Dry acid versus muratic acid - and how to add?

[PopcornGirl]

Is it just me or has anyone else found the dry acid to be WAY less effective than the liquid Muriatic?
I have only used the dry stuff 2 or 3 times (in a pinch), but it seemed like I needed a LOT more of it to do the same job, and once, it seemed to have little or no effect on my water at all! Maybe I got ahold of some old stuff?
Anyway, I agree; I choose Muriatic and am just *extra cautious* when using it.

[maryberrye]

We use the liquid acid on our vinyl IG pool. We add about a quart at a time. I don't pour it directly from the bottle into the pool though..I'm afraid I'll drip and burn my liner. We 1/2 fill a bucket of water, pour the acid into the bucket, then pour it into the pool at the return flow to mix it well. Then I rinse out the bucket with pool water from the end behind the return flow. Probably not necessary, but I'm paranoid

Mary

[Mike_in_NJ]

There used to be, somewhere on the forum, some ramblings/musings/thoughts about dry acid and plaster pools. The thoughts IIRC, were that dry acid (which forms sulfuric acid when mixed with water) might not be the best thing for plaster/concrete chemically.

Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) chemically is a little 'nicer' to plaster/concrete. And it's usually less expensive too. But it is a bit more dangerous to use.

And ALWAYS remember to add acid to the water, never-never-never add water to the acid.

I'll usually add muriatic acid to a dedicated, clean 5 gallon plastic bucket filled with water. And then add the partialy diluted acid into the pool deep end. Rinse the bucket in the pool water in the low end, and put away till next time. Watch out for the acid fumes, wear chemical resistant gloves, be careful.