PoolDoc
05-19-2018, 03:37 AM
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Pool Chemicals to Prefer, & Ones to Avoid
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Blended chemicals are a nightmare for pool owners: they cost more per unit of 'real' chemicals AND they often add unneeded phosphates or pH buffers causing their own real problems.
AVOID: Any type of chlorine with "BLUE" in the name.
Any type of 'shock' or chlorine described as 4-in-1 or 5-in-1.
Arm & Hammer brand pool chemicals
Biolab brand pool chemicals
Clorox brand pool chemicals.
Clorox bleach (often contains additives!)
Pool Time chemicals (a Biolab brand!)
Pool chemicals sold by Walmart or Costco -- ALL that I've seen are blended.
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PREFER:
(chemicals for small pools in BLUE) 20 Mule Team borax 4# box(@ Walmart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/20850525))
Arm & Hammer washing soda 3.4# box @ Walmart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/19407690)
Arm & Hammer baking soda 12# bag @ Walmart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/17043412) (also: Costco, Sams Club)
20 degree/31% muriatic acid gallon @ Lowes (https://www.lowes.com/pd/3024039) (also: Home Depot)
Before using muriatic acid, READ these instructions (http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php/13111)!
trichlor - 40# bucket @ Sams Club (https://www.samsclub.com/sams/prod14250498.ip)
dichlor - 50# bucket @ Sams Club (https://www.samsclub.com/sams/prod14250500.ip)
dichlor - 24 x 1# bags @ Sams Club (https://www.samsclub.com/sams/prod14250499.ip)
10% Pool Bleach gallon @ Walmart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/20850525)
plain bleach gallon @ Walmart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/43888100)
24 x 1# cal hypo @ Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00BGNLUV8/poolbooks/)
Peladow calcium chloride, 50# bag @ Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00H4OWKEO/poolbooks/) / OxyChem info for Peladow (https://www.oxycalciumchloride.com/products/peladow-premier-snow-ice-melter)
Orenda PR10000 phosphate remover - 1 qt @ Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007BSRVQK/poolbooks/) (only THIS brand!)
60% polyquat @ Amazon: A (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00GS878EY/poolbooks/) - B (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002WKJAYS/poolbooks/) - C (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0030BEI0Y/poolbooks/) (check all 3; prices fluctuate)
DE powder @ Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002WKK6WI/poolbooks/) (Available in-store at some Walmart's)
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IMPORTANT: Just because a chemical is preferred, you should NOT assume that YOU need that particular chemical. IF you need it, you'll be better off buying a preferred brand than other wise. But, if you don't need it . . . you don't need it, whatever the source.
Also, you can sometimes get decent chemicals from non-preferred sources. BUT you have to be very careful to read the label!
____________________________________
Pool Chemicals to Prefer, & Ones to Avoid
____________________________________
Blended chemicals are a nightmare for pool owners: they cost more per unit of 'real' chemicals AND they often add unneeded phosphates or pH buffers causing their own real problems.
AVOID: Any type of chlorine with "BLUE" in the name.
Any type of 'shock' or chlorine described as 4-in-1 or 5-in-1.
Arm & Hammer brand pool chemicals
Biolab brand pool chemicals
Clorox brand pool chemicals.
Clorox bleach (often contains additives!)
Pool Time chemicals (a Biolab brand!)
Pool chemicals sold by Walmart or Costco -- ALL that I've seen are blended.
____________________________________
PREFER:
(chemicals for small pools in BLUE) 20 Mule Team borax 4# box(@ Walmart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/20850525))
Arm & Hammer washing soda 3.4# box @ Walmart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/19407690)
Arm & Hammer baking soda 12# bag @ Walmart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/17043412) (also: Costco, Sams Club)
20 degree/31% muriatic acid gallon @ Lowes (https://www.lowes.com/pd/3024039) (also: Home Depot)
Before using muriatic acid, READ these instructions (http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php/13111)!
trichlor - 40# bucket @ Sams Club (https://www.samsclub.com/sams/prod14250498.ip)
dichlor - 50# bucket @ Sams Club (https://www.samsclub.com/sams/prod14250500.ip)
dichlor - 24 x 1# bags @ Sams Club (https://www.samsclub.com/sams/prod14250499.ip)
10% Pool Bleach gallon @ Walmart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/20850525)
plain bleach gallon @ Walmart (https://www.walmart.com/ip/43888100)
24 x 1# cal hypo @ Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00BGNLUV8/poolbooks/)
Peladow calcium chloride, 50# bag @ Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00H4OWKEO/poolbooks/) / OxyChem info for Peladow (https://www.oxycalciumchloride.com/products/peladow-premier-snow-ice-melter)
Orenda PR10000 phosphate remover - 1 qt @ Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007BSRVQK/poolbooks/) (only THIS brand!)
60% polyquat @ Amazon: A (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00GS878EY/poolbooks/) - B (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002WKJAYS/poolbooks/) - C (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0030BEI0Y/poolbooks/) (check all 3; prices fluctuate)
DE powder @ Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002WKK6WI/poolbooks/) (Available in-store at some Walmart's)
____________________________________
IMPORTANT: Just because a chemical is preferred, you should NOT assume that YOU need that particular chemical. IF you need it, you'll be better off buying a preferred brand than other wise. But, if you don't need it . . . you don't need it, whatever the source.
Also, you can sometimes get decent chemicals from non-preferred sources. BUT you have to be very careful to read the label!
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