First time poster - excited to use BBB method but have a question!

[PoolDoc]

Do they make a chlorine tablet that just simply adds chlorine?

Sams Club sells "PoolBrand" tablets that are undiluted trichlor. These Kem-Tek tablets are 95% trichlor, which is better than most:
Kem-Tek 3-Inch Chlorinating Chlorine Tablets for Pool and Spa

Kem-Tek's MSDS doesn't list the 'other' ingredients, but I just talked to one of their techs, and she told me it's boric acid, which is fine. She also told me that they are now producing Kem-Tek Power 99 which is undiluted, and will be available on Amazon later this season.

[rdbrya1]

Thanks to all of you for the help!! I will most definitely order my test kit from the link in the signature to support this board.

Hopefully this doesn't sound dumb but I just wanted to make sure I understood correctly - that the Sam's Brand tablets that are 99% active ingredient undiluted trichlor...does that mean they do not add any stabilizer?

I have been keeping my FC around 2-3 and have not had any problems but based on the best guess chart it says I should keep it at 5. I am wondering should I increase it or leave it alone.

Unfortunately I cannot return the 50Lbs super skimmer tablets so I will have to decide if its worth losing the money or not and tossing them or trying to use them :-(

[PoolDoc]

1. Trichlor is, molecularly, a stabilizer molecule with 3 attached chlorine atoms. So, 100% trichlor does add stabilizer.

2. You can probably get away with lower chlorine levels in cool weather, but once water temps hit 70 degrees, you need to match your chlorine to your CYA level.

3. I found label info here: http://www.kellysolutions.com/erenew...1_26_02_AM.pdf

Your tabs are 80% trichlor, 10% borax, and 10% aluminum sulfate. The borax is fine -- it will keep the pH from dropping so much. The aluminum sulfate (alum) is OK . . . IF you have a sand filter. If you have a cartridge filter, you will need to clean more often. If you have a DE filter, you may also need to clean more, but I don't think the alum will hurt the filter.

This formulation does NOT contain copper, which is what stains pools.

[CarlD]

1. T
Your tabs are 80% trichlor, 10% borax, and 10% aluminum sulfate. The borax is fine -- it will keep the pH from dropping so much. The aluminum sulfate (alum) is OK . . . IF you have a sand filter. If you have a cartridge filter, you will need to clean more often. If you have a DE filter, you may also need to clean more, but I don't think the alum will hurt the filter.

This formulation does NOT contain copper, which is what stains pools.

I am guessing they are cutting the tri-chlor with cheaper ingredients that are not as destructive as others. Since tri-chlor tends to be very acidic, the borax would offset that, and, as Ben says, borates can inhibit algae. I don't know much about aluminum sulfate, but I am guessing it is a pH raiser as well.

[PoolDoc]

Carl, aluminum sulfate is an old-line floc and filter aid. It used to be fairly standard on commercial pools to feed small amounts of aluminum sulfate upstream of sand filters. It has the fairly unique quality of being able -- under certain conditions -- to tie up or capture metal ions. But I've never been able to find out exactly what those conditions were.

[CarlD]

Ah! I bow to your superior knowledge!
I'd still bet it helps reduce the production cost of those tri-chlor tabs...but, then again, I do have a cynical streak!

[PoolDoc]

I wasn't trying to say alum wasn't cheaper -- I'm almost certain it is, and that you are correct about their motives for adding it. I was just explaining what it does, and why it's a comparatively benign additive.

[PoolDoc]

PS. Do NOT 'toss' trichor tablets. Doing so would be a serious environmental violation, if you were caught. And given that trichlor might explode or catch fire if mixed with certain types of garbage, there's a good chance that "tossing" a 50# bucket would get caught!

[PoolDoc]

Oops. I must have accidentally closed this thread -- it's open now.

[rdbrya1]

haha thanks!! I tried to reply a few times but it was closed :-( I couldn't find a way to PM you either to say thanks! The answers were SOO helpful and I really appreciate it!! It is creeping up to 70 degrees here in Louisiana so my cholorine levels will stay a little higher soon. I just clicked to order my Taylor 2006 test kit and it says "Sold by Amato Industries, Inc. "...that is the correct store right? I want to make sure Pool Forum gets the credit.