I have not tried the DE. I haven't had a chance to get any. But I may wait because doesn't back washing clear out the DE? I'm constantly back washing from vacuuming. Will all the rain affect the chlorine level overnight? It's raining as I type. Can I use the sodium hypochlorite from the pool store, since I already have it, or just go to bleach? They're the same thing right? Just different concentrates?