I'm thinking about using chlorine tabs for a few months during the winter. Any problems with putting them in the skimmer.
Using chlorine tabs in the skimmer
- Thread starter Az_Ash
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,797
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Never just drop tabs in the skimmer. They are very acidic. If you don't have an in-line chlorinator, just purchase a simple floater instead. As long as you know your current CYA and have room to use the tabs, you should be fine.
Yes. They will heavily acidify the water as they are sitting in there, then when your pump turns on that low pH water will immediately go right through your equipment.
And to add to that, make sure you buy a floater that’s bigger then your skimmer opening. You don’t want the floater ending up in your skimmer when the pumps running.
OK. I was thinking since I routinely add 10% bleach to the skimmer w/o worry that using the tabs would not be a problem.. that it would dilute enough by the time it hit the pump.
I just need something to tide me over for a couple more months when I will go back to my daily bleach routine. CYA is currently <20. I thought maybe I could maintain the FC and slowly bring my CYA up with the tabs.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,797
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Actually, now that you say it, we always recommend adding bleach at the return jets as well. 
Bleach in its purest form before dilution is a bit caustic. Adding near the jets gives the bleach enough time to dilute.
Bleach in its purest form before dilution is a bit caustic. Adding near the jets gives the bleach enough time to dilute.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,481
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Trichlor tabs contain chlorine, CYA, and acid. It is that acid that causes the problems in the skimmer unlike pure liquid chlorine that only contain chlorine and salt.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,481
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Even if you do run it 24/7 the water is still acidified before running through the system. It can reduce the life of everything. There's a reason a tablet feeder goes at the end of the run.
Floating tablet dispensers are cheap, just pick one of those up.
Floating tablet dispensers are cheap, just pick one of those up.
Last edited:
Just as Tex said, always add your chemicals, liquid chlorine, MA, etc, in front of a pool return while the pump is running. You need it to disperse and mix well with your water.
You can just float the tabs without using liquid chlorine. I’m going to start floating tabs in my pool soon, to bring up my CYA level for the coming summer season.
You can add the pucks in poolmath to determine how many tabs you will need to keep the correct FC level in your pool.
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