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Hey all, I've been experimenting with borates in my fiberglass pool here in Indiana for the past two seasons. As a biohacker, I approached this systematically: I tracked pH, alkalinity, and chlorine levels daily for 60 days before and after adding borates at 50ppm. **My findings:** - pH drift reduced by approximately 65% - Acid consumption dropped from 1 quart every 10 days to 1 quart every 28 days - Water feels noticeably softer (subjective, but my family agrees) - No measurable impact on chlorine effectiveness **The science:** Borates act as a buffer, but unlike bicarbonate buffers, they specifically target the upward pH drift caused by aeration and chlorine addition. In our Midwest climate with temperature swings and frequent rain, this has been a game-changer for maintenance consistency. Cost me about $120 for my 15,000 gallon pool, but the time saved on testing and adjusting has been worth it.

Great data, @FilterFan31! I'm in Illinois with a similar fiberglass setup. I approached borates from a different angle - as an amateur chef, I think about chemical balance like recipe proportions. **My experience:** - Added borates last spring at 30ppm (didn't want to go full strength initially) - pH definitely stabilized, but I still need to adjust occasionally after heavy rain - The biggest benefit for me has been **reduced eye irritation** - my kids can swim longer without complaints - Water clarity improved slightly, but that might be placebo **One caution:** If you have plants near your pool drainage area, test your runoff water. Borates can affect some vegetation. I redirected my backwash away from my garden just to be safe. For Midwest weather with our temperature swings and storms, I'd give borates a 7/10. Not magic, but helpful enough that I'll continue using them.

Okay, I'm the student on a budget here in Ohio with a fiberglass pool, and I have to be real: **Borates are expensive!** I did the math: - Boric acid for my 12,000 gallon pool: ~$85 - pH has been more stable, sure - But I still have to test and adjust weekly - My acid usage dropped maybe 25%, not 65% like @FilterFan31 **Alternative I found:** Increasing my cyanuric acid slightly and keeping alkalinity at the higher end of the recommended range (120-130ppm) gave me similar pH stability for about $20 in chemicals. Maybe borates work better for larger pools or different setups, but for a budget-conscious student in the Midwest, I'm not convinced the cost-benefit is there. The money I saved paid for my pool heater repairs last month. Anyone else find cheaper alternatives that work in our climate?

@CurrentCaptain - Valid points on cost! A few thoughts: 1. **Dosage matters** - Did you measure your actual borate level after adding? Many people underdose 2. **Alkalinity interaction** - Borates work best when alkalinity is properly balanced first (80-100ppm for fiberglass) 3. **Long-term math** - My acid savings will cover the borate cost in about 1.5 seasons For your cyanuric acid approach: Be careful with higher CYA levels in the Midwest where we get less intense sun. Can lead to chlorine lock if you're not monitoring carefully. **Pro tip:** Buy boric acid in bulk from chemical suppliers rather than pool stores. I got mine for 40% less that way.

@CurrentCaptain I feel you on the budget concerns! Here's what worked for me as a compromise: **The 'Half-Dose' Approach:** - I only maintain 20-25ppm borates instead of the recommended 30-50ppm - Still get about 50% of the pH stabilization benefit - Costs half as much - Combined with keeping my alkalinity at 100-110ppm (not as high as you suggested) **Midwest-specific observation:** Our spring pollen and fall leaf debris seem to affect pH less with even low borate levels. Could be coincidence, but my pool needs less adjustment during those messy seasons now. Maybe try a partial dose? The initial investment hurts, but a $40 experiment might be worth it before writing off borates completely.