ALL ABOUT CHLORINE
What does chlorine do?
Chlorine is a sanitiser and a bleach - it kills bacteria in swimming pools and is used in many other industries to control bacteria.
Some of your household cleaners contain chlorine in a weak liquid solution. Municipal water supplies are dosed with chlorine. Most households are familiar with bleach. Many don't realise it is one of the chlorines used in swimming pools.
However, household bleach is a much weaker solution than liquid swimming pool chlorine. There are only 6 basic types of chlorine.
Some of your household cleaners contain chlorine in a weak liquid solution. Municipal water supplies are dosed with chlorine. Most households are familiar with bleach. Many don't realise it is one of the chlorines used in swimming pools.
However, household bleach is a much weaker solution than liquid swimming pool chlorine. There are only 6 basic types of chlorine.
GRANULAR CHLORINE
Also referred to as Dry Chlorine or Cal Hypo. Its chemical name is Calcium Hypochlorite. Pool Pro Granular Chlorine is available as a granule or a fast dissolving tablet. Easily identified by the Blue Lid. As its name suggests it is a Calcium based product. There are several grades on the market so the buyer should be aware. Available chlorine is the key. Pool Pro uses the highest quality which is 70% available chlorine. Simply this means that 70% of the product is chlorine and 30% is residue. Generally speaking, the larger the granule the less quality the product, so you want to buy a fine granule product . Granular chlorine must be dissolved in water before being added to the pool. Once dissolved the residue will be at the bottom of the bucket. The liquid is added to the pool and the residue discarded. Granular chlorine is not suitable for SALT POOLS because it is calcium based. The calcium can build up on the chlorinator cell and shorten its life. When purchasing, check the active constituent listed on the label, it will say 'Calcium Hypochlorite'. STABILIZED TABLETS
Also referred to as Ticca Tabs, Once a Week Tablets, Trichlor Tabs and its chemical name Sodium Trichloroisocyanurate Acid. Easily identified by the Red Lid. This chlorine is the slowest dissolving of all chlorines but it is also the strongest. This is where the nick name Once a Week Tablets came from, because these tablets are used by placing them in a Tablet Dispenser or Tablet Floater to dissolve slowly over a few days. Stabilized Chlorine contains a stabiliser so one still must be careful to monitor the stabiliser levels in the pool to ensure the level doesn't get too high. Stabilized Tablets are fantastic when one has to go away for a few days. They give a person peace of mind that they won't be returning to a green pool or that the pool doesn't have to be dosed every day. Many people use them in small above ground pools on a continuing basis. This product now also comes in a Granular Form which is blended with other chemicals to use as a super shock treatment, however be warned it should only be used on the advice of a pool professional. |
STABILISED CHLORINE
Also referred to as SDIC, Dichlor, Stab Chlor, or Stab Chlorine and its chemical name is.... are you ready? Sodium Dichloroiscyanurate. Easily identified by the Yellow Lid. As its name suggests it is Sodium based with sodium being salt. This chlorine is totally soluble so it can be added directly into pool water without the need to dissolve it first. It is perfect for use in Salt Water Pools for Super Chlorination and Shock Treatment. Its strength is usually around 62% available chlorine with some brands being slightly weaker. It can also be used in other pool types - chlorine pools for example. This chlorine also contains a stabiliser. All pools should have a stabiliser in them, also referred to as sun screen or it's chemical name Isocyanuric Acid. This is a wonderful product which acts as a sun screen for pool water, so it stops the sun sucking the chlorine out of the water. It should be maintained at 50ppm (parts per million). If there is no stabiliser in a pool then you will need to use twice as much chlorine. However if stabiliser levels climb too high it will interfere with the ability of the chlorine to do its job correctly. Therefore it is important to check these levels regularly. When purchasing, check the active constituent listed on the label, it will say 'Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate'. POOL PRO 5 in 1
This product is the flagship of chlorines because as its name suggests it does 5 jobs at once. It is extremely powerful and slow dissolving Trichlor with Copper. It controls bacteria, kills algae, clarifies pool water, reduces loss of chlorine to sunlight and lowers pH. NOTE: IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR VINYL LINED POOLS For more information as it is truly a powerful sanitiser we recommend you speak to your Pool Pro Professional. |
LITHIUM HYPOCHLORITE
This product is much more expensive than most of the other products and is used mainly as a shock treatment, maintenance product and Spa Chlorinator. Please note that the recommended sanitiser for hot water is Bromine. This product may be unavailable in your area as there is a continuing global shortage of the raw chemical Lithium. FOR ALL SPA & HOT TUB PRODUCTS VISIT POOL PRO
As heated water has special chemical requirements, it is recommended that you talk to a Pool Pro Professional. |
LIQUID CHLORINE
The chemical name for Liquid Chlorine is Sodium Hypochlorite, with sodium being salt. It is salt based and highly compatible as a shock treatment or super chlorination for salt water pools. Easily identified by the red, white and blue Label. It can be added to almost any pool. There is a warning though - if the pool is an above ground pool the continued use of liquid chlorine (being salt based) can be very destructive to metal parts. Some above ground pool manufacturers will not provide warranty to an above ground pool if liquid chlorine is being used. Check with the manufacturer. In Australia this is an extremely popular chlorine because it appears to be inexpensive and it's a liquid that can be easily poured into the pool. Be careful when handling, like all chlorines it's a very strong bleach. Household bleach is often around 3% or less of available chlorine. The strength of liquid chlorine is between 10% and 12%. As with all chemicals:
- KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN - NEVER EVER MIX CHEMICALS - Always add chemicals to water NEVER water to chemicals - Store upright in a cool dry place |