Shock Granular vs Chlorine Tablets for temp chlorine solution

[sagosto]

I am dealing with SWG issues and need to supplement with chlorine till it is resolved. Bags of shock is cheaper/easier to deal with so I've been adding 3 bags per day all at once in the AM. I honestly never used a chlorine tablet but they appear much more concentrated so it would be much better idea to supplement with tablets vs jugs of chlorine and/or shock granulars.

 

[Bperry]

I am dealing with SWG issues and need to supplement with chlorine till it is resolved. Bags of shock is cheaper/easier to deal with so I've been adding 3 bags per day all at once in the AM. I honestly never used a chlorine tablet but they appear much more concentrated so it would be much better idea to supplement with tablets vs jugs of chlorine and/or shock granulars.

Depending on your test results and whats in the bags of shock, the liquid is almost always safer.

 

[sagosto]

Depending on your test results and whats in the bags of shock, the liquid is almost always safer.

It's just a pain to bulk buy even for a temp. time when I can just get a feeder and some tablets. A 3 jug box at HD is like $20. I'd be literally spending $150 a week or so. It's a temp. solution.

 

[PoolStored]

@sagosto You know have two threads, this one and the salt thread. Both of the problems are defying an answer because you, apparently do not have a recommended kit to test your water.

In the cell thread, you don't know your salt level because you don't test it.

In this thread, we can't advise you if pucks or granular work because we don't know your CYA or CH.

Your signature lists a TF-100 kit. I'd use it and post a full set of results here.

I would get a K-1766 kit here: Taylor K-1766 Salt Test Kit And post that salt test result to your cell thread.

 

[sagosto]

@sagosto You know have two threads, this one and the salt thread. Both of the problems are defying an answer because you, apparently do not have a recommended kit to test your water.

In the cell thread, you don't know your salt level because you don't test it.

In this thread, we can't advise you if pucks or granular work because we don't know your CYA or CH.

Your signature lists a TF-100 kit. I'd use it and post a full set of results here.

I would get a K-1766 kit here: Taylor K-1766 Salt Test Kit And post that salt test result to your cell thread.

Huh? What are you talking about? I have a kit -- actually 2 of them. These are 2 distinct problems. I will get a salt kit but that's not the immediate problem because 2 different tests are yielding the same amount. Further, the issue is also regarding the remaining life of the unit. That IS different than asking about how to manage a temporary chlorine issue...

CYA/CH or any other result is not relevant -- I don't need advice on balancing the chemistry. I have need to manage chlorine levels UNTIL the SWG issue is resolved. That can be done a variety of ways and trying to understand why jugs are typically advised when bags of shock are much lighter/easier to get. Part of it could be cost as jugs are cheaper but for my purpose -- tablets might solve the problem as they would be the cheapest.

 

[PoolStored]

Huh? What are you talking about? I have a kit -- actually 2 of them. These are 2 distinct problems. I will get a salt kit but that's not the immediate problem because 2 different tests are yielding the same amount. Further, the issue is also regarding the remaining life of the unit. That IS different than asking about how to manage a temporary chlorine issue...

I agree. There are two problems. The salt life, and the current salinity of the pool. You don't know the second. The cell and the pool store tests are notoriously wrong. Knowing the actual salinity (with the K-1766) will help us help you.

CYA/CH or any other result is not relevant -- I don't need advice on balancing the chemistry. I have need to manage chlorine levels UNTIL the SWG issue is resolved. That can be done a variety of ways and trying to understand why jugs are typically advised when bags of shock are much lighter/easier to get. Part of it could be cost as jugs are cheaper but for my purpose -- tablets might solve the problem as they would be the cheapest.

If your CYA or CH is high, we would not recommend using pucks or granular. If your CYA or CH is high, particularly your CYA, adding more CYA will make sanitizing the pool with pucks or dichlor more problematic.

 

[Bperry]

trying to understand why jugs are typically advised when bags of shock are much lighter/easier to get.

the bags of shock either increase your CYA or your CH and if you already have too much of those, you end up needing to drain water to reduce them. Some bags have copper in them which will cause staining eventually.

 

[sagosto]

I agree. There are two problems. The salt life, and the current salinity of the pool. You don't know the second. The cell and the pool store tests are notoriously wrong. Knowing the actual salinity (with the K-1766) will help us help you.

If your CYA or CH is high, we would not recommend using pucks or granular. If your CYA or CH is high, particularly your CYA, adding more CYA will make sanitizing the pool with pucks or dichlor more problematic.

PH 7.3
CYA 30
TA 110
FC 3 (I added 3 bags of shock to kick it up until I can get it dialed in)

I need to kick up CYA and lower TA but the water looks great and the SWG/chlorine issue is my concern right now. Granular I am using doesn't have CYA.

the bags of shock either increase your CYA or your CH and if you already have too much of those, you end up needing to drain water to reduce them. Some bags have copper in them which will cause staining eventually.

HTH Pool Care Granule Shock Treatment 13.3 oz - Ace Hardware Cal Hypo doesn't have CYA, correct?

 

[PoolStored]

I need to kick up CYA and lower TA but the water looks great and the SWG/chlorine issue is my concern right now. Granular I am using doesn't have CYA.

With a CYA of 30, use Dichlor if you want.

Cal Hypo doesn't have CYA, correct?

No, it has Calcium. You didn't post CH results What is your CH. CH can only be removed by replacing water.

 

[sagosto]

With a CYA of 30, use Dichlor if you want.

No, it has Calcium. You didn't post CH results What is your CH. CH can only be removed by replacing water.

A floater for a few tablets shouldn't be an issue for short term? Better than going into the skimmer I assumed.

CH is 8 drops of 200PPM (hard to tell purple from blue) but 200 is fair. I never checked before to be honest.

Pentair was big on me checking Phosphates. I NEVER checked for that but pool store throws it into the analysis and it's like 2800. They've always reported high phos but my water chemistry has been solid for years.

 

[PoolStored]

A floater for a few tablets shouldn't be an issue for short term? Better than going into the skimmer I assumed.

Yes, not in the skimmer.

CH is 8 drops of 200PPM (hard to tell purple from blue) but 200 is fair. I never checked before to be honest.

Drop drops until the color does not change again. Subtract that drop, that is the number of drops to use to calculate.