is bleach really cheaper?

[tfrailey]

I read on one of the guides or tips that one gallon of 6% bleach is comparable to 3/4 lb. of Calcium Hypochlorite.

I can get a 3.78 jug of 8.25% bleach at Walmart (Great Value brand) for $3. I can get a 50 lb. bucket of Calcium Hypochlorite at "in the Swim" through Amazon for $156. It is listed as 65% Available Chlorine (35% Calcium).

If I need 67 gallons of 6% bleach to equal the 50lb. bucket I would need 52 of the 3.78 qt. jugs of 8.25% bleach and at $3 per jug that actually comes to $156. 52 jugs of bleach means hauling 416 pounds which is much less convenient than a 50 lb. bucket of granules.

I'm not arguing with the logic of buying cheaper chemicals than at the average pool store and I believe the online price is much cheaper than my local pool store. I'm just asking to see if I am missing anything?

[Watermom]

Bleach isn't always cheaper but it is the chlorine source that adds the least amount of extra stuff to your water. There is nothing wrong with using other types of chlorine. You just have to determine what your pool needs. Cal-hypo adds calcium which is needed in a gunite pool at a level of 200-400ppm. But, if it gets too high, then you can have cloudy water issues. Trichlor pucks add CYA which is fine if your stabilizer is low. They are also very acidic which is ok if your pH runs high. But, continued use of trichlor causes a lot of people to end up with a CYA level that is way too high. Most people do not understand that high CYA requires high chlorine and when they get algae, they don't understand why. Dichlor has the same things as trichlor -- very acidic and adds CYA. All that bleach (sodium hypochlorite) adds is salt. It is also readily available. So, those are a couple of reasons why it is a good choice for many pools.

But, like you said, it is not always the cheapest nor the most convenient. Depends on individual situations.

Welcome to the Pool Forum, by the way!

[tfrailey]

Thanks for the reply (and the welcome!) Watermom. That makes sense. I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something obvious in my calculations.

I've had this pool for 10 years. I just discovered this site and have learned much about pool chemistry and feel I finally know why I have had all the issues (mostly algae blooms) I have experienced. I threw away my test strips and am using a Taylor 2006C test kit. I have a plaster 30,000 gallon pool.

[Watermom]

I threw away my test strips and am using a Taylor 2006C test kit.

Good decision!

[PoolDoc]

membership upgraded.

[BigDave]

I love this thread. OP has already figured out that chlorine is chlorine an is questioning assumptions.

[JimK]

I read on one of the guides or tips that one gallon of 6% bleach is comparable to 3/4 lb. of Calcium Hypochlorite.

I can get a 3.78 jug of 8.25% bleach at Walmart (Great Value brand) for $3. I can get a 50 lb. bucket of Calcium Hypochlorite at "in the Swim" through Amazon for $156. It is listed as 65% Available Chlorine (35% Calcium).

If I need 67 gallons of 6% bleach to equal the 50lb. bucket I would need 52 of the 3.78 qt. jugs of 8.25% bleach and at $3 per jug that actually comes to $156. 52 jugs of bleach means hauling 416 pounds which is much less convenient than a 50 lb. bucket of granules.

I'm not arguing with the logic of buying cheaper chemicals than at the average pool store and I believe the online price is much cheaper than my local pool store. I'm just asking to see if I am missing anything?

Like you have discovered, bleach isn't always the cheapest solution. Last time I checked cal hypo was cheaper than bleach in my area.

However, since I have a SWCG I only need another CL source when shocking I decided to stick with bleach since like was said earlier it only adds salt. I don't want to be adding calcium since in my vinyl pool the only thing it does is possibly foul the salt cell.

So bleach is costing me a little more, but the benefit is worth it to me.