Are some pool chemicals that the salespeople push unnecessary?

[Jane Karenin]

Hello! This summer I bought an Intext 10 by 24' frame pool for my backyard. I had been using the filter, cleaning the filter cartridge, and adding chlorine as per the pool instructions. When we went away for vacation a few weeks ago, I invited my good friends to bring their kids to swim whenever they wanted. They thought the water looked cloudy and went to the pool store and came back with 8 different chemicals and I really think that some of them might not be necessary. Can anyone help me out with this?

Thank you so much!
Jane

 

[woodyp]

And you're probably right....got a list? Should have just told them where the bleach was! I hope they asked before they dumped in the kitchen sink.

 

[DorsalSpine]

Yes, many of them are probably unnecessary. Pool stores are there to sell chemicals and most of them take a one size fits all approach.

 

[Jane Karenin]

What they purchased is Phos Out, All In 1 Filter Cleaner, Forever Clean, Forever Clear Algaecide, Forever Clear Clarifier, Aqua Prep 10, Tidal Wave 73, and Chlor-Guard Tabs. It's really a lot of things. Thank you for your help!

 

[DorsalSpine]

In a pool with good water management you can ignore phosphates and you don't need algaecide. Clarifier is also not needed. I didn't look up the rest but the tabs probably have CYA as well. A high CYA level will be a problem if you misuse the tabs.

 

[Jane Karenin]

I don't even know what the Forever Clean is; it has no list of ingredients. It just says it will digest oils, lotions, and nonliving organics?

 

[Jane Karenin]

These products are all Caribbean Blue brand. The Tidal Wave 73 says 73% Calcium Hyperchlorite.
Also, the floater that has the chlorine tabs in it, my friend said to leave it in while swimming, but I have read to take it out. Which is correct? Thanks!

 

[DorsalSpine]

All the more reason to not put it in your pool.

 

[Texas Splash]

What they purchased is Phos Out, All In 1 Filter Cleaner, Forever Clean, Forever Clear Algaecide, Forever Clear Clarifier, Aqua Prep 10, Tidal Wave 73, and Chlor-Guard Tabs. It's really a lot of things.

Oh my. Your friend's heart was in the right place, but their pocketbook got taken for a ride. You don't need any of those things. You can maybe use the cal-hypo, but that's about it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say see if they can return them or at the very least get store credit for something else like muriatic acid or liquid pool chlorine - something you'll actually need and use.

 

[DorsalSpine]

I leave my floater in but I'd probably take it out if I had kids in the pool. I usually only have one tab in it at a time. I'm careful not to put too much CYA into the pool. I doubt the chlorine concentration around the floater is that high but kids will be kids.

 

[Texas Splash]

But to go back to the reason they got that stuff in the first place - cloudy water. That means all the swimmers coupled with probably a low chlorine level resulted in an algae bloom starting. Jane, is that 10x24 pool under 3,000 gallons? If so, and if the water is cloudy, you may just need to dump it and refill. See our Guide for Seasonal/Temporary Pools - Trouble Free Pool for details on smaller pools.

If your pool is larger than 3K, be prepared to do a SLAM Process. Do you have a TF-100 (link below) or Taylor K-2006C test kit? That would be priority #1 if you don't.

 

[Jane Karenin]

Oh my, thanks so much for helping me. So if I just use the tab floater, is that enough? What about this Aqua Prep 10? It is a powder that says it will raise total alkalinity to help buffer ph.

 

[Texas Splash]

Jane, below is a link to the only chemicals you need. Very simple and cheap. All that pool store junk is either not good for the water or over-priced stuff.

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Texas Splash]

Jane, I realized in my excitement to post I stepped all over @DorsalSpine who was initially helping you. So I'm just going to step-back and leave you by saying "Welcome to TFP!" Also, make sure you go to our ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and post back with any questions. Lots of folks here like DS who are eager to help.

 

[Jane Karenin]

Thank you, but now I have to tell my friends all of this stuff is unnecessary and it was probably a fortune!!!!!!!

 

[Msch99]

Thank you, but now I have to tell my friends all of this stuff is unnecessary and it was probably a fortune!!!!!!!

Better than dumping it in and spending another fortune and time cleaning it up!

 

[Jane Karenin]

Yes, and out of all of these things, none is Cyanuric acid which is one of the things I really need, right?

 

[Andrew_D]

Crazy suggestion, but instead of offending your friends by asking them to return it, can you take it to the store and say you got it as a gift and ask for store credit on something useful?

Andrew

 

[DorsalSpine]

Jane, I realized in my excitement to post I stepped all over @DorsalSpine who was initially helping you. So I'm just going to step-back and leave you by saying "Welcome to TFP!" Also, make sure you go to our ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and post back with any questions. Lots of folks here like DS who are eager to help.

Not a problem for me, Texas Splash. You give good advice.

 

[Jane Karenin]

That would be great, but they have already used all of these things in my pool. In addition to buying them, they said they would take care of it for me, which was nice, but now I realize I was correct before by just using chlorine! So what do you think I could say?