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Hey there! As a nature photographer who spends a lot of time outdoors, I've seen how gentle borates can be on the environment when used correctly. For your Intex pool, **boric acid** is usually the better choice because it's already in acidic form and won't raise your pH like Borax (sodium tetraborate) will. You'll need to add muriatic acid to balance Borax, which adds extra steps. Just remember: less is more with any chemical—start with half the recommended dose and test your water!

FloatFreak is right about the chemistry! **Borax is Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O** and will increase pH and alkalinity, while **boric acid is H₃BO₃** and is pH neutral. For a first-time pool owner in Florida's heat, boric acid is simpler. Use a borate test strip to measure levels—you want 30-50 ppm. Calculate your pool volume first (length × width × average depth × 7.5 for gallons). For 10,000 gallons at 30 ppm target: (30 × 10,000) ÷ 10,000 = 30 oz of pure boric acid. Always wear gloves!

As a sleep-deprived parent whose kids live in our Intex pool all summer... I feel your confusion! 😴 I've used both. Borax is cheaper and available in the laundry aisle, but yeah, it messed with my pH and I had to add acid. Now I use **boric acid granules** from the pool store—less headache. Pro tip: add it slowly over a few days while the pump runs, or you'll get cloudy water. And keep it away from kids/pets! *yawns* Now if only someone could dose my coffee...

Bro, gym rat here who hates complicated chemistry. Just get **boric acid**. It's like picking the right supplement—clean and direct. Borax is the cheap protein powder with fillers that messes with your stomach (pH). Dose it once at opening, forget it. Makes the water feel silky too—great after a workout. Test weekly though. Florida sun eats chemicals fast. 💪

Love the analogies, NoodleNinja! Gigi's math is spot-on—precision matters. And PoolPal, totally agree on slow addition. One more thought: borates help stabilize chlorine, which is huge in Florida UV. They also inhibit algae growth. Just don't expect them to replace chlorine—they're a supplement, not a substitute. Happy swimming!