PoolDoc
06-23-2014, 01:08 PM
[ PoolDoc note: this thread is still being edited. ]
OK. It's been great being able to use Walmart and Amazon to send people to exactly what they need, instead of having to say, "look for this gooble-de-good chemical name" like we did in years past. But the stock available on Amazon is a moving target, which means links I've posted go bad. So, I'm going to develop this page as the 'master guide' to pool chemicals you need . . . and then try to keep it current.
Chlorinating chemicals
bleach
cal hypo
cal hypo pellets
dichlor
trichlor
pH control
muriatic acid
sodium bisulfate
borax
soda ash
Alkalinity & calcium
baking soda
calcium chloride
Stabilizer (cyanuric acid)
cyanuric acid
50% liquid cyanuric acid (sodum cyanurate)
dichlor
Algaecides
polyquat 60
copper algaecide
Metal stains
ascorbic acid
HEDP
Arch Metal Control (~20% HEDP (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002SARZHQ/scouscho-20/) @ Amazon
Jacks Magic Pink Stuff (~60%? HEDP) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003MYEU3E/scouscho-20/) @ Amazon
;
sodium hydrosulfite (Iron Out)
Phosphate control
Clorox phosphate remover
Orenda PR-10000
Borates
borax
boric acid
Mystery Goo Makers
Certain chemical companies, such as Robelle, go to great lengths to hide the ingredients in their products. Other companies, such as Natural Chemistry, have product lines in which they mingle inferior products, such as citric acid for stain treatment, with possibly useful ones, such as their enzymes. Still others are sort of 1-trick wonders, like United Chemicals (bromine) or Coral Seas (ammonia), with tricks you may not like. And finally, there are companies like BioLab / BioGuard / AquaChem / PoolTime who play a sort of 'hide-the-pea' hustler's game, with an everchanging line of product brands, names, and blends, so that even I can never tell what's in one of their containers without specifically investigating their current packaging practices.
So, the lists below are designed to help you be as cautions as you need to be.
Lines To Avoid Almost Always:
Coral Seas / Yellow Out (http://www.yellowout.com/) (ammonia)
United Chemicals (http://unitedchemicalcorp.com/) / No Mor Problems (bromine and/or phosphates)
Lines to Avoid Unless You CAREFULLY Checked Out a Specific Product.
AquaChem (http://www.aquachem.com/) -- Biolab (Biolab big-box brands (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Mass_Retail_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
BioGuard (http://www.bioguard.com/) -- Biolab (Biolab dealer brand (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Pro_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
PoolTime (http://www.pooltime.com) -- Biolab (Biolab big-box brands (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Mass_Retail_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
Robelle (http://www.robelleind.com/)
Less Risky Brands
Omni Pool (http://www.omnipool.com/) -- Biolab (dealer brand (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Pro_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
Guardex (http://www.guardex.ca/) -- Biolab (dealer brand (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Pro_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
Sun (http://www.sunforthepool.com/) -- Biolab (dealer brand (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Pro_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
HTH (http://www.hthpools.com/) -- Arch Chemical (brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm))
GLB (http://www.glbpoolspa.com/) -- Arch Chemical (Arch Chemical brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm))
Applied Biochemists (http://www.appliedbiochemists.com/) -- Arch Chemical (Arch Chemical brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm))
Robarb (http://www.robarb.com/) -- Arch Chemical (brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm))
Quantuum (http://www.quantumpool.com/) -- Arch Chemical (brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm)
CCH (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/ICM/Products/Industrial/cch.htm) -- Arch Chemical (brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm)
Kem-Tek (http://www.kem-tek.com/) -- Kik Corp brand (http://www.kikcorp.com/brands.html)
Clorox (http://cloroxpool.com/) -- Kik Corp brand (http://www.kikcorp.com/brands.html)
Proguard (http://www.proguardpools.com/) -- Kik Corp brand (http://www.kikcorp.com/brands.html)
Hasa (http://www.hasapool.com/) -- Hasa Pool (http://www.hasapool.com/)
Not yet categorized
Jacks Magic
Robarb
SeaKlear
InTheSwim
Leslies
Pool Mate
Aqua Silk
Pool Basics
DryTec
Nava
Pool Brand
Leisure Time
Pristine Blue
Dohenys
E-Z Pool
Ultima
Pool Frog
Mcgrayel
Baquacil
Naturally Free
Revive!
Blue Wave
Nature2
Swimmers Choice
RX Clear
PoolGuy
Arm & Hammer
AquaPill
Aura
PoolRx
Brilliance
Zodiac Spa Cleanse
Angry Egg
Proteam
CuLator
Lo-Chlor
Ahh-Some
GreenCleanMax
AquaFinesse
Algaedyn
Camco
Regal
Earth Science Labs
NuClo
B00ECHQL5A
B00ECHQINK Pool Pals
Rendezvous Ph Magic
Pool Prescriptions Concentrated
Auraco 92607 Pool Guard Concentrate
Spa Science 35% Hydrogen Peroxide
Eclipse 3 - 2 lb. Bucket
Orb-3 U722-000-1G Dropout Jug
Qualco Coastal Algaecide Concentrate
Clear Result Swimming Pool & Spa Bromine
Risky Product CATEGORIES -- Know BEFORE You Buy!
Copper algaecides.
Enzymes
Metal or Stain Products
Salt treatment additives
Product CATEGORIES You Should Generally Avoid, Regardless of Brand.
'Mineral' additives or treatments
Defoamers
Enzymes
Non-polyquat, non-copper algaecides. (They don't really work!)
Salt enhancers
OK. It's been great being able to use Walmart and Amazon to send people to exactly what they need, instead of having to say, "look for this gooble-de-good chemical name" like we did in years past. But the stock available on Amazon is a moving target, which means links I've posted go bad. So, I'm going to develop this page as the 'master guide' to pool chemicals you need . . . and then try to keep it current.
Chlorinating chemicals
bleach
cal hypo
cal hypo pellets
dichlor
trichlor
pH control
muriatic acid
sodium bisulfate
borax
soda ash
Alkalinity & calcium
baking soda
calcium chloride
Stabilizer (cyanuric acid)
cyanuric acid
50% liquid cyanuric acid (sodum cyanurate)
dichlor
Algaecides
polyquat 60
copper algaecide
Metal stains
ascorbic acid
HEDP
Arch Metal Control (~20% HEDP (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002SARZHQ/scouscho-20/) @ Amazon
Jacks Magic Pink Stuff (~60%? HEDP) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003MYEU3E/scouscho-20/) @ Amazon
;
sodium hydrosulfite (Iron Out)
Phosphate control
Clorox phosphate remover
Orenda PR-10000
Borates
borax
boric acid
Mystery Goo Makers
Certain chemical companies, such as Robelle, go to great lengths to hide the ingredients in their products. Other companies, such as Natural Chemistry, have product lines in which they mingle inferior products, such as citric acid for stain treatment, with possibly useful ones, such as their enzymes. Still others are sort of 1-trick wonders, like United Chemicals (bromine) or Coral Seas (ammonia), with tricks you may not like. And finally, there are companies like BioLab / BioGuard / AquaChem / PoolTime who play a sort of 'hide-the-pea' hustler's game, with an everchanging line of product brands, names, and blends, so that even I can never tell what's in one of their containers without specifically investigating their current packaging practices.
So, the lists below are designed to help you be as cautions as you need to be.
Lines To Avoid Almost Always:
Coral Seas / Yellow Out (http://www.yellowout.com/) (ammonia)
United Chemicals (http://unitedchemicalcorp.com/) / No Mor Problems (bromine and/or phosphates)
Lines to Avoid Unless You CAREFULLY Checked Out a Specific Product.
AquaChem (http://www.aquachem.com/) -- Biolab (Biolab big-box brands (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Mass_Retail_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
BioGuard (http://www.bioguard.com/) -- Biolab (Biolab dealer brand (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Pro_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
PoolTime (http://www.pooltime.com) -- Biolab (Biolab big-box brands (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Mass_Retail_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
Robelle (http://www.robelleind.com/)
Less Risky Brands
Omni Pool (http://www.omnipool.com/) -- Biolab (dealer brand (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Pro_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
Guardex (http://www.guardex.ca/) -- Biolab (dealer brand (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Pro_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
Sun (http://www.sunforthepool.com/) -- Biolab (dealer brand (http://www.biolabinc.com/Our_Brands/Pro_Pool_&_Spa_Brands))
HTH (http://www.hthpools.com/) -- Arch Chemical (brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm))
GLB (http://www.glbpoolspa.com/) -- Arch Chemical (Arch Chemical brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm))
Applied Biochemists (http://www.appliedbiochemists.com/) -- Arch Chemical (Arch Chemical brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm))
Robarb (http://www.robarb.com/) -- Arch Chemical (brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm))
Quantuum (http://www.quantumpool.com/) -- Arch Chemical (brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm)
CCH (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/ICM/Products/Industrial/cch.htm) -- Arch Chemical (brand (www.archchemicals.com/Fed/Corporate/Products/treatment.htm)
Kem-Tek (http://www.kem-tek.com/) -- Kik Corp brand (http://www.kikcorp.com/brands.html)
Clorox (http://cloroxpool.com/) -- Kik Corp brand (http://www.kikcorp.com/brands.html)
Proguard (http://www.proguardpools.com/) -- Kik Corp brand (http://www.kikcorp.com/brands.html)
Hasa (http://www.hasapool.com/) -- Hasa Pool (http://www.hasapool.com/)
Not yet categorized
Jacks Magic
Robarb
SeaKlear
InTheSwim
Leslies
Pool Mate
Aqua Silk
Pool Basics
DryTec
Nava
Pool Brand
Leisure Time
Pristine Blue
Dohenys
E-Z Pool
Ultima
Pool Frog
Mcgrayel
Baquacil
Naturally Free
Revive!
Blue Wave
Nature2
Swimmers Choice
RX Clear
PoolGuy
Arm & Hammer
AquaPill
Aura
PoolRx
Brilliance
Zodiac Spa Cleanse
Angry Egg
Proteam
CuLator
Lo-Chlor
Ahh-Some
GreenCleanMax
AquaFinesse
Algaedyn
Camco
Regal
Earth Science Labs
NuClo
B00ECHQL5A
B00ECHQINK Pool Pals
Rendezvous Ph Magic
Pool Prescriptions Concentrated
Auraco 92607 Pool Guard Concentrate
Spa Science 35% Hydrogen Peroxide
Eclipse 3 - 2 lb. Bucket
Orb-3 U722-000-1G Dropout Jug
Qualco Coastal Algaecide Concentrate
Clear Result Swimming Pool & Spa Bromine
Risky Product CATEGORIES -- Know BEFORE You Buy!
Copper algaecides.
Enzymes
Metal or Stain Products
Salt treatment additives
Product CATEGORIES You Should Generally Avoid, Regardless of Brand.
'Mineral' additives or treatments
Defoamers
Enzymes
Non-polyquat, non-copper algaecides. (They don't really work!)
Salt enhancers