I am trying to determine a single chlorination method that I can use this summer and which one is most cost effective yet also the simplest method.
6% bleach, $1.30 gal (will require weekly bleach runs, suppose I should factor in my time and cost of gasoline to purchase).
73% calcium hypochlorite powder, $135 for 100 lbs.
99% calcium hypochlorite tabs, $96 for 50 lbs.
My plan for the powder was to determine from a 0ppm baseline, how many ppm increase I get from 1lb, the degradation of that level to 0ppm again (in # of days) and then divide 1lb by the # of days and add that much powder to the pool on a daily basis to keep the chlorine level consistent. I plan to check the chlorine level every 3 days thereafter and adjust the daily dosage as necessary. Also easy to shock using this method since it's already in powder form.
I hesitate to use tabs because it seems I can never get the calculation right (# of tabs in floater, floater setting) to keep the chlorine level consistent, either the tabs don't dissolve fast enough (due to cooler water, not large enough floater) or they dissolve to quickly in warm water and I am not checking the floater frequently enough and there is inconsistent chlorination. Also, since I'm a cheap ******* it's more difficult to shock using tabs because I have to put them in a canvas sack and crush them with a hammer to get powder.
From a cost and simplicity perspective it seems the powder is the way to go. Would you agree? Anything I'm forgetting?
Thanks
-Tom
6% bleach, $1.30 gal (will require weekly bleach runs, suppose I should factor in my time and cost of gasoline to purchase).
73% calcium hypochlorite powder, $135 for 100 lbs.
99% calcium hypochlorite tabs, $96 for 50 lbs.
My plan for the powder was to determine from a 0ppm baseline, how many ppm increase I get from 1lb, the degradation of that level to 0ppm again (in # of days) and then divide 1lb by the # of days and add that much powder to the pool on a daily basis to keep the chlorine level consistent. I plan to check the chlorine level every 3 days thereafter and adjust the daily dosage as necessary. Also easy to shock using this method since it's already in powder form.
I hesitate to use tabs because it seems I can never get the calculation right (# of tabs in floater, floater setting) to keep the chlorine level consistent, either the tabs don't dissolve fast enough (due to cooler water, not large enough floater) or they dissolve to quickly in warm water and I am not checking the floater frequently enough and there is inconsistent chlorination. Also, since I'm a cheap ******* it's more difficult to shock using tabs because I have to put them in a canvas sack and crush them with a hammer to get powder.
From a cost and simplicity perspective it seems the powder is the way to go. Would you agree? Anything I'm forgetting?
Thanks
-Tom