beginning pool maintenance : how to tell my sanitizer type?

[DanSDPool]

I am starting the maintenance of a pre-existing pool/spa. I'm not sure what type of sanitizer it is using.
Is there a way to distinguish just by inspection? For example chlorine vs. bromine vs. baquacil
I'm concerned about getting the wrong test kit.
For example if I test for chlorine, but the pool actually uses bromine, will my readings be off?
I haven't measured the pool volume, but I've included a picture.

 

[pabeader]

Welcome to TFPC!!! So nice to have you here.

I see a floaty thing in the pool. Is there something in it? Maybe take a few pics of it and it's contents.

 

[domct203]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Do a bit of looking around and see if there are any containers of pool chemicals around. Is there a pool shed or other storage area by the pool?

 

[JoyfulNoise]

You can easily rule out baquacil - just get a 5 gallon bucket of pool water and add a 1/2 cup of bleach to it. If it gets all clouded up and gunk floats to the top, then baquacil is likely present. The chemical floater in your water looks very much like a standard chlorine tablet floater. Bromine floaters are usually a different shape so that you can't accidentally mix up tablets. It is highly unlikely it's bromine pool as bromine is really expensive and a royal PITA to use in a pool.

There is a chemical method for distinguishing bromine from chlorine but only in a qualitative way (bromine present? yes or no) not in any quantitative way (you have XXX amount of chlorine and YYY amount of bromine). But again, I would assume it's likely a chlorine pool and just treat it as such.

Alternatively, dump the pool water (it looks like a fairly small volume pool) and start over again...

 

[DanSDPool]

Welcome to TFPC!!! So nice to have you here.


I see a floaty thing in the pool. Is there something in it? Maybe take a few pics of it and it's contents.

Thanks...I lurk around from time to time. I'll take a pic of what's inside the float.

Hello and welcome to the forum!


Do a bit of looking around and see if there are any containers of pool chemicals around. Is there a pool shed or other storage area by the pool?

Thanks! There are no chemicals on the premises.

You can easily rule out baquacil - just get a 5 gallon bucket of pool water and add a 1/2 cup of bleach to it. If it gets all clouded up and gunk floats to the top, then baquacil is likely present. The chemical floater in your water looks very much like a standard chlorine tablet floater. Bromine floaters are usually a different shape so that you can't accidentally mix up tablets. It is highly unlikely it's bromine pool as bromine is really expensive and a royal PITA to use in a pool.


There is a chemical method for distinguishing bromine from chlorine but only in a qualitative way (bromine present? yes or no) not in any quantitative way (you have XXX amount of chlorine and YYY amount of bromine). But again, I would assume it's likely a chlorine pool and just treat it as such.


Alternatively, dump the pool water (it looks like a fairly small volume pool) and start over again...

Yea Its a small volume pool...can't really swim in it! I was thinking its probably chlorine. I was just curious, because I didn't see any tips online on how to distinguish the various sanitizers. Good to know about the different floater shapes, and the baquacil test.

 

[Texas Splash]

Make sure to check-out the links you see in many of our signatures. They'll help you a lot. Also, at some point go out to your equipment area and write-down all the info so you can update your signature as well. You can click EDIT YOUR SIGNATURE. It will help us later.

Great to have you with us!

 

[DanSDPool]

Ok...I updated my signature and I checked the water in a 5 gal bucket with added 1/2 cup bleach and its clear. Also, I took some pics of the tablet floater. There was a little bit of a tablet inside of it. I assume this is chlorine, right? I checked the levels with a paper strip and they seem OK. I'm going to get a proper test kit soon.

 

[Texas Splash]

Yes, looks like you have a typical chlorine pool like most of us. Keep in mind those tabs are used as a "convenient" way to add FC (Free Chlorine) to your water so you don't have to manually add chlorine (aka regular bleach). Problem is with each tab, it also increase CYA (stabilizer) by 6-9 parts depending on the type of tab. That's bad, but pool store will never tell you that. As soon as you get your TF-100 (or Taylor K-2006C) test kit, post a full set of numbers and we'll help advise. Have a nice weekend!

 

[Burnthorne Pool Service]

Yes, looks like you have a typical chlorine pool like most of us. Keep in mind those tabs are used as a "convenient" way to add FC (Free Chlorine) to your water so you don't have to manually add chlorine (aka regular bleach). Problem is with each tab, it also increase CYA (stabilizer) by 6-9 parts depending on the type of tab. That's bad, but pool store will never tell you that. As soon as you get your TF-100 (or Taylor K-2006C) test kit, post a full set of numbers and we'll help advise. Have a nice weekend!

Yeah, tabs will eventually cause trouble if you use them too much. You'll mainly want to use liquid chlorine as your sanitizer, especially if you're in Cali. Watch out for "cheap" granular chlorine; while liquid chlorine adds sodium (nothing much to worry about), cheap granulars will typically add cyanuric acid or calcium (not always bad, but if your CH is running high, it may lead to trouble). To elaborate a bit on what Texas Splash said, be careful with the advice that you take from pool stores--it isn't always in your best interest!

There's a lot of info on these forums, and it may seem a bit overwhelming at first. The bottom of this post will contain a very helpful TFP article that should teach you most of what you need to know regarding the terminology everyone uses here.

Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

-Eric