I was told today by the pool store that using pool perfect could help lower your chlorine usage. Is that true? Dude said that you don't have to add as much chlorine overtime.
Pool Perfect
- Thread starter bethers0811
- Start date
I'm curious, why do you seek to lower your chlorine usage? Are you using more than 3-4ppm of FC daily?
Pool Perfect is a clarifier, not a sanitizer. It will not reduce your usage of your current sanitizer (chlorine).
Natural Chemistry 14146 Pool Perfect, 3 liter
We do not recommend the regular use of clarifiers or flocculants. They are a band-aid at best and do not address the root cause of water clarity issues, which is bacteria and algae related 99% of the time due to improper sanitizer levels.
Pool Perfect is a clarifier, not a sanitizer. It will not reduce your usage of your current sanitizer (chlorine).
Natural Chemistry 14146 Pool Perfect, 3 liter
We do not recommend the regular use of clarifiers or flocculants. They are a band-aid at best and do not address the root cause of water clarity issues, which is bacteria and algae related 99% of the time due to improper sanitizer levels.
We are just finalizing our pool build. We are deciding on if we want to get salt or not. They're almost finished. But, they said there are other ways to to reduce your chlorine usage other than Salt. Then they told me about enzymes. I asked specifically would your chlorine stay between 3 and 4 and they said yes you just have to add it less over time. Just curious!
- May 3, 2014
- 62,616
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
A Salt Water pool is a Chlorine pool. In fact, with a Salt Water Chlorine Generator, you will keep your Free Chlorine at a higher level than in a non - SWCG pool as you will have a higher CYA. But it really does not matter, the active chlorine in either is miniscule.
Be aware that 'alternative' sanitizers do not compare to chlorine and most still need chlorine to keep your pool sanitary.
Take care.
Be aware that 'alternative' sanitizers do not compare to chlorine and most still need chlorine to keep your pool sanitary.
Take care.
The enzymes in Pool Perfect have absolutely nothing to do with water sanitation. Also, your FC level is a function of your CYA level, so for them to say that your FC must 'stay between 3-4' without mention of CYA is also incorrect. This person is gravely mistaken concerning pool water care. Please don't follow any of their advice.
The levels of active chlorine at our recommended FC/CYA levels is actually quite low compared to public pools, especially if using a SWG as it will be adding chlorine over the course of hours vs a one time manual dose.
Pool School - Chlorine / CYA Chart
I'm no expert, but even I know enough and have done this long enough to know that FC loss comes from two sources; sunlight and organic matter in your pool and if I follow TFP recommendations, I'll likely only ever be concerned about that first source. So other than finding a way to add more shade to my pool, which sunbathing family members may not appreciate or a solar cover, which adds complexity to enjoying my pool; the only way I can lower chlorone use is to let the FC go below recommendations often and use other chemicals that are inferior and not cheaper than bleach to make up for that lower FC, or use pool store advice to weekly shock to make up for letting my FC deplete below recommendations. So after following TFP, it's hard to understand why one would use one of these other, funky techniques that have a much higher failure rate and are actually harder to manage and more expensive in the long run, with the only advantage being that I don't take 4 minutes each day to add bleach or 10% liquid; and another 2 minutes every third day to make sure my FC level is on track, which is all it takes once you do this a while and get to know your pool.
It's just hard for me to understand what others are trying to beat when they attempt to use less chlorine when chlorine is what keeps your pool safe and clear and causes you less work and money in the long run. But then I think and remember that I used to have those same thoughts...I'm going to follow TFP but do this instead, and nowadays, the only thing I do that is "instead" is ignore those TA level recommendations and just focus on keeping PH most stable with TA as my tool to do just that. In other words, I don't ever try to get my TA to any kind of target level. I think that TFP agrees with this methodology but doesn't really, fully explain it that way in School.
It's just hard for me to understand what others are trying to beat when they attempt to use less chlorine when chlorine is what keeps your pool safe and clear and causes you less work and money in the long run. But then I think and remember that I used to have those same thoughts...I'm going to follow TFP but do this instead, and nowadays, the only thing I do that is "instead" is ignore those TA level recommendations and just focus on keeping PH most stable with TA as my tool to do just that. In other words, I don't ever try to get my TA to any kind of target level. I think that TFP agrees with this methodology but doesn't really, fully explain it that way in School.
People associate harsh water, stinging eyes, and smell to chlorine. Which we all know none of that is caused by chlorine
Short answer, no not really. In a balanced pool, most of the chlorine loss is to the Sun's UV. Very little is used up killing organics and other "waste". That's because there isn't much to kill. Some chlorine does have to work its way through any oils, sweat, scum, etc. If you add Pool Perfect to do this, it doesn't really reduce the overall chlorine use much and may not even be noticeable.
Since PoolPerfect isn't a sanitizer, you would still have to keep the FC levels high enough to properly sanitize the water. So the level of chlorine in the water can't be decreased or you risk having an unsanitary pool.
PoolPerfect isn't cheap at around $8 a week for your pool. This is a product and money spent that just isn't needed. You likely wouldn't notice any lower chlorine use.
If you have an algae outbreak, the PoolPerfect does absolutely nothing to fix it. But it takes lots and lots of chlorine to fix.
Have you got your test kit ordered yet, Bethers? The TF-100 (preferred) or the K-2006C are the ONLY two test kits we endorse as they contain the all important FAS-DPD chlorine test to test FC up to 50ppm. You'll never need it that high (lol!) but you do need to be able to test FC higher than 5-10ppm if you *ever* get algae and need to treat it.
TFTestkits.net or PoolSupplyWorld.com are the best places to obtain these two kits.
Maddie
TFTestkits.net or PoolSupplyWorld.com are the best places to obtain these two kits.
Maddie
I can't tell how many people have enjoyed our pool and commented that there must be some secret ingredient I use on it. Often they say there's NO chlorine in the pool because they can't smell it. When the truth is that our pool is CLEAN and Sanitary and that's why it doesn't smell.
Don't fall for the pool store nonsense. This system works and will save you tons of $$$$ over time. I don't get the logic of buying an expensive chemical that is supposed to make it so you use less of a very cheap chemical.
If you still have the option of going to a Salt pool please consider it. I travel quite a bit, and my pool stays clean and sanitized for days with no input from me. The secret is finding the balance that works for your situstion, sun, leaves, organic load, bather load etc all are different for everyone. The TFP guidelines will either work, or get you very close to a stable pool.
Good luck
Don't fall for the pool store nonsense. This system works and will save you tons of $$$$ over time. I don't get the logic of buying an expensive chemical that is supposed to make it so you use less of a very cheap chemical.
If you still have the option of going to a Salt pool please consider it. I travel quite a bit, and my pool stays clean and sanitized for days with no input from me. The secret is finding the balance that works for your situstion, sun, leaves, organic load, bather load etc all are different for everyone. The TFP guidelines will either work, or get you very close to a stable pool.
Good luck
Order your test kit and don't listen to the pool store guys! And hopefully your other half won't fight you on every decision you make with chems and cleaning, etc.!
+1 on all of this. I too have very little time to check on my pool, but now that I understand how pool chemistry works, how my salt water chlorine generator supplies chlorine, and the needs of my pool, I can go weeks without doing anything to my pool and it remains crystal clear.
As for PoolPerfect, I started this thread on a different product, but commented that Pool Perfect was another expensive and useless product.
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