Liquid chlorine shortage

[AshleyMann]

We can't find liquid chlorine anywhere in our area (Washington State). We normally buy from Walmart but they're completely out of stock. In lieu of having liquid chlorine, what are our options? I've only ever used the TFP method to keep our pool balanced...

 

[JeremyKC]

You could always get the 3 inch chlorine tablets that are used in like floating chlorinators.

 

[Leebo]

Where to find Liquid Chlorine

We want to help you with your pool and maintain your water. Help users find a quality source of Chlorine around them or find a source for your pool.

www.troublefreepool.com

Give a look at the video on that page, it’ll help explain your options plus maybe you’ll luck out and somebody else will have found something in your area. Don’t forget to check places like farm or pool stores as many of them have chlorine in stock.

 

[mknauss]

Checked Home Depot and Lowes for you -- no go.

What is the CH of your pool water?

 

[AshleyMann]

Checked Home Depot and Lowes for you -- no go.

What is the CH of your pool water?

CH is about 220 ppm.

 

[AshleyMann]

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You could always get the 3 inch chlorine tablets that are used in like floating chlorinators.

I did pick up some of those just in case it was our only option, just not sure how to do the whole SLAM process with them?

 

[mknauss]

You cannot SLAM with trichlor.

Your CH is OK to use some cal hypo, but how much depends on what your fill water CH is and how much you add during the summer.

 

[Griswald]

I did a slam with dichlor, it's not easy, but it does work.

Still no bleach in my area.

 

[Saturn94]

I did the opening SLAM with cal-hypo this year. Fortunately, the starting CH was low enough to use this option.

 

[AshleyMann]

Okay so found 6 gallons of liquid bleach in the back at Ace Hardware. Pool has been open for about a week but we haven't balanced it yet. Here are our numbers:

FC: 0.5
CC: 0
PH: 7.0
TA 110ppm
CH: 220ppm
CYA: 0

I'm wondering how I should go about balancing it using a combo of the liquid chlorine we have and the tablets. I'm hoping to get more liquid chlorine soon, but no telling if that's going to be possible or not. Do I 100% need to SLAM? It's been cold and rainy here, but there was a ton of dead algae we cleaned out from it being improperly closed last year. Did a sweet and vacuum today. Pool looking pretty blue despite all that. Getting our solar cover ready to put on as well.

 

[mknauss]

I did a slam with dichlor

How did you ever get to SLAM FC with your CYA going up so much each time you added dichlor?

 

[mknauss]

If you have dead algae in the pool and it is cloudy, you need to SLAM.

 

[AshleyMann]

Pool is pretty clear, but there was definitely dead algae on the bottom. I'll try to do a slam with the liquid chlorine we have and then just try to maintain with the tabs I guess?

 

[mknauss]

Your CH is OK to use some cal hypo, but how much depends on what your fill water CH is and how much you add during the summer.

Can you respond to the above?

 

[AshleyMann]

Let me test our city water and I'll let you know.

 

[AshleyMann]

Looked up our city water report and it's 218ppm from our hose. We have a solar cover so try not to add water much, but inevitably every week in a half or so we're filling it up a bit.

 

[mknauss]

Well, you can use some cal hypo and see how it goes. As long as you can keep your pool water CH below 400 ppm, you do not need to do any extraordinary measures. Our pool water is nearly always above that so I have to manage TA and pH at a lower level to keep from scale.

 

[Griswald]

How did you ever get to SLAM FC with your CYA going up so much each time you added dichlor?

Dichlor adds calcium, not CYA. My calcium hardness number was only 25.

 

[mknauss]

Dichlor adds calcium, not CYA.

Incorrect. Dichlor adds chlorine and CYA in equal parts to water.

 

[Griswald]

Oops, I meant Cal hypo, not dichlor. My bad!