Calcium and sodium question

[dansdad]

I noticed bleach is sodium hypochlorite, my chlorine is calcium..any difference

[Watermom]

Yes, different. Cal-hypo adds calcium as well as chlorine. Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) adds a little salt as well as chlorine. Both are fine as long as your calcium hardness level doesn't get too high. In that case, you wouldn't want to use cal-hypo.

[dansdad]

thanks for getting back

[CarlD]

Once they are dissolve in the pool they are fine, but never EVER mix them! (can you say "kaBOOM!"?)

[dansdad]

No Carl I was not going to mix just add slowly one at a time and wait a few between adding. Thanks much

[Watermom]

If you add bleach to gain chlorine, why would you want to add cal-hypo afterwards? As a source of chlorine, you wouldn't need to use them both on the same day. When I said that many people use both, I didn't mean in the same day as that is not needed. What I meant was that some people might use bleach most of the time and then only use cal-hypo occasionally instead of bleach or vice versa. Does that make more sense?

[dansdad]

yes it does, I'm experimenting a little. I bought the cal hypo and I had a lot of bleach. I'm just keeping my eye on the chlorine levels closely. I know Big Lots bleach is around 2.7 strength which is nothing BUT the calculator has a place to put that amount in which is great as their bleach is so cheap. Time will tell

[CarlD]

Remember: for 2.7% bleach to be "cheap" it must be no more than 30% of the cost of 8.25% bleach. Otherwise it's actually more expensive--when you consider how much you need to get the same chlorine level in your pool.

[dansdad]

Now that makes sense

[CarlD]

I buy "nominal" 12% Liquid Chlorine in 5 gallon carboys for about $19. This store's LC always tests at 14-14.5% strength. If I buy 8.25% ultra bleach chlorine, if it costs more than $1.03/gallon it's more expensive than the LC (assuming 14.5% strength).