DIY Boron

[mitch91175]

It’s me again . I got a Boron test kit in the mail and want to bump up my levels closer to NSW. Not doing anymore water changes so I want to get used to maintaining my levels with the Red Sea program. I found some info about DIY solution, but want to ensure 1) I have the right Borax and 2) amount to mix 1000ml solution.

This is what I purchased from the grocery store. Says it has no chlorine or phosphates which is good.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I discuss it here:

https://reefs.com/magazine/chemistry-and-the-aquarium-boron-in-a-reef-tank/
from it:


If you have a test kit, and want to supplement boron, you can also just use borax (from the grocery store; borax is 21.5% boron by weight) dissolved in water. One teaspoon will weigh about 4 grams, so 1 teaspoon in a 100 gallon tank will raise the boron level by 0.21 mM (2.3 ppm).

 

[Waynerock]

You could always try this

 

[mitch91175]

I discuss it here:

https://reefs.com/magazine/chemistry-and-the-aquarium-boron-in-a-reef-tank/
from it:


If you have a test kit, and want to supplement boron, you can also just use borax (from the grocery store; borax is 21.5% boron by weight) dissolved in water. One teaspoon will weigh about 4 grams, so 1 teaspoon in a 100 gallon tank will raise the boron level by 0.21 mM (2.3 ppm).

Thanks Randy I saw that just want to make sure that the stuff I purchased is fine before I mix stuff up and add to the tank. I will test the tank before dosing.

 

[mmakay]

I just read a dozen pages of an engineer and chemist arguing the purity of 20 Mules for use as a photo developer. Long story short; that stuff is totally OK for a reef. The dust from your home contaminated the water more in a few hours than the amount you’ll use as a supliment. (Totally pulled that fact about dust out of my lower orifice, btw, but I do believe it’s at least in the ballpark of truth.)

 

[mitch91175]

Tested and I am good right now on Boron, came back at 4ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy I saw that just want to make sure that the stuff I purchased is fine before I mix stuff up and add to the tank. I will test the tank before dosing.

Yes, that’s the right stuff, unless you see other additives

 

[JFD]

Hi all/Randy,

Do you know if this is Borax Pentahydrate? I've just bought 500gr of it and need to understand if we are talking about the same...

If not, could you please help me understand the percentage of Boron in this?

Thanks and best regards,
Jose.

 

[mitch91175]

Hi all/Randy,

Do you know if this is Borax Pentahydrate? I've just bought 500gr of it and need to understand if we are talking about the same...

If not, could you please help me understand the percentage of Boron in this?

Thanks and best regards,
Jose.

Yes that is boron from what I’ve seen online. As far as formula that’s a different story.

 

[JimWelsh]

borax is 21.5% boron by weight

That is true of anhydrous borax, but isn't the grocery store stuff usually the decahydrate? In which case, it would be only 11.3% boron.

Borax Pentahydrate?

The molecular weight of the pentahydrate is 291.288, so it would be 14.8% boron.

 

[Drew Halliday]

Is there a reason to not let Boron go to zero other than for buffering?

 

[JFD]

Yes that is boron from what I’ve seen online. As far as formula that’s a different story.

That is true of anhydrous borax, but isn't the grocery store stuff usually the decahydrate? In which case, it would be only 11.3% boron.


The molecular weight of the pentahydrate is 291.288, so it would be 14.8% boron.

Thanks a lot for both your responses! Helped massively...

 

[Cory]

My borax in Canada says its sodium tetraborate. Is that the same as Randys?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there a reason to not let Boron go to zero other than for buffering?

I don't think maintaining it has a clear utility, but it doesn't hurt, certainly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My borax in Canada says its sodium tetraborate. Is that the same as Randys?

Without knowing more about your product, I can only refer you to wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax
Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. Powdered borax is white, consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve in water. A number of closely related minerals or chemical compounds that differ in their crystal water content are referred to as borax, and the word is usually used to refer to the octahydrate. Commercially sold borax is partially dehydrated.

 

[Cory]

Thanks. I found this:

The msds says its sodium tetraborate decahydrate

 

[JimWelsh]

My 20 Mule Team brand borax box doesn't specify. I got in my head that the stuff in my box was the decahydrate. When I google "borax mw", it says 381.37 g/mol, which is the MW of the decahydrate. So, now I'm confused.

 

[Cory]

Well i added 4 grams or 1 tsp of this and it raised alkalinity .3dkh in approximately 125 gallons of water. 8dkh to 8.3dkh

 

[Cory]

I raised my tanks boron again with the same box in the pic. This time I added 5.28 grams. (Approximately 145 gallons) It raised my dkh from 7.8 to 8dkh. So a .2dkh raise and im guessing around 2.4ppm of boron? Ive been battling low ph now it gets to 7.76 sometimes on the apex. After adding this ph rose to 7.81 from 7.76. What sort of ph balance should i be expecting of boron?

 

[Cory]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
Could you answer my question above?