Chemical Used |
Overall Effects |
Special Notes |
Chlorine - dichlor granular |
Good |
needs to be added multiple times per week; can also be used as a shock treatment; ability to "control" the amount of chlorine better; maintained at a level of 1.0 - 2.0 ppm |
Chorine - trichlor tabs/sticks |
Good |
may put a drag or constant lowering of the pH; added using a floater or chlorinator; maintained at a level of 1.0 - 2.0 ppm |
Bromine tablets |
Good |
sometimes gives a "musty" odor; added using a brominator or floater; maintained at a level of 2.0 - 4.0 ppm |
Liquid Chlorine |
Not so good |
significantly adds to Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), resulting in more frequent draining & refilling |
Salt / Chlorine Generation |
Not so good |
High mineral levels, scaling of surfaces, plumbing, heaters, etc. |
Biguanides
(Soft Swim® or Baquacil®) |
Not so good |
significant foaming, water can feel "gummy" if PHMB is allowed to be "high" (over 50 ppm) |
Pristine Blue® |
Very Good |
a non-chlorine, non-bromine way to effectively treat warmer water. easy on equipment, much simpler water balancing. |
Ionizers (Nature2®,
Pool Frog®) |
Good |
may not provide sufficient sanitizing when larger bather loads are encountered |
Algaecides |
Not so good |
significant foaming of the water; algae better controlled with borates and proper chlorine levels |
Cal Hypo Chlorine |
Almost bad |
significantly adds to Calcium Hardness & Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), resulting in scaling and more frequent draining & refilling |
Borates
(Optimizer Plus®) |
Very Good |
controls algae growth without foaming plus aids in overall water balance; easy to maintain (at a level of about 50 ppm), typically added 1 or 2 times per year. |
AquaFinesse® |
Excellent |
prevents & controls bio-film build-up in plumbing lines and on surfaces; Pool Pucks are added every 1 to 2 weeks |
Naturally Pure® Enzyme Cleaner |
Excellent |
prevents & controls bio-film build-up in plumbing lines and on surfaces; enzymes help to consume swimmer/bather/environmental waste. Phosphate remover helps remove orthophosphates brought in from body waste, dead hair & skin cells |
Enzymes |
Very Good |
help "digest" excess swimmer waste that will contribute to bio-films, odors, etc.; added weekly |
MPS (potassium mono persulfate) shock |
Good |
usually used in combination with Ionizers; not a stand-alone product; a good oxidizer but poor sanitizer; recharges bromine; breaks up chloramines |