Anyone else using ACID Magic in place of 31.5% HCl in their IntelliChem? Any issues?
This topic appears periodically, but now from me because Leslie's Pool no longer stocks 31.5% acid and sells this instead. Leslie's was the only place I had been able to get the 31.5% acid, a concentration I prefer to minimize wear on my acid pump (using 2 gallons / month). Previous TFP comments stated ACID Magic had phosphates, or was dilute. The manufacturer, Certol, claims it contains no phosphates or phosphorus compounds, contains the same HCl concentration as 31.5% HCl, and is NSF certified for use in drinking water.
The problem is that the MSDS lists proprietary ingredients in addition to the HCl, so we don't know what else it contains, plus no HCl concentration is listed on the container although it is on their Web page, stating ”ACID Magic cleans, clarifies, and etches like standard 20° Baume, 31.45% standard muriatic acid.” Certol's data sheet "Adjusting Pool and Spa Chemistry" describes use like normal 31.5% acid.
Comments have been posted on TFP for Certol’s disclaimer "ACID Magic should not be used to aid or effect any pool disinfectant product or other water modifier." Spoke with a tech representative at Certol (they called back!) who told me that was a California-required disclaimer meaning ACID Magic cannot be used to purify water. Gotta love California – cancer stickers on everything.
My big concern was whether the ACID Magic proprietary additions would harm my SWG, but the Certol tech representative assured me that is not an issue. He also said the product was reformulated in 2018, so I guess all the previous concerns of phosphates could have been true before then.
The 14.5% muriatic acid from the big-box stores costs $7/gallon. This stuff costs $17/gallon, but if is really 31.5% HCl, that's equivalent to $7.83/gallon for the 14.5%. Not much more cost for avoiding the fumes when I fill my IntelliChem acid tank.
I can track acid additions using the Pentair ScreenLogic history. They seem variable, but should be able to show a large change if it occurs.
This topic appears periodically, but now from me because Leslie's Pool no longer stocks 31.5% acid and sells this instead. Leslie's was the only place I had been able to get the 31.5% acid, a concentration I prefer to minimize wear on my acid pump (using 2 gallons / month). Previous TFP comments stated ACID Magic had phosphates, or was dilute. The manufacturer, Certol, claims it contains no phosphates or phosphorus compounds, contains the same HCl concentration as 31.5% HCl, and is NSF certified for use in drinking water.
The problem is that the MSDS lists proprietary ingredients in addition to the HCl, so we don't know what else it contains, plus no HCl concentration is listed on the container although it is on their Web page, stating ”ACID Magic cleans, clarifies, and etches like standard 20° Baume, 31.45% standard muriatic acid.” Certol's data sheet "Adjusting Pool and Spa Chemistry" describes use like normal 31.5% acid.
Comments have been posted on TFP for Certol’s disclaimer "ACID Magic should not be used to aid or effect any pool disinfectant product or other water modifier." Spoke with a tech representative at Certol (they called back!) who told me that was a California-required disclaimer meaning ACID Magic cannot be used to purify water. Gotta love California – cancer stickers on everything.
My big concern was whether the ACID Magic proprietary additions would harm my SWG, but the Certol tech representative assured me that is not an issue. He also said the product was reformulated in 2018, so I guess all the previous concerns of phosphates could have been true before then.
The 14.5% muriatic acid from the big-box stores costs $7/gallon. This stuff costs $17/gallon, but if is really 31.5% HCl, that's equivalent to $7.83/gallon for the 14.5%. Not much more cost for avoiding the fumes when I fill my IntelliChem acid tank.
I can track acid additions using the Pentair ScreenLogic history. They seem variable, but should be able to show a large change if it occurs.
