Chlorine confusion

[waterbear]

All the better to confuse you with, my dear!!!!

Life would be SO much easier if you could just buy "chlorine" without having to worry about "what kind"!!!

Janet

Another reason to use bleach!

[PoolDoc]

Interestingly, I've recently discovered that MANY pool stores tell users that "bleach is only 3% chlorine", so the games don't end there!

[GregP]

Thank you for all of your help. I am going to order the Taylor 2006 kit through the provided links when the this wonderful weather in PA normalizes. Only in Erie can you see all 4 seasons in one day. I will post a set of numbers once I get the pool opened. With all of the rain that we have gotten this winter, I have had to pump the pool levels down 4 times so far so the higher CYA level that I had should be more than diluted by now.

I definitely like the bleach idea, because the pool store talked me into $6.00 gallon liquid pool chlorine to help with the algae problems. I guess learning empties out the wallet.

The Sams clun Trichor did have "trace" amounts of copper in it but the manufacture would not disclose exactly how much when I called them, but the good thing is that Sams allowed me to return it with no questions asked.

I wish I would have stumbled across this site last year. Keep up the good work.

Thanks,
Greg

[PoolDoc]

Sams Club chlorine has copper? Darn, darn, darn!

I'm going to check my local club tomorrow.

[GregP]

Sams club chlorine brand has it just listed as inert ingredients. I called the company for the MSDS to find out exactly what the inert ingredients were and they were the ones that said copper was added, but that it was in small amounts. They never did provide me with the MSDS like I asked.

Greg

[PoolDoc]

Sorry I never followed up on this. It took me a few days to collect the data, and I just never got back here.

Sams's Club is selling the "Pool Brand" brand of pool chemicals through out much (maybe, all?) of the USA. There are 3 products in this like that are a GOOD deal.
1. The 50# bucket dichlor powder is often being sold BELOW wholesale (at least, below the wholesale prices that apply outside of Florida and California). Here, it's about $2/llb
2. The bagged shock (12 or 24) is pure dichlor and is HARD to find. It's also at a good price.
3. The 40# bucket of trichlor is also pure, and an EXCELLENT price.

If copper is present, I'm pretty sure it MUST be a listed ingredient on the container.

They also have 2 gallons of 40% linear quat algacide for under $30, I believe. Do NOT use this during swim season. But if you've got a sludged pool, it may be worth trying as a first cleanup step.

[CarlD]

Hi Greg! How did it turn out?
$6/gal liquid chlorine is the equivalent of $3/gal 6% bleach. In my area, pool stores sell 5 gal carboys of the stuff for about $17. Yes, you must make a deposit of $6/carboy, and you'll need a $4 spigot, but that's a one-time investment to get the equivalent of $1.70/gal bleach. When you need a new carboy you give them the empty instead of a deposit. The spigot lasts for years. I must have my 3 carboys 6 or 7 years now, exchanging them when needed.

Liquid Chlorine is usually nominally rated at 12%, basically double the strength of 6%. That just means half the amount has the same effect. Sometimes it tests higher, occasionally lower (especially if it's old). So...if it costs less than double what a gallon of 6% ("Ultra") bleach costs in your area it's a good buy. If it costs more, it is not. $6 is just too much.

Do check that best-guess table. If you cannot get the Taylor K-2006 or K-2006C test kit there are a few reasonably good alternatives (that also use FAS-DPD testing) that are the equivalent, plus some "Plan B" alternatives you can use if you cannot get the Taylor or alternative.