bleach or h2o2 instead of chlorine?

[melifair]

I have posted a couple of threads before on other forums - have got great help - but am still feeling my way through this pool-mystery!
I have an AG Oval Intex Easy set - 20'x12'x48" holding 4,450 gallons.
In the 6 weeks i have had it i started on Bromine then switched to Baquacil, thought i would then get a SWCG - and now i have another proposition!
Basically - i dont want to have chlorine. BUT, i am not happy with Baquacil it seems to taste bad,and stings my eyes although levels are OK according to tests.
So today I have been searching the internet and have two alternatives. What does anyone think of them?
1) A man i spoke to said that i should use 3 litres of bleach twice a week (therefore 6 litres a week) and keep the PH below 7.6 with liquid muriatic acid. I should also add 2 whiskey shot glassfuls (!) of Walmarts HDH 40 as an algecide.
MY QUESTION: is this a good idea? and why is bleach different or less toxic then chlorine?
2) a website I read advocated using hydrogen peroxide- at a rate of 1 cup of 35% h2o2 for every 500 gallons of water. Test periodically to see its still OK
Does anyone have opinions or knowledge about these options?
The weather has been very hot here (90-100) it never rains (in california)
and there are seldom more then 2-3 people using the pool.
Thanks for your input!

[Watermom]

Bleach IS chlorine. If you check the label on pool store liquid chlorine and on bleach both will say sodium hypochlorite - just in different strengths.

We recommend using 60% polyquat algaecide, so I wouldn't use the Walmart stuff.

I can't recommend using hydrogen peroxide. Most people here on the forum use bleach. Do some reading on the forum and at the sister site www.poolsolutions.com. You will learn a lot about maintaining a pool inexpensively and easily.

[gerri]

What is Walmarts HDH 40 ?

I use the BBB method of maintaining my pool.. bleach, borax, baking soda. You can read about that on poolsolutions.com

[melifair]

Thanks for the responses! Watermom- you have been following this process of mine i think and answered so helpfully last time! So, given that Chlorine IS bleach - which is what i had suspected - is the quantity the man told me (6 litres a week) less then i would be advised to use of chlorine? In other words am i a bit less 'chemicalized' doing the litres of bleach thing as opposed to recommended chlorine strengths and doses? He was intimating that i would have a nearly chemical free pool!

And Gerri - I am no wiser as to what HDH 40 is then you! Something that kills algae though.....

Meanwhile - i'm off to read up on poolsolutions (the rest of my life has been on hold since getting this pool!)

[gerri]

Use the bleach calc at this link, based on your gallonage and strength of bleach...

http://home.earthlink.net/~mwsmith70/data/BleachCalc262.exe

That will get you started in the right direction.

Also read this thread:

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=1652

To learn about the BBB method.

Don't put peroxide or some unknown Walmart stuff in when you can have a perfect pool using BBB. :)

[melifair]

Thanks Gerri-
though -whoops- i couldn't get this link to open -

http://www.hal-pc.org/~mwsmith2/BleachCalc262.exe

it says 'Not found'...has it been changed or updated?

[waterbear]

H2O2 is not an EPA approved sanitizer....but is used with baquacil as the oxidizer or shock. By itself it will not sanitize your pool.
Here is the link to BleachCalc
Get BleachCalc 2.6.2 here:http://home.earthlink.net/~mwsmith70/data/BleachCalc262.exe (http://home.earthlink.net/%7Emwsmith70/data/BleachCalc262.exe)

Chlorine is your best bet for a safe pool. Bleach is the form of chlorine most of the forum members use.

[gerri]

oops.. thanks Waterbear for correcting the bleach calc link. Sorry about that.