- Nov 7, 2018
- 1,049
- Pool Size
- 14000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
I think there is confusion since it's technically from a juniper tree, but that is (even more technically) a mountain cedar tree.
Pollen Bombs go BOOM
- Thread starter p00lf00l
- Start date
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,148
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
No idea why. I have noticed the manufacturers of trichlor started to acknowledge the issue a couple of years ago and some public health publications are doing the same. My take on all this after initial education here about the importance of FC/CYA relationship is I can't change the past but I am in total control of the future. Also, lucky for me it is very easy to do it right.
This is especially important to me right now due to a local health issue. We've had a mini hepatitis a outbreak. 18 confirmed cases in Palm City area. Doctors are recommending all residents in our county get vaccinated but the alert is not well communicated. Hep a is the only strain transmitted in pools not properly disinfected. I digress a little but I want to make a point that the most often discussion is about algae prevention when it comes to CYA. I am far more motivated to be sure my pool is properly disinfected. Algae is important and secondary to me. I am very thankful to TFP for educating me on this topic.
Chris
Yeah, the same people that spread the "no more than 4 ppm!" stuff are probably the same ones that made everone think that cedar fever comes from cedar trees.
A friend of mine has a cat named "Dog". It's still a cat
They then get to sell their bags of shock when you get a bloom and they make more money! ha
Oh yeah, that sucks about the Hep A in your area. Safety/health is priority # 1 for me. That is the main reason I was so anal about keeping the FC @ 4 - for the kids to swim. Green water is just about aesthetics. Blue water can be contaminated and green water can be safe. I try to stay away from public pools.
As for the pool supply industry, they certainly stay in business because of the constant chemical requirements of the "no more than 4!" teaching/methodology.
Its a lot like the 3000 mile oil change stuff. Or expiration dates on food. Greed.
I just saw your signature. My HEB has been out of their bleach! arg.
Went to Home Depot instead.
Went to Home Depot instead.
Ordered. Thanks!
As for the oak pollen, not sure how you are fairing up there, but last week it all erupted here. There is probably a solid inch+ layer of catkins on everything. Ive been clearing out the jammed-packed skimmer basket 3 or 4 times a day. And it hasnt let up.
Most people are smart enough to not have their pools covered in shady Live Oaks. Most people.......
That’s what our pool looked like when we got home from church on Sunday. (The black is a net in case that’s not obvious under the layer of catkins.). The pool water had been blue on Saturday when we had added salt. I had been running chlorine at shock level overnight, and boy was I thankful that I had all that extra because pollen bombs exploded hard. The pool was brown and murky. I wondered if it was somehow algae, but it was really just pollen. I was amazed at what a difference just turning on the filter made. (It had gone off during Sunday morning’s storms, so there was a lot of rain washing pollen into a pool with no filtering). The filter and robot and the remaining chlorine took that ugly water right back to blue.
I do use hairnets in my skimmers, and they help a lot. I love having shady oaks (except at this time of year). The kids and I did manage to take two big wheelbarrow loads of catkins from the backyard to mulch the garden this morning.
Kim gave you the chlorine/CYA chart earlier. It’s great for understanding your goals. I do run a bit higher than the recommended levels because I do get so much debris from trees. In the fall, my kids get great swim time diving for acorns. I pay them one penny for every one they bring up.
That is more often than not the case for me as well at my primary store. You'd think after being constantly out of stock that they'd stock more...but nope.
Unfortunately, bleach doesnt have a very long shelf life or I'd just stock up. Fortunately, I do have three HEBs close by
The 8.25% HEB stuff is still the best value and I think everybody is catching on!
UPDATE: I retract my comment about the HEB stuff (thanks, mynauss) as it is now 6%
Last edited:
- May 3, 2014
- 58,370
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
A forum member in Houston is finding that the HEB bleach concentration has dropped to below 6%. So be ware.
Wow. Yeah. We had a lot before the storm as well, but then....
Monday the water looked like thick coffee.
Ive never seen it this bad, though. Based on your photo, it was at least 4x worse here. I probably got two wheelbarrows worth just from my normal-sized driveway. My yard is almost solid brown (lawn mower will take care of that tomorrow muhaha) and all the gutters are 100% full.
The plus side of the shady oaks (other than this time of year as you mentioned) is that they reduce the chlorine burn-off.
Thats a great idea about the acorns except my kids are at the ages where I dont think they'd do anything for less than a quarter :0
My HEB still had to 8.25 but they've been out and a staff member told me that it is out at the warehouse and not sure when or if it'll come back. I bought a three pack at HD. The date was 2018353 hopefully it is good enough.
Oh no, I just read that thread and yeah... that's why my HEB is out. Guess I'll be sticking with HD.
POOP! I just checked the bottles I bought today and they are now only 6%!
That's their solution to selling too much. WTH? I need to call them tomorrow.
Guess its back to the 10% stuff at WM now @ $3.64
Pool Essentials Chlorinating Liquid - Walmart.com
Buy Pool Essentials Chlorinating Liquid at Walmart.com
www.walmart.com
New and old bottles (below)
Our friends at HEB -
First, they claimed that (after 10 years) I "purchased the wrong bleach" (customer always right?) because the "regular bleach is 6% and the concentrated is 8.25%"
So, I send them pictures of a bottle from yesterday and a bottle from two weeks ago - both say "concentrated" on the label.
Then he says that there are "two different kinds of concentrated bleach - one is 6% and one is 8.25%" and both say concentrated.
So, I tell him that he is wrong and that Ive been buying the bleach for years and its always been 8.25%. The choices are regular, Linen, and Lavender.
Then, he says the 8.25% only comes in a 2 qt bottle.
Then I reminded him of the photos I sent (showing the almost gallon size) and he again went back to the "two different kinds of concentrated bleach".
I asked him if both of the alleged gallon-size concentrated bleaches have their own price/sku tags on the shelf and he said that they do. I told him I dont believe him and asked for him to provide the prices of both (since I know the 8.25% was $2.54 for years).
He said he didnt have that info and cant get it for me right now. But, he'll look in to it further and get back to me.
Yeah, Im gonna go in the pool and hold my breath......
Message me if you are is Austin/Cedar Park area and want his contact info.
First, they claimed that (after 10 years) I "purchased the wrong bleach" (customer always right?) because the "regular bleach is 6% and the concentrated is 8.25%"
So, I send them pictures of a bottle from yesterday and a bottle from two weeks ago - both say "concentrated" on the label.
Then he says that there are "two different kinds of concentrated bleach - one is 6% and one is 8.25%" and both say concentrated.
So, I tell him that he is wrong and that Ive been buying the bleach for years and its always been 8.25%. The choices are regular, Linen, and Lavender.
Then, he says the 8.25% only comes in a 2 qt bottle.
Then I reminded him of the photos I sent (showing the almost gallon size) and he again went back to the "two different kinds of concentrated bleach".
I asked him if both of the alleged gallon-size concentrated bleaches have their own price/sku tags on the shelf and he said that they do. I told him I dont believe him and asked for him to provide the prices of both (since I know the 8.25% was $2.54 for years).
He said he didnt have that info and cant get it for me right now. But, he'll look in to it further and get back to me.
Yeah, Im gonna go in the pool and hold my breath......
Message me if you are is Austin/Cedar Park area and want his contact info.
Just as a side comment, Bleach (Clorox brand) was usually 6% until somewhere around 5 or so years ago when it went to 8.25. It stayed at 8.25 for a few years and has now gone back to 6%
This timeline is rough and it only addresses Clorox brand.
This timeline is rough and it only addresses Clorox brand.
After the way he responded, even if he magically could produce 8.25%, I would not do business with that store.
- Nov 7, 2018
- 1,049
- Pool Size
- 14000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
I would guess that HEB's "brand" isn't manufactured *just* for HEB. It's the same stuff that is marketed to lots of places and I would also guess comes from the exact same manufacturing facility. I wonder if this reduction is some sort of mandate or just another cost saving/profit increasing scheme. I think that 99% of bleach buyers at HEB aren't really looking at the actual % of chlorine in the product. I also doubt that the person you talked to at HEB is *that* knowledgeable about a single product.
Yeah, its not our regular store - just one I passed on the way home. I'm kind of used to CS people assuming that I, the customer, am always wrong these days.
Yeah, Im sure its the same stuff as is sold in Randalls, Walgreens, and everywhere else. But, their name is on it so I hold them accountable. Most of the HEB brand stuff is VERY good and they need to be responsible about maintaning their brand. </ $0.02>
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,148
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
See if there's a Pinch a Penny or an industrial chemical supplier that will sell and refill 2.5 gal containers near you. It's almost always the cheapest way to go. They usually sell 10%+ which makes it even easier. Napco in Houston does this. Not sure who supplies in Austin.
Chris