Our B-B-B method of pool care stands for "Bleach, Borax, and Baking Soda" but really means informed knowledge of how to maintain a sweet, clean, sanitary pool for minimum cost and minimal effort. It's really not very mysterious even though the pool stores and pool service companies would have you think so.

Chlorine is chlorine in your water, and how you get it there doesn't matter. But Trichlor tabs add CYA and are acidic. Dichlor powder adds even more CYA but is far less acidic. Cal-hypo adds calcium and can be a bit alkaline.

Plain, ordinary bleach and Liquid Chlorine are the best because they add only chlorine and salt--and not much salt at that. 10 years of bleach won't add as much salt as you need for a salt-water generator...and salt makes the water feel softer and is easier on the eyes because it's far less than the ocean and is only NaCl, not all the various ocean salts.