Bleach has the fewest OTHER effects. Fresh PLAIN bleach is best. Walmart is selling 10% pool bleach in many parts of the country.
Cal hypo adds calcium and can increase scale formation. Dichlor is 50% chlorine and 50% stabilizer. This is good, if your stabilizer is low. Otherwise, not so much.
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Chemicals (the RIGHT Stuff!)
Chlorine:
- 10% Pool bleach - Walmart Pool-Essentials-Chlorinating-Liquid
- 6% PLAIN Walmart household bleach
- Dichlor - 55% chlorine / 50% CYA - [ Sams 50# Dichlor bucket
- Dichlor - 55% chlorine / 50% CYA - Sams 24 x 1# Dichlor bags ]
- Trichlor - 90% chlorine / 56% CYA [ Sams 40# Trichlor bucket ]
- Cal hypo - 68% chlorine / 46% calcium hardness [ 24 lbs DryTec HTH @ Amazon ]
Other:
- Borax - 20-Mule-Team-Borax-Box
(NOT Boraxo detergent!)
- Soda Ash / pH UP - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
- Muriatic Acid - Lowes / Crown-1-Gallon-Muriatic-Acid
Read muriatic acid instructions linked in my blue signature box!
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IMPORTANT Warning:
Until you are an expert at deciphering chemical names, and can distinguish sodium hydrogen carbonate from sodium dichloroisocyanurate, and so on
AVOID THESE POOL CHEMICALS:
- Clorox brand pool chemicals => see #1 below
- Arm & Hammer brand pool chemicals => see #1 below
(A & H baking soda + washing soda are fine!)- HTH brand pool chemicals => see #1 below
( DryTec HTH, made by Arch (HTH) is fine )- Pool Time brand pool chemicals => see #1 below
- All "Multi-function" chemicals => see #1 below
- All 3-in-1, 4-in-1, 5-in-1 chemicals => see #1 below
- Flavored bleach: scents, thickened, colored, 'gentler', etc: => see #2 below
- Non-fuming muriatic acid => see #2 below
- ]United Chemical brand pool chemicals => see #3 below
- Bromide based products: Yellow Treat, etc. => see #3 below
- Most algaecides => see #4 below
- Ammonia based products: Yellow Out, Green to Clean, etc. => see #5 below
- Stain removers => see #6 below
- Almost all 'boosters'. => see #7 below
Reason #1: Dilutes chlorine with unknowns, including copper, borax, alum and phosphates. Except for borax, these can CAUSE pool problems.
Reason #2: Bleach or acid is diluted with unknown chemicals which may, or MAY NOT, be compatible with pools
Reason #3: Adds bromide to pool -- see http://pool9.net/bromine/
Reason #4: No algaecide works better than chlorine. All algaecide EXCEPT polyquat have problematic side effects. Copper may work well IF you don't mind green hair and/or stains. 'Foamy' algaecides barely work at all.
Reason #5: Adds ammonia to the pool resulting in MASSIVE chloramine levels. Done exactly, right, monochloramine forms which WILL kill algae NOW, and then cause PROBLEMS LATER. Fail to use it EXACTLY right, and you'll make dichloramine which only causes PROBLEMS.
Reason #6: The common somewhat-effective liquid stain control products become phosphates over time, and CAUSE algae problems. Other products, based on citric or ascorbic acid, are COMPLETELY incompatible with chlorine. NONE of them actually REMOVE metals from your pool water, but only temporarily dissolve them. Dealing with stains and metal in pool water is both complex.
Reason #7: Unknown mystery 'goo'; unlikely to help and MAY CAUSE problems.
Remember: Problems with your swimming pool water help pool stores SELL more chemicals!
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