Using Bleach In Lieu of Chlorine Tabs

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mrsfluff

mrsfluff

Well-known member
May 7, 2015
108
jackson nj
Howdy. I suffered one of the worst cases of sticker shock ever today when I went to buy 3" chlorine tabs. You all know what I'm talking about. It's up 200 - 500%! Fortunately, I have some on hand for now but I'm looking to try bleach. I know nothing about the conversion or the process. I hear 6% concentration...but I see germicidal bleach that's over 7%. I saw a table that says 52oz for 25K gallons to achieve 1ppm. My pool is 24k gallons. My head is spinning.:crazy: Help!
 
Go to Walmart or Home Depot (I prefer Walmart because it’s cheaper and they store it inside) and look for “pool chlorinating liquid” or a similarly named product. That’s (usually) just 10% bleach. Far more economical. Calculate how much you need via the Pool Math app. You add it by pouring it in front of a return jet. No immediate conversion required. Obviously, discontinue use of your tabs. If you wanted to, you could eventually add a Stenner pump to your system to dose it for you. Or, you could just go with an SWG which I think most on here would agree is a more worthwhile investment.
 
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Welcome to TFP! :wave:

The TFP method of pool care is predicated on the use of liquid bleach to sanitize our pools. In conjunction with cyanuric acid (CYA), baking soda, and borax you can have the clearest, bluest pool you've ever dreamed of having.

First of all, you need a good test kit. We recommend either the TF-100 or the Taylor K2006C, links to both in my signature below. This is imperative, as we don't trust pool store testing.

Once you have your test kit, post a full set of results in the format

FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA

We can then help you balance your pool. Unfortunately, since you've been using pucks, your CYA will likely be astronomical, requiring a partial drain and refill.

Also, please take a minute and fill out your signature. Knowing the size of your pool, type, and equipment will better let us help you.
 
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Hi & thanks! A burger sounds good...;) So I see it's a $4.63 in Walmart but no stock. I'm wondering how many folks are doing what I'm doing. I cannot believe tabs are so high. 25 lbs is starting at $150! That was at Lowes. I bought 50 lbs in August 2020 for $117. That size is around $250 & up! Crazy! I've always used tabs. So this bleach gig is new to me. If I did have to use other than "pool bleach", is germicidal bleach ok? It says it's a bit over 7%. Home Depot sells the Chlorox brand for $7.29 per gallon. Free delivery. Is that reasonable? Do you know what % the pool bleach is? I'm wondering how much difference the % makes...also how long bleach lasts. It sure seems a lot cheaper...but does that mean less effective? My pool has always been no fuss. Except one year when the organic matter threw it into a state of nitrate madness.😤
 
Wobblerlorri said:
Welcome to TFP! :wave:

The TFP method of pool care is predicated on the use of liquid bleach to sanitize our pools. In conjunction with cyanuric acid (CYA), baking soda, and borax you can have the clearest, bluest pool you've ever dreamed of having.

First of all, you need a good test kit. We recommend either the TF-100 or the Taylor K2006C, links to both in my signature below. This is imperative, as we don't trust pool store testing.

Once you have your test kit, post a full set of results in the format

FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA

We can then help you balance your pool. Unfortunately, since you've been using pucks, your CYA will likely be astronomical, requiring a partial drain and refill.

Also, please take a minute and fill out your signature. Knowing the size of your pool, type, and equipment will better let us help you.
Click to expand...
Hi & thanks! I haven't put any pucks in yet. I just opened. I shocked it as I always do. It's been 18 years, no issues except for one year when the organic matter (oak tree pollen etc) caused a nitrate nightmare. I managed to super shock it back to normal without draining it at all. I did buy all the kits back then. I used to always open early. Now I wait until mid May to bypass the maple tree whirlees & oak tree mess. Why have that being filtered out for weeks when we barely use it?
 

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mrsfluff said:
Hi & thanks! A burger sounds good...;) So I see it's a $4.63 in Walmart but no stock. I'm wondering how many folks are doing what I'm doing. I cannot believe tabs are so high. 25 lbs is starting at $150! That was at Lowes. I bought 50 lbs in August 2020 for $117. That size is around $250 & up! Crazy! I've always used tabs. So this bleach gig is new to me. If I did have to use other than "pool bleach", is germicidal bleach ok? It says it's a bit over 7%. Home Depot sells the Chlorox brand for $7.29 per gallon. Free delivery. Is that reasonable? Do you know what % the pool bleach is? I'm wondering how much difference the % makes...also how long bleach lasts. It sure seems a lot cheaper...but does that mean less effective? My pool has always been no fuss. Except one year when the organic matter threw it into a state of nitrate madness.😤
Click to expand...

I would avoid Clorox. They have additives you do not want in your pool. That price is very high as well. See if your HD has this

www.homedepot.com

Pool Essentials Pool Chlorinating Liquid (4-Pack) 26489355392 - The Home Depot

Pool Essentials Chlorinating Liquid is used for everyday swimming pool water sanitization. This easy to use liquid chlorine pool chemical effectively cleans pool water and kills bacteria. The fast acting
www.homedepot.com

It doesn’t have additives, is stronger, and cheaper.
 
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Saturn94 said:
I would avoid Clorox. They have additives you do not want in your pool. That price is very high as well. See if your HD has this

www.homedepot.com

Pool Essentials Pool Chlorinating Liquid (4-Pack) 26489355392 - The Home Depot

Pool Essentials Chlorinating Liquid is used for everyday swimming pool water sanitization. This easy to use liquid chlorine pool chemical effectively cleans pool water and kills bacteria. The fast acting
www.homedepot.com

It doesn’t have additives, is stronger, and cheaper.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the lead! Home Depot is out of stock. But I found it at Walmart. $4.63. I had to go thru 3 stores before it came up available for delivery. Now to determine how much I need.🤔
 
mrsfluff said:
Thanks for the lead! Home Depot is out of stock. But I found it at Walmart. $4.63. I had to go thru 3 stores before it came up available for delivery. Now to determine how much I need.🤔
Click to expand...
A LOT.
Specially is stores like HD, Lowes and Walmart be aware of the manufacturing date. It will be in a Julian Day, the format YY DDD (last two digits of the year and day of the year starting Jan 1st). Avoid as much as possible anything older than 60 days. LC degrades quickly. Avoid buying from stores that store LC outside.
 
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To give you an idea, here in TX, I have about 14 gallons on hand right now. I'm not particularly worried about degradation as my chlorine sits in my 72 degree laundry room in the dark. With thing starting to really heat up, I've certainly been going through more than usual. I'll burn about a half gallon each day in my 15k gal pool. I'd probably use more but luckily the pool doesn't have direct sunlight all day long.

LC is annoying, but it's the way to go if you don't have a salt water chlorine generator. My water looks and feels great, and because I'm the tester and I decide what's in there, I know it's clean and safe to enjoy.
 
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psssst, Salt Water Chlorine Generator. I too was on tabs last year. Figured out what's what after being pool stored (my name). I ran bottles of chlorine last year. Too many to count. Put in a liquid chlorine pump and it wasn't too bad.

@Newdude convinced me to switch to a SWCG (He'll deny it shortly). I can't tell you how much this has changed my world. I put it up there with my robot and speed stir. Take any one of the three away, and I backfill the pool.

SWG How It Works - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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AK- said:
A LOT.
Specially is stores like HD, Lowes and Walmart be aware of the manufacturing date. It will be in a Julian Day, the format YY DDD (last two digits of the year and day of the year starting Jan 1st). Avoid as much as possible anything older than 60 days. LC degrades quickly. Avoid buying from stores that store LC outside.
Click to expand...
Ok, so what you're saying is that it has to be added daily? That's not for me if the case.
 

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