I want to switch from sodium hypochlorite to hypochlorous acid but I have high cya. Is it possible? Do I just have to wait until FC drops to zero or are there other precautions? Pool was installed 1996 and plan on converting to SW during renovation in a couple years.
Switching to hypochlorous acid
- Thread starter Monica.lee.ashpole
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Let's use common names.
Liquid chlorine is what we call sodium hypochlorite
What product do you want to switch to that you call hypochlorous acid? TriChlor Tablets?
Welcome to TFP!
Sounds like you're being drawn to one of the latest fad pseudo-science. HOCl is just active chlorine in the water. Once you add chlorine to the water, regardless of its source, it either binds with CYA or becomes HOCl (I'm sure our chemists can explain it better, but that's the general idea). We typically describe it as "active chlorine" and all of our pools already have it.
I'd really encourage backing away from Leslie's testing, test strips, and whatever sources are trying to sell you their hypochlorous acid product. The path they lead down is costly and often ineffective. Here's a couple links that might help explain a bit better why we do things a bit differently.
Pool Care Basics
FC/CYA Levels
PoolMath
How Clear is TFP Clear?
Sounds like you're being drawn to one of the latest fad pseudo-science. HOCl is just active chlorine in the water. Once you add chlorine to the water, regardless of its source, it either binds with CYA or becomes HOCl (I'm sure our chemists can explain it better, but that's the general idea). We typically describe it as "active chlorine" and all of our pools already have it.
I'd really encourage backing away from Leslie's testing, test strips, and whatever sources are trying to sell you their hypochlorous acid product. The path they lead down is costly and often ineffective. Here's a couple links that might help explain a bit better why we do things a bit differently.
Pool Care Basics
FC/CYA Levels
PoolMath
How Clear is TFP Clear?
NOT tablets. I already have high cya.
Here is one example product.
when liquid chlorine is added to water it forms a weak hypochlorous acid.
Here is one example product.
when liquid chlorine is added to water it forms a weak hypochlorous acid.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
The Fiji Pool product just looks to be weak chlorine with fancy marketing that will cost you more then 12.5% liquid chlorine.
How high is your CYA?
How high is your CYA?
It's a scam.
Can you see the percentage?
0.025% is basically zero.
It would take 500 gallons to equal 1 gallon of 12.5% sodium hypochlorite (Liquid chlorine).
500 gallons at $50.00 per gallon is $25,000.00.
Can you see the percentage?
0.025% is basically zero.
It would take 500 gallons to equal 1 gallon of 12.5% sodium hypochlorite (Liquid chlorine).
500 gallons at $50.00 per gallon is $25,000.00.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,872
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
NaOCl + H2O --> Na+ + HOCl + OH- (+ extra base Na+ + OH-)
HOCl --> H+ + OCl-
Sodium Hypochlorite (liquid chlorine or bleach) combines with water to produce sodium ions (part of regular table salt) plus disinfecting hypochlorous acid plus hydroxyl ion.
They are overselling a product you can make by adding bleach to water.
I know that chemical tests are more acurrate from maintaining salt and fresh water aquariums and training with Navy Nuclear power. However I still have test strips (came with calhypo) and leslie's is 1 mile from my pool. Lesli's is a bit more accurate than the test strips but it depends on the tech doing the test also. Although the stores products tend to be overpriced, it is convenient if I run out and cannot locate via amazon or other in a reasonable span of time.
No disagreement there. Test strips are entirely inaccurate and pool store testing is mostly entirely inaccurate.
5 ppm FC will cost you $25,000.00.
The product does have financing at 29.999%.
The product does have financing at 29.999%.
My problem is high ph. Cya is making ph high and liquid Cl is also driving ph high.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,872
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
High CYA doesn't make pH high. Liquid chlorine does not drive pH higher.
High TA and Low pH drive pH rise.
PH TA Relationship - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
I said it was an example not the product I would use. Ok the example is about 500 times more expensive but is about hypochlorous is about 100 times more effective. HOCl is ph neutral whlie OCl- is ph13. I have to add a gallon of liquid Cl daily just to maintain FC and then have to correct ph which is high due to the high alkalinity of my water even after water softener.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,872
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Liquid Chlorine and water make HOCl
NaOCl + H2O --> Na+ + HOCl + OH- (+ extra base Na+ + OH-)
Water softeners do not lower TA, they lower CH.
NaOCl + H2O --> Na+ + HOCl + OH- (+ extra base Na+ + OH-)
Water softeners do not lower TA, they lower CH.
This is how a pool is properly maintained. There are no voodoo magic potions that will change the need to sanitize the pool and maintain pH.
From the zip code in your about information, and that you are a mile from a Leslie's - there are 3 Walmarts almost as close. Pool chlorine to make that hypochlorous acid. $8.50/gal at Leslie's, $5.67 at Walmart. Most 1 gal jugs of HA seem to run about $30 or more.
One commercial source I found noted that the concentration of Free Chlorine in their bulk hypochlorous acid (250 gal!) was 500 ppm per gallon. So 1 gal. to raise 50 of water to 10 ppm.
If the PoolMath app is correct for such a small amount, one gal. of Walmart 10% will raise that 50 gal. of water to 2,000 ppm.
But maybe there is a concentrated bulk source of HA the OP has access to, that I don't know about. They did reference Nuclear Power work!
One commercial source I found noted that the concentration of Free Chlorine in their bulk hypochlorous acid (250 gal!) was 500 ppm per gallon. So 1 gal. to raise 50 of water to 10 ppm.
If the PoolMath app is correct for such a small amount, one gal. of Walmart 10% will raise that 50 gal. of water to 2,000 ppm.
But maybe there is a concentrated bulk source of HA the OP has access to, that I don't know about. They did reference Nuclear Power work!
Last edited:
I'm sorry, I keep jumping back and forth between stuff.
I just figured out why it will not work. It is due to the high ph. As ph increases and due to the high cya the amount of HOCl becomes almost non existent in concentration.
I just figured out why it will not work. It is due to the high ph. As ph increases and due to the high cya the amount of HOCl becomes almost non existent in concentration.
Ok, post an example that you would actually use.
Why post an example of a product you do not intend to use?
More like 2,500 times more expensive.
The product will not be 100 times more effective because the percentage of HOCl vs. OCl is determined by the pH of the pool.
So, whether you add OCl or HOCl, the result is the same at the same pool pH.
OCl is mostly pH neutral when you reach a steady state equilibrium with the gain rate and loss rate being equal.
Please get a good test kit and review some of the educational articles that are available.
Pool Care Basics
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
SLAM Process
PoolMath
FC/CYA Levels
Test Kits Compared
Pool Care Basics
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
SLAM Process
PoolMath
FC/CYA Levels
Test Kits Compared
cwswifty
Well-known member
- Sep 14, 2023
- 259
- Pool Size
- 26500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
It actually says it's $50 for a "2 Gallon Pack" so that makes it much more affordable for only $12,500.
Your basic premise of switching to hypochlorous acid is not a method that can work.
There is no viable source for hypochlorous acid.
The product is a scam.
There is no viable source for hypochlorous acid.
The product is a scam.