shopping List

[Willi]

New to the site and looking for a change. Reason I searched for a forum like this.

Every year I go to Watsons and buy all my stuff for the season during Pool School week.

I usually drop between $500-$700 depending on what we need to buy that year (solar cover, DE, safety rope etc).

My list always has 30 cases of chlorine, 25 lb 3" tabs, a bucket of PH minus and a bottle of test strips.

I struggle with my pool during late summer with cloudy water, green or excess dirt/crud on the walls and bottom.

I can usually remedy it by vac-to-waste till clean and refill, then dump in 3-4 gallons of chlorine....this seems to be more hassle and a waste of water. This is about once a week.

I have been reading through the site but have yet to really dig into the pool school section.

Still trying to understand why bleach over chlorine sine bleach is more expensive less concentrate.

What should be on my shopping list this season?

- - - Updated - - -

Also want to add that the pool stays clear till mid July'ish when temps can reach into the 90's in Kentucky.

Our pool is used daily by 3-4 people and up to 20-25 people every weekend.

 

[JohnT]

Here's the list:

1. A TF-100 Test Kit


Once you have that, you'll know what your pool needs and you won't waste money on things you don't need.

The reason you struggle late in the summer is that the tabs add CYA rapidly to the water, and after a couple of months your chlorine is almost completely ineffective. Pool care is much, much simpler and cheaper with a real test kit. My pool water never gets cloudy and never turns green in spite of grandchildren invading it.

Liquid chlorine is cheaper in some areas than laundry bleach, and more expensive in others. It's all the same thing. A gallon of 12% contains 0.12X128oz = 15.36oz of active chlorine. A gallon of bleach contains 0.0825X128oz=10.56oz active chlorine. If the chlorine is less than 50% more expensive than the laundry bleach, the pool chlorine is the better deal.

 

[karmabiker]

Revised list:
1. Read Pool school - this will help clarify why liquid chlorine is better than solid chlorine
2. TF-100

Short version - solid chlorine in any form has other things in it that your pool probably doesn't need (the biggest culprit being CYA). To know and understand the CYA/Chlorine relationship is the first step in saving tons of $$ on your pool.

Edit.
Willi - just noticed you said cases and gallons of chlorine. You can use the term bleach and liquid chlorine interchangeably, they are the same chemically. The difference is in the concentration. Lots of us are constantly on the hunt for the cheapest liquid CL. Sometimes it is bleach other times it is liquid chlorine.

Chris

 

[Willi]

I do use alot of tabs...3 tabs in the skimmer basket twice a week.

Still pondering the bleach thing.

 

[karmabiker]

I do use alot of tabs...3 tabs in the skimmer basket twice a week.

Still pondering the bleach thing.

I was editing while you were responding ... sorry about that. Bleach and liquid CL are the same ... just different concentrations.

 

[Willi]

I was editing while you were responding ... sorry about that. Bleach and liquid CL are the same ... just different concentrations.

So what is the reasoning behind using bleach over liquid shock (CL) when bleach is more expensive and less concentrate?

 

[karmabiker]

Zero. If you can get liquid shock cheaper that bleach you are ahead of most of us.

 

[pwrstrk]

Welcome to TFP !
Getting yourself a good test will be the best thing you can do for yourself. I use the TF-100. Best value !!
Do some reading in pool school. Lots of good info there. Here is some articles to start with.
http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/123-abc-of-pool-water-chemistry
http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/142-how-to-chlorinate-your-pool
http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/128-chlorine-cya-chart-slam-shock
When you have questions just ask. Lots of good people here to help you out ! ?

 

[Willi]

Biker, just read your edit.

Off topic, you ride?

 

[karmabiker]

I should revise my statement. If you can get Liquid CL 10% or 12% (aka liquid shock) cheaper than Liquid CL 8.25% (aka bleach) do it. Pool calculator has options for all of the above.

 

[Willi]

Welcome to TFP !
Getting yourself a good test will be the best thing you can do for yourself. I use the TF-100. Best value !!
Do some reading in pool school. Lots of good info there. Here is some articles to start with.
http://www.troublefreepool.com/showpost.php?p=391238
http://www.troublefreepool.com/showpost.php?p=391238
http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/128-chlorine-cya-chart-slam-shock
When you have questions just ask. Lots of good people here to help you out ! ?

Thanks !! Me likey shortcuts

Have enjoyed my stay so far.

 

[karmabiker]

Biker, just read your edit.

Off topic, you ride?

MTB and gravel races .., No more motors for me.

 

[pwrstrk]

Here is a tool to use to compare liquid chlorine prices http://poncatechsquad.com/dan/calc/chlorine/ ?

 

[Willi]

I should revise my statement. If you can get Liquid CL 10% or 12% (aka liquid shock) cheaper than Liquid CL 8.25% (aka bleach) do it. Pool calculator has options for all of the above.

During Watsons pool school week liquid shock is $9.99 a case

 

[karmabiker]

Here is a tool to use to compare liquid chlorine prices http://poncatechsquad.com/dan/calc/chlorine/ ��

THANK YOU! Much easier than doing it in my head.

 

[JohnT]

So what is the reasoning behind using bleach over liquid shock (CL) when bleach is more expensive and less concentrate?

It isn't always more expensive. You can get Great Value bleach at Walmart or three jug cases of Clorox at Sam's or Costco at prices that rival or beat liquid chlorine at a pool store in areas of the country where it freezes. You'd have to buy the chlorine for less than $4 a gallon to beat many bleach prices, and often the pool store stuff is store out in the heat where it degrades.

 

[karmabiker]

During Watsons pool school week liquid shock is $9.99 a case

That is super super sweet.

 

[JohnT]

During Watsons pool school week liquid shock is $9.99 a case

Jump on it and stash it in the basement or someplace cool. I have a local place that has a similar sale and I grab it when I can.

 

[pwrstrk]

I also do the same when Ollie's puts theirs on sale. 10 bucks and some change for a case of 12.5%. ?

 

[Beens]

It's all just liquid chlorine...I haven't found the official labeled 12% "liquid chlorine" in my area with the exception of over priced jugs labeled "liquid shock" (again, same thing different label) in K-Mart.
I just get mine from Wal-mart, Target, or Farm Fresh (grocery store). All store brand. All 8.25%. $1.99 121oz in Wal-Mart and Target. Just discovered it's only $1.69 for 121oz in Farm Fresh so I'm currently buying it there.

Everyone on the forum here is very helpful and they can explain in detail what the ingredients are. Just look at your liquid chlorine label and compare it with regular unscented bleach, same active ingredient = sodium hypochlorite.

If you follow the recommendations here you won't regret it! Gotta start with the right test kit everything else will start to make sense from there! No big shopping list...

Hope you decide to jump in with us!


<edit> Man you guys are quick! While I was typing this a million other replies popped up! lol