Soda Ash or Baking Soda does. This makes Borax the perfect choice when your pool's pH is very low but your Alkalinity is already in the ideal zone, as it allows you to bump up the pH without throwing your TA out of whack.
You should wait at least 30 to 60 minutes after adding Borax before entering the water. Ensure your pool pump is running on high speed to completely dissolve and circulate the chemical throughout the deep end. Testing the pH one more time before swimming is always recommended.
Never pour Borax directly into the skimmer. Instead, pre-dissolve the powder in a bucket of pool water, or slowly <strong>pour it directly into the pool around the perimeter of the deep end</strong>, right in front of the return jets. This allows the moving water to quickly break up any clumps and distribute it evenly.