Swimming pools blog

2 responses so far ↓

• 1 Jason Kathi // Mar 13, 2007 at 1:09 am

  The trouble with higher concentrations available at pool stores
  (typically 10-12%, compared to 5-6% grocery store) is that bleach
  loses its concentration quickly if not stored properly…so the 10%
  quickly drops in concentration…the pool store stuff comes in 5 gal
  pails as opposed to the 1-1.5 gal grocery store sizes. Still, if you
  can get it for a good price, can store it (cool, dry, dark), and
  don’t mind dealing with the bigger bucket, go for it.
  Chlorine pool tabs have a bunch of extra stuff in there that can be
  less than desirable…the main one is CYA (stabilizer). You need -
  some- CYA in your pool, but the more you add, the more sanitizer (in
  this case bleach) you’ll need per shock dose to be as effective.
  Also, there really is no easy way to lower CYA short of draining
  water and adding new.
  Lastly…borax is used to raise the PH level…always best to add
  alone and in smaller quantities, since raising PH is easy, but
  
  lowering PH can be difficult. Baking soda also will raise the PH, so
  whatever product you use, add small doses and retest frequently to
  get where you need to be.
  The best thing anyone can do is invest in a QUALITY home test kit
  (NOT the test strips!). Learn how to use the kit to do all your own
  testing…remember the pool store is there to sell you chemicals!

• 2 Donnell Irina // Mar 23, 2007 at 1:52 am

  I use either acid or the granulated ph minus, depending on my mood. The
  ph minus costs a little more but is safer. Acid isn’t hard to find
  around here, Home Depot or Lowe’s will have it, as will many hardware
  stores. Of course, pools are very common in my area, other parts of the
  country/world I’m sure are different stories. As far as I know,
  muriatic acid is sold at one strength, and you DON’T want to get a
  lungful of the fumes… just about as bad as a big whiff of chlorine.
  Tim

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