Hi all, I need to use some chlorine tabs as I have been having a tough time finding liquid chlorine nearby. What are some suggestions for tabs in a SW pool for a short period of time? I understand these tabs are not ideal and not generally recommended, but I need something to keep the FC at appropriate levels for now.
Chlorine Tab Suggestions
- Thread starter dielseman
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,103
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
What is your CYA?
Put the tabs in a floater in the pool.
Make sure the tabs have no copper.
Put the tabs in a floater in the pool.
Make sure the tabs have no copper.
You can't find liquid chlorine at a pool store? It may cost more than Walmart but it's probably fresher than other places and maybe a bit stronger.
Using tabs short-term is fine, but try to find unstabilized ones for a SW pool. If you’re using stabilized tabs, keep an eye on your CYA. What’s your current CYA level?
Beware of unstabilized tablets because they are stabilized with calcium which can build up and become just as much of a problem as CYA. You can use either tablet as long as you are aware of what it’s doing and can check on the impact. I was able to use trichlor tablets all summer because we got so much rain and it was a fresh fill.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,904
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Where are you in GA? Ace hardware typically has some in stock. Check your local ACE.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,007
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
If you must use trichlor tabs look for plain 99% trichlor - avoid anything with the word blu/blue in it.
As mentioned above you must watch your cya to be sure you’re following the correct
FC/CYA Levels
and trichlor is also acidic so take that into consideration
Use
PoolMath effects of adding to see how each tab will affect your parameters. Most 3” tabs are 8oz. Jumbos usually 10oz.
Use a floater and don’t allow it to just rest in one area.
If using cal hypo tabs this will increase your calcium.
Use poolmath to see the effects.
*Trichlor and cal hypo tabs cannot be used interchangeably in the same floater/dispenser.
They must each have their own dedicated floater/dispenser for life or an explosion can occur if even traces are mixed.
Your pool isn’t very large so it may be more practical to just use unadulterated household bleach/ sodium hypochlorite.
Just be sure it has : No scents, no fabric conditioners, no cloromax technology, no splashless.
Plain is generally found with store brands- at places like walmart, aldi, dollar general.
Plain Chloralen brand is also good choice and is 7.5% strength. Its on sale for $2.79 a gallon at Walgreens right now. I will be picking some up for my hot tub today.
Just as with all liquid chlorine/sodium hypochlorite you want to check the date code and buy fresh stuff.
As mentioned above you must watch your cya to be sure you’re following the correct
FC/CYA Levels
and trichlor is also acidic so take that into consideration
Use
PoolMath effects of adding to see how each tab will affect your parameters. Most 3” tabs are 8oz. Jumbos usually 10oz.
Use a floater and don’t allow it to just rest in one area.
If using cal hypo tabs this will increase your calcium.
Use poolmath to see the effects.
*Trichlor and cal hypo tabs cannot be used interchangeably in the same floater/dispenser.
They must each have their own dedicated floater/dispenser for life or an explosion can occur if even traces are mixed.
Your pool isn’t very large so it may be more practical to just use unadulterated household bleach/ sodium hypochlorite.
Just be sure it has : No scents, no fabric conditioners, no cloromax technology, no splashless.
Plain is generally found with store brands- at places like walmart, aldi, dollar general.
Plain Chloralen brand is also good choice and is 7.5% strength. Its on sale for $2.79 a gallon at Walgreens right now. I will be picking some up for my hot tub today.
Just as with all liquid chlorine/sodium hypochlorite you want to check the date code and buy fresh stuff.
The floater is the best temporary option. If you do have a tablet feeder plumbed in, 2 rules:
1. Do NOT change which kind of tablet you use. TriChlor and DiChlor should never be used together (or one after the other) in a confined space like a feeder. Not as critical in a floater, but best to stick to one kind, even then - and still never put both in at the same time.
2. Cheap tablets are fine for a floater (as long as just TriChlor or DiChlor and no other additives), but many cheaper ones have a high amount of "paste" to keep them together, which can plug the feeder quickly. Get ones with the highest percent of Chlorine you can. Even a few decimal points less means more "paste" has been used...
Back in my feeder days, Bioguard Basic TriChlor tablets resulted in the least amount of plugging with paste. But eventually...
1. Do NOT change which kind of tablet you use. TriChlor and DiChlor should never be used together (or one after the other) in a confined space like a feeder. Not as critical in a floater, but best to stick to one kind, even then - and still never put both in at the same time.
2. Cheap tablets are fine for a floater (as long as just TriChlor or DiChlor and no other additives), but many cheaper ones have a high amount of "paste" to keep them together, which can plug the feeder quickly. Get ones with the highest percent of Chlorine you can. Even a few decimal points less means more "paste" has been used...
Back in my feeder days, Bioguard Basic TriChlor tablets resulted in the least amount of plugging with paste. But eventually...
I actually found this, CDS Liquid Chlorine. Has anyone tried this? I also like to know what specific brand of tablets to use. They also carry HTH chlorine tabs.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,904
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
How is the Pool Essentials Liquid Chlorine? It's about $5 less per a gallon.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,103
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
tcat
Silver Supporter
- May 30, 2012
- 1,783
- Pool Size
- 17000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool Edge-40
Home Depot or Walmart usually has LC. Or switch to SWG, will pay for itself in a year or two.
I am using SWG but the temperature is too cold to generate chlorine. Therefore I am adding liquid at the moment.
I use so little bleach myself that it isn't worth shopping around to find this years deal. Walmart is always a solid price and I can probably think of 8 other things I need to justify the trip there at any time.
Just be careful with the date codes like said above. You may have to dig through the shelf to find fresher bottles.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,904
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
tcat
Silver Supporter
- May 30, 2012
- 1,783
- Pool Size
- 17000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool Edge-40
Usually a year and day of the year. 24 270, would be the 270th day of last year. You want less that a month old if available.
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,809
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
When using liquid chlorine use the non-SWG part of the FC/CYA Levels chart.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,904
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
For @tcat and @dielseman ... An easy way to do this is to take the day of the year on the jug and divide by 30. In this ^^ example, 270 / 30 = 9. This would be manufactured around the End of September (use end of the month because we are counting 30 day periods). 255 / 30 = 8.5 or the middle of September. Then just compare to where we are today!