Soooo I bought some algaecide at the store because I didnt know anything and figured I needed it. But now I've had a revelation.
Pool chemical companies create 4 steps.
1.) Balance
2.) Chlorinate
3.) Shock
4.) Algaecide
Basically the ingredients on step 2 and step 3 are exactly the same for almost every pool company brand, whether it be dichlor, trichlor, cal-hypo.. The shock step is usually sold as a tiny bag with something like 15% higher available chlorine than their step 2 version.
And I have discovered through reading here that this powdered pool chlorine (Step 2 & 3) stuff will raise your CYA levels to a point where the chlorine is so stable it does not react fast enough to kill off algae, (Where unstable chlorine ... *Clorox liquid style* will react immediately but get destroyed by sunlight and have no long lasting effects).
And because as the chlorine dissolves and gets used up, the CYA still remains to make your next CYA added chlorine "Ultra Stable"... or Over-Stable... And thus, the law of diminishing returns starts to kick in.
Sooo.. They have a 4th step. Another chemical that is not chlorine designed to kill algae that is not effected by CYA levels. Typically this is dimethly benzyl ammonium chloride.
Because the pool chemical companies know their chlorine will build up CYA so high, they need yet another product to kill algae blooms which grow faster than a super stable chlorine can kill it.
And thus, if you maintain a proper CYA level, (Around 30-60 depending on direct sunlight on the pool correct?) your regular liquid chlorine bleach will have no problem killing off algae and you will not need a special algaecide like dimethly benzyl ammonium chloride at all.
How am I doing Chem Geek? Can I return my Algaecide?
Pool chemical companies create 4 steps.
1.) Balance
2.) Chlorinate
3.) Shock
4.) Algaecide
Basically the ingredients on step 2 and step 3 are exactly the same for almost every pool company brand, whether it be dichlor, trichlor, cal-hypo.. The shock step is usually sold as a tiny bag with something like 15% higher available chlorine than their step 2 version.
And I have discovered through reading here that this powdered pool chlorine (Step 2 & 3) stuff will raise your CYA levels to a point where the chlorine is so stable it does not react fast enough to kill off algae, (Where unstable chlorine ... *Clorox liquid style* will react immediately but get destroyed by sunlight and have no long lasting effects).
And because as the chlorine dissolves and gets used up, the CYA still remains to make your next CYA added chlorine "Ultra Stable"... or Over-Stable... And thus, the law of diminishing returns starts to kick in.
Sooo.. They have a 4th step. Another chemical that is not chlorine designed to kill algae that is not effected by CYA levels. Typically this is dimethly benzyl ammonium chloride.
Because the pool chemical companies know their chlorine will build up CYA so high, they need yet another product to kill algae blooms which grow faster than a super stable chlorine can kill it.
And thus, if you maintain a proper CYA level, (Around 30-60 depending on direct sunlight on the pool correct?) your regular liquid chlorine bleach will have no problem killing off algae and you will not need a special algaecide like dimethly benzyl ammonium chloride at all.
How am I doing Chem Geek? Can I return my Algaecide?
