Bleach versus Cal-Hypo (cost)

[Pfeifer6]

Ok here I am again. I searched online and couldn't find anything definitive. I've been committed to doing BBB method but started wondering if all the bleach will add up to be a ton of $ in the end. Pool store sells Cal-Hypo at $83 for 25 pounds. She said that would last the rest of the season, through pool closing and possibly opening again next year. Concentrated bleach here runs $3 a gallon.

I understand I'm asking for some math here. If you tell me how to calculate it I'd be happy to do them myself. I'm a little lost in that area after reading some posts online with all kinds of calculations regarding available chlorine, etc. Or if you could post a link to a thread where someone has broken this down. I found one but it was based on 6% bleach at $1 a gallon.

(BTW, our current CH is 50 which is why I'm considering Cal-Hypo for the rest of this season at least...but not sure which is better or cheaper)

 

[Richard320]

In a pool your size, 400 ounces (25 lbs) 73%Cal-hypo raises FC by 120. (Effects Of Adding Chemicals at the bottom of poolmath) That means it costs 83.00/120 or $0.692 per ppm.

128 oz of 12.5% bleach is 6.9 FC. $3.00/6.9 = $0.435 per ppm.
128 oz of 10% bleach is 5.6 Fc, so $.535
121 oz (standard Clorox jug) of 8.25% bleach is 4.5 FC so $.667

Bleach is cheaper. However, if you're going to buy Calcium Increaser, then it may cancel out the savings. 25 lbs of Cal-hypo will add 85 CH to your 18,000 gallon pool.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Also remember that cal-hypo is often very slow to dissolve when you throw it in the pool. Since you have a fiberglass pool you'll want to add it and then brush A LOT to make sure the cal-hypo mixes and the solid granules don't just sit in one spot. By contrast, bleach poured over a fast moving return disperses very quickly and only needs a minimal amount of brushing to ensure dispersion.

But yes, since your CH is low, you can certainly use cal-hypo. It's easier to carry than a jug of bleach. You just need to understand its affects on your pool water which is it will add calcium, something that only goes away with water exchanges.


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[cowboycasey]

In a pool your size, 400 ounces (25 lbs) 73%Cal-hypo raises FC by 120. (Effects Of Adding Chemicals at the bottom of poolmath) That means it costs 83.00/120 or $0.692 per ppm.

128 oz of 12.5% bleach is 6.9 FC. $3.00/6.9 = $0.435 per ppm.
128 oz of 10% bleach is 5.6 Fc, so $.535
121 oz (standard Clorox jug) of 8.25% bleach is 4.5 FC so $.667

Bleach is cheaper. However, if you're going to buy Calcium Increaser, then it may cancel out the savings. 25 lbs of Cal-hypo will add 85 CH to your 18,000 gallon pool.

This also depends on the price of your bleach, we can get 10% here in OK for 2 dollars a gallon right now, bringing the price down to 0.357 cents per PPM

 

[JoyfulNoise]

We have a store here in Tucson that sells bulk liquid chlorine in refillable, 1 gallon jugs. They come in a 4-up secondary carrier (one time refundable deposit of $6). I don't remember the price off hand but it is a fair bit cheaper than the LC sold at pool stores in disposable gallons or the Clorox in the superstores. If you can find a place near you that supplies bulk-refillable LC, then you can move the price-point in favor of liquid bleach. And you get the benefit of nothing extra added except for a little excess salt and lye in bleach.


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[Pfeifer6]

Thank you for the cost breakdown and advice. When I looked into it last year I was told (by a pool store) that liquid chlorine is not sold in Virginia. I can look into getting some from Dollar Tree, which is 6% I believe, but I remember reading that their bleach has been shelved for longer and has probably degraded a decent amount. Regardless, it appears even walmart bleach is a little cheaper than Cal-hypo unless you take the calcium into account.
I appreciate the math help! I'll have to think on it.