Anyone use CalHypo tabs?

[potrom]

Wondering if anyone uses Cal Hypo tabs in a chlorinator. I’m switching over from tricolor and am rinsing the chlorinator thoroughly.

 

[proavia]

Do NOT ever put Cal Hypo in a feeder of any type that was previously used with Trichlor.
It doesn't matter how well you cleaned the feeder out.

When you mix Cal Hypo (calcium hypochlorite) and TriChlor or DiChlor it produces a deadly gas. If you have an automatic chlorinator in your system, the two will mix in a small space and will cause your chlorinator to literally explode.

 

[DrewLG]

You'll need a special cal-hypo feeder anyway, because cal-hypo tabs won't dissolve well in a feeder made for trichlor.

 

[Dirk]

Time for a SWG. What are you waiting for? Cheapest, most convenient way to chlorinate a pool (by far)!

What is your CH? What is the CH of your fill water? Can you even get away with adding more regularly? I have to do everything I can to keep my CH and CYA in check. My SWG goes a long way to doing both.

 

[Bperry]

Wondering if anyone uses Cal Hypo tabs in a chlorinator. I’m switching over from tricolor and am rinsing the chlorinator thoroughly.

The cal hypo tablets wil skyrocket your calcium levels if you use them regularly for chlorination and can cause calcium scaling.

 

[potrom]

Do NOT ever put Cal Hypo in a feeder of any type that was previously used with Trichlor.
It doesn't matter how well you cleaned the feeder out.

When you mix Cal Hypo (calcium hypochlorite) and TriChlor or DiChlor it produces a deadly gas. If you have an automatic chlorinator in your system, the two will mix in a small space and will cause your chlorinator to literally explode.

I’ve heard this before but I’ve also shocked my pool with cal hypo before while using trichlor in the chlorinator and never had an issue. But will avoid doing this. I thought about calhypo tabs because I do need to raise my calcium levels. they’re at 200 now and it’s a concrete pool.

 

[potrom]

Time for a SWG. What are you waiting for? Cheapest, most convenient way to chlorinate a pool (by far)!

What is your CH? What is the CH of your fill water? Can you even get away with adding more regularly? I have to do everything I can to keep my CH and CYA in check. My SWG goes a long way to doing both.

What did a SWG cost you with install?

 

[Donldson]

I’ve heard this before but I’ve also shocked my pool with cal hypo before while using trichlor in the chlorinator and never had an issue.

Let me be very clear: that is not even close to being the same thing. We have had people arrive here asking why their chlorinator exploded from putting cal-hypo tablets in when there was no trichlor tablets in it. Luckily none of them got hurt (though the ones who get hurt probably don't come here to ask about it) but the pictures left no doubt how terrible of an idea it is to mix these chemicals.

No amount of rinsing will remove the trichlor residue (ever notice you can still smell it after not having trichlor in it for months?) and attempting to put cal-hypo tablets in it will end very badly for your chlorinator and possibly anyone nearby.

 

[proavia]

Let me be very clear: that is not even close to being the same thing. We have had people arrive here asking why their chlorinator exploded from putting cal-hypo tablets in when there was no trichlor tablets in it. Luckily none of them got hurt (though the ones who get hurt probably don't come here to ask about it) but the pictures left no doubt how terrible of an idea it is to mix these chemicals.

No amount of rinsing will remove the trichlor residue (ever notice you can still smell it after not having trichlor in it for months?) and attempting to put cal-hypo tablets in it will end very badly for your chlorinator and possibly anyone nearby.

^^^^^ This right here!!! Just DON'T do it! ^^^^^

 

[Bperry]

I’ve heard this before but I’ve also shocked my pool with cal hypo before while using trichlor in the chlorinator and never had an issue. But will avoid doing this. I thought about calhypo tabs because I do need to raise my calcium levels. they’re at 200 now and it’s a concrete pool.

Putting them both (separately) in the pool water is fine, but putting them both in any kind of container is not.

 

[Dirk]

What did a SWG cost you with install?

If I could even dig up that number it wouldn't be relevant. Prices of SWGs have gone up. But when I bought mine, the cost was pretty much neck-and-neck with the cost of chlorinating with liquid chlorine (over time). So while SWGs have gone up, the price of liquid chlorine (or tabs) has gone WAY up, making SWGs the better deal.

Do you have an automation controller for your pool, and if not, do you ever think you might get one? If yes to either, that generally determines the brand of SWG you'd buy, and what installation would involve. If not, then our recommendations would be different.

 

[proavia]

What did a SWG cost you with install?

We recommend a SWG rated for 2 times your pool volume. A SWG rated for 60K would work well in NJ. You could get by with a 40K unit, but would need to run your pump longer.

A Circupool RJ60+ will cost around $1500 or so - plus installation
If you have Jandy automation, you should stick with a Jandy SWG for ease of use. I believe the largest Jandy SWG is rated for 40k gallons. No idea on the cost.

 

[potrom]

If I could even dig up that number it wouldn't be relevant. Prices of SWGs have gone up. But when I bought mine, the cost was pretty much neck-and-neck with the cost of chlorinating with liquid chlorine (over time). So while SWGs have gone up, the price of liquid chlorine (or tabs) has gone WAY up, making SWGs the better deal.

Do you have an automation controller for you pool, and if not, do you ever think you might get one? If yes to either, that generally determines the brand of SWG you'd buy, and what installation would involve. If not, then our recommendations would be different.

I have a timing controller but doesn’t automate the valves I have to turn those by hand. I‘ll probably not go with automation bc we only use it 3 months of the year and I usually don’t need to move the valves much. I do have Jandy pump and filter, but not sure if that matters if I don’t use an automater.

 

[Dirk]

I have a timing controller but doesn’t automate the valves I have to turn those by hand. I‘ll probably not go with automation bc we only use it 3 months of the year and I usually don’t need to move the valves much. I do have Jandy pump and filter, but not sure if that matters if I don’t use an automater.

Then have a look at Circupool, many hear like them, and the company.

Circupool SWG - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[potrom]

Then have a look at Circupool, many hear like them, and the company.

Circupool SWG - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks very much for all the feedback. If maintaining w liquid chlorine is it normal to have to add chlorine every 2-3 days especially w full sun exposure ?

 

[mknauss]

Thanks very much for all the feedback. If maintaining w liquid chlorine is it normal to have to add chlorine every 2-3 days especially w full sun exposure ?

You should be adding liquid chlorine every day during swim season.

 

[Dirk]

Thanks very much for all the feedback. If maintaining w liquid chlorine is it normal to have to add chlorine every 2-3 days especially w full sun exposure ?

As Marty points out, 2-3 is not even enough. One type of tab eventually maxes out your CYA, the other maxes out your calcium (CH), either requiring regular water exchanges to fix. And using liquid chlorine quickly becomes a dreaded chore, and that's not counting lugging gallons home, or paying for them! You can see why we "push" SWGs, and why the many of us that have them would give up their pools before we'd give up our SWGs! And now SWGs are more cost effective than ever.

Yah, it'll be a chunk of change, but you're just paying for your chlorine up front (at a discount). The significant convenience it offers is a free bonus.