Just curious ... are there any advantages disadvantages - or doesn't really matter using muriatic acid vs dry acid (sodium bisulfate)
Muriatic vs dry acid
- Thread starter kkendall
- Start date
Dry acid adds sulfates to the pool, which build up over time. I believe it may also be more expensive.
We generally use muriatic acid here to lower pH. While it's a bit more difficult to handle, there are less side effects to using it.
We generally use muriatic acid here to lower pH. While it's a bit more difficult to handle, there are less side effects to using it.
- May 23, 2015
- 24,417
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
See this thread - Sulfates why so bad?
[EDIT]
Technical bulletin here - https://www.pwtag.org.uk/technical_notes/?download=27
[END-EDIT]
Sulfates also increase the wear on SWG plates as the specialized transition metal coatings are more susceptible to sulfate corrosion. All the major SWG manufacturers put a warning in their user manuals against using dry acid products.
[EDIT]
Technical bulletin here - https://www.pwtag.org.uk/technical_notes/?download=27
[END-EDIT]
Sulfates also increase the wear on SWG plates as the specialized transition metal coatings are more susceptible to sulfate corrosion. All the major SWG manufacturers put a warning in their user manuals against using dry acid products.
1 gallon of full strength MA is equal to about 12 lbs of dry acid. I'm sure this varies by region, but I can get a gallon of MA for $4.00. 12 lbs of sodium bisulfate from Walmart would cost about $19. So while it is easier to handle the convenience comes as a pretty steep price. This is on top of wanting to limit the amount of sulfates added to the pool when possible.
It's nearly double that at the home improvement stores in my area of California. Is there a better place to shop for it?
- May 3, 2014
- 58,402
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Typically not. Sometimes pool stores have it. Thank the nanny state for the cost to the distributors and retailers as it is a hazardous material.
I pay about $6 per gallon at Home Depot in Arizona.
The local pool stores in my area are always cheaper than the big box stores, not sure about Leslie's though.
I've been buying a 2 packs 31.45% at Leslies in FL for $11 to use up my leslie bucks, but that seems as good a price as anywhere.
- May 23, 2015
- 24,417
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Look for Hasa dealers in your area. They supply MA in refillable jugs at a lower price than most retail stores. I get four 1 gallon jugs in a safety carrier for $4.75/gal + tax. Cheapest retail MA, either pool store or hardware store, is well over $5/gal.
I doubt we can get that kind of action in CA! The only fill and carry I know of is when I used to run reef tanks and we could fill and carry natural salt water
[edit: just checked and we have a few about 100 miles away. Thanks for the tip]In any case, I called Leslies over the weekend and the guy told me that they had pool chlorine for buy one get one 50% off--and it was the really strong stuff, 31%
So color me a skeptic but I'm going to assume he was reading me price for muriatic acid. How long is the shelf life on MA? I'm tempted to buy 4 jugs since it's $15 bucks plus $7 for 4 ($5.50/per). That's good for another two days if anyone is interested.
Well that was a strange twist. Hasa does have MA but it's $7 bucks per gallon (plus 50 cents deposit for jugs if you don't bring your own) and they have 12% pool chlorine for about $4.50 per gallon (plus deposit for the jugs).
So much higher than expected on the MA but seems to be a very good price for Cl. She told me MA should be fine for a couple years stored in the garage.
So much higher than expected on the MA but seems to be a very good price for Cl. She told me MA should be fine for a couple years stored in the garage.
Be careful storing MA in a garage, the stuff will cause most metals to rust if nearby. I store mine in a plastic storage box outside the garage. MA will last for years.
- May 23, 2015
- 24,417
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Wow...$7/gal for acid 
CA really jacks the prices up.
Store the MA outdoors in a covered/closed deck box. Do not keep it in the house, the fumes are highly corrosive.
CA really jacks the prices up. Store the MA outdoors in a covered/closed deck box. Do not keep it in the house, the fumes are highly corrosive.
But just to be clear, are you all saying I should not store unopened jugs in the garage? Or were you mainly cautioning against storing say a half used jug in the garage?
Last edited:
- May 23, 2015
- 24,417
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Opened or not, doesn’t matter. The caps are not sealed, they will vent fumes. I keep my MA outside. Air temps hit 115F routinely in June/July with no issues other than an acid vapor burb when I first open the bottle.
- Jan 4, 2016
- 5,288
- Pool Size
- 44000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
Acid is not bothered by heat at all. Grab it on sale, but don't put it beside a metal shed
I tried some dry acid just to understand it and for me it was more hassle pouring powder into a measuring jug.
Like chlorine, never ever ever get MA in your eyes. Wear big sunnies.
If you get it on your skin, don't panic, just calmly rinse off some time in the next few minutes. MA is not fast reacting on skin. If you get a whiff, it takes your breath away, but does not cause lasting or long term effects. You instantly pull away from it anyway. Stay upwind or hold your breath. Stains on nice pavers or concrete or other finishes can be non-fixable, so you'll need to prevent them. Having a place to pour or measure acid away from good finishes is not a bad idea (or over that nice plastic box you keep the current one in). Many of the same precautions apply to dry acid as well, with the only benefit being avoiding the fumes. If you're good at estimating a cup or two, just float the MA jug on the surface, to take some weight and put the spout closer to the water, and pour slowly in front of a return jet.
Glad you're making the switch, cause I bet ya want a SWG sometime soon
I tried some dry acid just to understand it and for me it was more hassle pouring powder into a measuring jug.
Like chlorine, never ever ever get MA in your eyes. Wear big sunnies.
If you get it on your skin, don't panic, just calmly rinse off some time in the next few minutes. MA is not fast reacting on skin. If you get a whiff, it takes your breath away, but does not cause lasting or long term effects. You instantly pull away from it anyway. Stay upwind or hold your breath. Stains on nice pavers or concrete or other finishes can be non-fixable, so you'll need to prevent them. Having a place to pour or measure acid away from good finishes is not a bad idea (or over that nice plastic box you keep the current one in). Many of the same precautions apply to dry acid as well, with the only benefit being avoiding the fumes. If you're good at estimating a cup or two, just float the MA jug on the surface, to take some weight and put the spout closer to the water, and pour slowly in front of a return jet.
Glad you're making the switch, cause I bet ya want a SWG sometime soon
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