Di-Chlor vs Cal-Hypo : What is best to shock your pool?

Рет қаралды 86,632

Күн бұрын

Blake from PoolSupplyWorld explains the differences between Di-Chlor and Cal-Hypo. Both can be good options to chlorinate or shock your swimming pool, but you should understand the side-effects.
Shop Dichlor HERE: poolsupplyworld.com/di-chlor-...
Shop Cal-Hypo HERE: poolsupplyworld.com/cal-hypo-...
Shop Test Kits HERE: poolsupplyworld.com/tftestkit...
Video Transcription:
Hey, Blake here from PSW
Today we’re going to talk about chlorinating your swimming pool with either Di-Chlor or Cal-Hypo because they are both good options, but they also both have some side effects. I want to make sure you are aware, so you can pick the right one for your pool.
Let’s start with Di-Chlor first
The scientific name is Sodium Dichloro-S-Triazinetrione, which is a quite the mouthful.
Di-Chlor is 55% free and available chlorine.
The Di-Chlor that we sell is 99% Sodium Di-Chlor which means there is 54.8% available chlorine that is going to be able to fight algae and breakdown organic matter in your swimming pool.
However, there is a side effect.
Di-Chlor contains Cyanuric Acid. CYA acts like sunscreen for the chlorine in your swimming pool. It helps preserve it.
There are two ways that chlorine in your pool can get used up. It can either be consumed by breaking down organic matter like algae, or it can burn off from the sun. So the Cyanuric Acid acts like sunscreen and helps prevent the chlorine from burning off from the sun. However it also reduced the effectiveness the chlorine has to be able to fight algae.
So you want a little bit in your pool.
With a salt water generator (SWG) you want to have 60-80 parts per million (ppm). Without a salt water generator, you want to be between 30-50 ppm. This is important to know because when using Di-Chlor, for every 1 ppm of free chlorine you add, you are also adding 0.9 ppm of CYA. So if you are near the upper limits [of recommended levels], you probably want to stay away from Di-Chlor.
Which brings us to Cal-Hypo.
Cal-Hypo is also called Calcium Hypochlorite, and is 99.18% free and available chlorine. The Cal-Hypo [shock] we sell is 68% calcium hypochlorite, which means 67.4% available chlorine that can fight algae in your swimming pool. As you can see, this is a little bit higher than the Di-Chlor when you are looking at even weights. But, like Dichlor, Cal-Hypo does have a side effect.
Cal-Hypo has calcium in it. If your calcium levels are already high, you probably want to stay away from it.
The ideal Calcium Hardness (CH) level for a vinyl pool is anywhere between 0 and 350 ppm. You don’t actually need calcium, but it’s not going to hurt anything as long as it’s not over 350.
The ideal CH level for a plaster or gunite pool is between 250 and 350 pp. That is the sweet spot. If you are too high, you could get calcium scaling, which is no fun.
This is important to know because for every 1 ppm of FC you are adding (with Cal Hypo), you are increasing your CH by 0.7 ppm.
Now, if you are wondering what to use…
It comes down to 3 simple steps.
First, you should test your pool water. We recommend the TF-100 by TFTestkits, but we sell several different test kits that are going to allow you to test your CYA, CH, and other chemical levels.
Once you test your water, take notice of your CYA and CH levels, and compare them to the recommended levels. Based on that, you can make your decision. So if your CH is really high, and your CYA is low, then you can use Di-Chlor (and visa versa).
If your CH is already pretty high, and your CYA is also pretty high, you actually have another option. That is Liquid Chlorine (or Sodium Hypochlorite). That is going to be 95% free and available (chlorine).
You can actually use bleach from your local store if you want to, but make sure you are aware of the strength. You might buy bleach that is “6% strength” but what that actually means is 5.7% is available chlorine to fight algae in your pool.
Now this looks like a big difference between the 54.8% and 67.4% from Di-Chlor and Cal-Hypo. The plus side is that it will not add CYA or CH. It will only add free chlorine to your swimming pool.
That’s pretty much it. If you have any questions you can comment down below the video, or email us directly at marketing@poolsupplyworld.com
Happy swimming!
poolsupplyworld.com?

Пікірлер: 81

@waterboy21122 7 жыл бұрын

Best video i have found explaining this!!!!!!!!! thanks alot

@txsraappraiser 5 жыл бұрын

Been battling CYA for a long time. Thanks for the help.

@fuzzresponder2225 4 жыл бұрын

What a great video for a do it yourselfer, Thanks!

@scottcarter790 5 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video. Math and results. Very helpful

@ScottTousley 2 жыл бұрын

This is helpful understand when to add which type of chlorine. Thank you

@PeterWinnett 8 жыл бұрын

Very informative, thanks for posting...Regards, Pete

@FrankKMardian 8 жыл бұрын

One of the most helpful tutorials ever, thank you so much. To have all three on hand with a good test kit is probably best. So far I prefer Di-Chlor and have had the best results with it. Cal Hypo is something I need only occasionally and I have never had the need for the bleach. Thank you for the great tutorial.

@wes-yt 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Very informative.

@michaelsprott7584 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent Video!

@armadilllo 2 жыл бұрын

In the article that led me here it says to dump it in the skimmer, never do that, it's corrosive, it will eat pump seals then the bearings on the motor after a leak develops.

@carlmerewitz8118 2 жыл бұрын

Great video , Question : Switching between Di Chlor and Cal Hypo depending on chemistry is ok/recommended , Is that correct?

@thetruthwillsetyoufree7912 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much I am struggling with cloudy pool and what appears to be calcium powder residue at the bottom . My cya is always really low and I have water hardness where I live so di-chlor is def the one for me 👍 thank you so much. Lastly how do I get my pool to have that blue tint to it please and does using it effect the water readings as I want to get some . Ty

@castingdirector8412 8 жыл бұрын

It sounds like liquid chlorine is the best way to go with no other issues to worry about. Is it just the cost difference that makes it less desirable ?

@nealrainsford4873 5 жыл бұрын

I use Di chlor and trichlor to all the pools I service. I prefer calsium hyperchloride for oxidising a pool when it is green because it releases free chlorine quicker so it works faster. But all all chlorine is good. Secret is to test your water at a professional company that can give you the proper advice. It's like going to the doctor. Some medicines wor for some depending on the conditions. At least its cheaper to get advice from your local pool company than going to the doctor. Important thing is to not let things slide like so many people do. Then it becomes tedious and expensive

@buckeyelady65 4 жыл бұрын

I read on TroubleFreePools to buy the TF-100 Test Kit and download the App from TroubleFreePools and it will tell you exactly what to do with you water parameters. The reviews are fantastic. I know from experience that some stores will give you wrong info cuz they need to sell XYZ and people end up w/so many problems. Sounds familiar. We're going to be using this Kit and App and I can't wait.

@MakeItAllManiac 8 жыл бұрын

will they bleach vinyl liners?

@Ivan-od7bp 6 жыл бұрын

Hello i was given 3 50lbs buckets of accu-tab tablets si nsf 60 cal hypo they are used to sanitize drinking water any chance they can be used in pools with low ch or high cya ?

@IbrahimAli-xe9iz 4 жыл бұрын

Is cal-hypo raise the PH lvl too? I've been using ca-hypo shocks and my PH went up from 7.5 to 7.7. Also what about Trichlor ? Does it have any side effects?

@jaymcmahon7407 5 жыл бұрын

Great stuff. Thanks. If only Pool Store People would make it so clear. Because of them I ended up dumping tons of Dichlor in my pool and constantly had algae issues and could not hold chlorine. Only after reseaching for hours on end, I figured out I was only increasing CYA every time I added dichlor. I ended up with 150 ppm CYA so off to draining the pool I went and switched to bleach/liquid chlorine until get CYA down. I'm at 55 ppm now so a bit more draining. At least I am hold some chlorine and no algae. Also found out when you have too much CYA you need to target chlorine at 7.5% of CYA. That has worked so far. Another also is with high CYA you should correct your Akaline test readings. No wonder pool guys charge $150 p/mo.

@trumpzilla4193 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. . Fighting both cya and caH. 15 k gal pool...fiberglass.. any direction on amounts of bleach to add?

@mellisabrueckner8914 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, I have both high cya and calcium (hard water). If I use liquid chlorine how many gallons would I need per week in a 18 thousand gallon pool?

@brianlevandowski3167 2 жыл бұрын

What about non chlorine aka oxidizing shock which you didn't talk about? If my cya is at the higher end of the safe zone and my CH is high enough or my chlorine level is already mid to high end spectrum. Does non chlorine shock do a anything as in side effects ?

@gregphilpott3926 8 жыл бұрын

How do I add chlorine to my pool. The pool guy puts pucks in my skimmer is that good?

@stevenross8155 3 жыл бұрын

I have a 200 gallon salt water Jetsetter hot tub. Been using Chlor Brite occasionally and Fresh and Clear (shock) 3-4 times weekly. Problem is CYA has been increasing and is now at 220. Should I eliminate the Chlor Brite and Fresh and Clear? My Calcium/Harness levels are within range. I know my salt system will generate chlorine... but once a month or if the chlorine level is too low, should I go with an unstabilized chlorine? What is the name of one? Thank you for your feedback. Steve

@man5qts 9 жыл бұрын

hey Blake i have a solar floater purifier in my pool, and i am using bleach, and sometimes shock from walmart. how many liquid bleach bottles per gallon should i put in a 34,500 gallon pool. please reply, because my calcuim levels is always high, and my cya levels is pretty well maintained but my pool wont retain chlorine for more than 3 days. please reply.

@arien3258 2 жыл бұрын

i have a newly built pool a salt water pool but no salt added yet, the only treatment my pool recieved is a muriatic acid, a suncoast shock with a 99% of sodium dichlor, suncoast stabilizer and baking soda, is it normal to see a present of bromine reading on my test strip? they said bromine cannot be mix with salt water.

@CrystalMitchell-km1vf 2 ай бұрын

I've used cal hypo for years and always have to add tons of calcium hardness at the start and middle of summer. It's always confused me how it stays at 0 with tons of cal hypo shock, until I add it?

@kristintourville948 Ай бұрын

Why do you need calcium in your water for a plaster/tile pool?

@Bunkysworkshop 6 жыл бұрын

Hi Blake, So what I'm getting from this is just use liquid chlorine for your pool for shocking and sanitize and call it a day...

@shriaingnama 4 жыл бұрын

ya but, what about non chlorine crap removal ?

@VEEZER1 6 жыл бұрын

And the benefit and side affects of using a trichlor granular as a maintenance shock?

@t8deer952 4 жыл бұрын

how to decrease cya safely? I'm looking to use powder dichlore for 200ppm in water for drainage but since you said it won't be effective if it reaches 80ppm+ then it's an issue.

@fordrac1ng81 3 жыл бұрын

If your CYA is high you need to do a partial drain and fill

@mdhunter0366 2 жыл бұрын

I have both types of Chlorine. Is it ok to put Sodium Diclor tabs in the float and add Calcium Hypochlorite granular dissolved with water to obtain a good chlorine level. I've had bad luck with just using S Diclor as it raises my Cya acid above it's proper range and locks the pool up. I've read that it's un safe to use them together ?

@armadilllo 2 жыл бұрын

Those floating tablet dispensers are bad, what happens is after you system shuts off they quit moving around and end up sitting in a corner or on top of a step then just dump tons of chlorine in one spot destroying your plaster.

@christydimon5134 5 жыл бұрын

16 months ago I have my fiberglass pool resurfaced by the largest Fiberglass Pool Company in North Texas, and at the time the ONLY Fiberglass pool company in North Texas. Since then, I continue to get Cobalt staining especially when I add chlorine. I spend $120 a month on Cobalt Stain remover which dissolves all chlorine. When I shock the pool afterward, I use Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate from Leslies afterwards, a brown stain comes back immediately. Leslies told me to use Potassium peroxymonosulfate instead which immediately turned the pool green. Do you think the Potassium Peroxymonsulfate (fresh n clear) interacted with my sodium dichlor-s-triazinetrione dihydrate (Chlor-brite) causing the green and the brown stains remain. My CYA is at 150, Alkalinity is 110, and PH is 7.4. My phosphates are 1000. For the life of me, I can never get a pool without stains or have the ability to balance the chemicals. I have drained the pool 1/3 twice and then refilled it in the last 2 months. What do you recommend please? No one at the pool companies know what to do. Texas fiberglass pools refuses to help because they have too many customers making them to resurface their pools due to the same problem I have. I am going broke. Thanks.

@hyperspaced77 2 жыл бұрын

CYA at 150 is alot! Ideally it should be less than 30ppm (outdoor pools w/o salt water generator). Same goes for the phosphates which should be less than 200ppm. Phosphates are food for algae which turns your pool green. The problem is that the CYA in your pool is way too high. You would need at least 13ppm free chlorine to just be able to disinfect your pool for 150 CYA, which is simply a waste of chemicals. I would suggest first you bring the levels of CYA down by emptying 1/2 of your pool (warning: let a professional do this) and refilling with fresh water. Add phosphate remover to bring down the phosphate levels and then shock your pool (with the help of an algaecide and a flocculant too). Anyway, did you manage to fix this?

@marlotquizon1273 3 жыл бұрын

I add calcium hypochorite 70% in my pool and it turns dark brown. Do you think if i use Liquid sodium hypochorite it will not turn brown again?

@Paggy6668 3 жыл бұрын

You probably have iron in your water. The chlorine brings it out of solution and turns it a brown color in the water.

@michelleseney4687 4 жыл бұрын

can I use liquid chlorine in a vinyl pool?

@Paggy6668 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!!!

@sportsmansparadice42 9 жыл бұрын

Which shock is best for a 24,000 gallon salt water pool?

@peggyclark9037 9 жыл бұрын

sportsmansparadice42use regular bleach 75oz will rise chlorine 2-4 ppm( 8.25 % regular plain un scented household bleach) I use it all the time on my 24x54 pool looks fantastic adds no unwanted side effects

@rogelioestanislaojr3261 3 жыл бұрын

If you have a saltwater pool you shouldn't need to shock it. Electrolysis is used to take the salt and make chlorine for the pool so you are adding "shock" when your saltwater pool system runs.

@sportsmansparadice42 3 жыл бұрын

@@rogelioestanislaojr3261 That was 5 years ago. We since filled in the pool with dirt. I will never buy a house with a pool again.

@stebrijodi 3 жыл бұрын

Can I liquid Clorox to pebble tech?

@rogelioestanislaojr3261 3 жыл бұрын

Clorox bleach is not the same as liquid chlorine.

@tomangelucci8074 7 жыл бұрын

Blake, Excellent Video. I have had an inground pool for 17 years (wow I feel old) Anyway I have never had a year where I didn't have water problems. I have a salt water Chlorine generator Two things I want to know. Does the salt get depleated, seems like I'm always adding salt. How much is "normal". Seems like there's a calcium debris that is being produced with the salt water cell and getting into the pool; is this normal. I was also wondering about the differences of test Kits. Taylor K 2006 Vs Taylor K 2006C, Lastly, how important is it to test for Phosphate Thanks again man. BTW I'm an Engineer, this pool maintenance is the biggest challenge in my life :)

@tophgeld8440 7 жыл бұрын

K-2006, K-2006c and the TFT (kit mentioned in video) also use the same Taylor reagents. The only difference is the size of the bottles. The best advice I have is to check out Trouble Free Pool. They have great info on chemistry and a lot of people with SWGs that can help you.

@KeepHammering7 6 жыл бұрын

Does cal-hypo clog filter?

@nealrainsford4873 5 жыл бұрын

It shouldn't but calsium releases gasses when it gets into contact with water so if you apply it to your pool rather mix it with water first in smaller amounts and distribute evenly. Don't put it directly into suction point or weir because expanding glass can cause leaks or worst case an filter that crack which is costly. It's rare but rather be safe

@nealrainsford4873 5 жыл бұрын

I mean gass

@jacobsmith5762 4 жыл бұрын

If I’m using cal hypo and my ch levels are in the optimal range if I continue to use the cal hypo to treat my poll is the ch level going to continue to climb or does some of it burn off or dissipate and does the same thing happen if the scenario was switched to dichloro does the synaric acid dissipate or does it just continue to saturate

@Hank_Amarillo 4 жыл бұрын

ch and cya will not burn off or go away, only way to lower them is by adding fresh water and draining

@nbookie 9 жыл бұрын

Let me see if I understand that correctly. In order to use liquid bleach and obtain the same concentration as one of these other two chemicals I'm looking at 6 or 7 maybe 8 gallons of bleach to shock at the same level? currently a gallon of bleach, let's say Clorox is somewhere in the neighborhood of 2.00 to 2.50 a gallon all of a sudden that doesn't compare cost wise to the other options. If you're using Clorox because your other levels are too high that. Is it better just ato treat the water or dilute the water in some way to lower the calcium or the cya levels? This way you can use the di or clor?

@chap400001 9 жыл бұрын

nbookie I put in an in ground 20K gallon pool 6 years ago. It was sold to me that all I need to do is keep the di-chlor 3 inch pucks in the in-line feeder and shock once a week and things will be fine. They were fine for about 2 years, Then I started to notice that when I shocked the pool, also using di-chlor, it was taking days for the shock level to drop. I was told this is because my CYA levels was around 150ppm. I had no idea how this happened (I do now). I was then told to start using a cal-hypo based solution and to stop using all di-chlor based products. Next thing I know about the next year my CH level start to reach 600. Cal flacks start to show up in the bottom feed net. As explained in the video, the only why to drop CYA and CH is to drain a bit and refill and repeat. It was not until this winter that I started to take control of my pool and stop buying into the crap that was sold to me. I invested in a SWG, dropped my pool 6K gallons and did a refill. I only shock with liquid chlorine when needed. I keep my PH and TA in line and do my own testing with a good test kit. Unless you drain a large part of your pool each each, using non Liquid Chlorine products will increase CYA or CH over time. I find the old way is still the best way. IF you do drain your pool a lot you can continue to use Di-chlor or cal-hypo. They do work well when levels are set correctly. This video is spot on.

@chuckschillingvideos 7 жыл бұрын

In my opinion, you should rarely if ever need to "shock" a well-maintained pool during the swimming season. If you are shocking so frequently, in all likelihood you are keeping your baseline FAC too low.

@nealrainsford4873 5 жыл бұрын

I'd cyanuric acid gets too high you can counter this by raising your total alkalinity. Ta

@nealrainsford4873 5 жыл бұрын

@Joe Kinchicken why not and if so please explain. I'm always available for more info. I understand that if your pool I grossly overstabalised it will affect your chlorine function but then you really have to add huge amounts for that to happen and cyanuric acid is a form of acid so it can be neutralised. Nice if you can explain. I've been to both biogaurd and waterwell courses. I'm not a chemical engineer though.

@nealrainsford4873 5 жыл бұрын

@Joe Kinchicken Thank you I'll read up on it. In South Africa we're having water shortages. So everybody is installing backwash tanks to recycle the water. Problem is that we now deal with high tds readings. Replenishing water is still needed.

@nealrainsford4873 5 жыл бұрын

@Joe Kinchicken Hi I need some advice. I started cleaning a pool last week Friday. It was a swamp and it layed still for about two or three years. I tested the water and it was extremely acidic. So I first added a metal remover/stain preventative. No metals detected in water. The pool is fiberglass. It had green and what seemed to be mustard algae also. I scooped for more than two hours then vacuumed it on bypass and proceeded to rush the pool. The algae just stuck like you can't believe. Long story short. I balanced the water added a floculant and vacuumed it. Pool is slightly cloudy and all the algae is gone but there is what at first seemed to be a light brown metal stain all around the walls of the pool. When I felt it with my hands it felt like a fine grit sand paper. It doesn't brush off. Metal remover also is not taking it off. Do you think it's scaling.

@nealrainsford4873 5 жыл бұрын

@Joe Kinchicken thanks wil try that

@nealrainsford4873 5 жыл бұрын

Hi. Sorry for getting back to you so late. I found supplier for citric acid. Client ask me to do weekly maintenance and pool is beautifully kept. I'm sure it citric acid wil affect the water balance. OK so here is my question. How do I use it. And what can I expect. Ps. I've managed to get six maintenance contracts since I was retrenched and my bussies is nearly becoming self effecient since I got retrenched. It's tough but extremely rewarding. Many thanks

@69mjar 7 жыл бұрын

isn't shock a verb not a noun. shock is something you do to your pool. you super chlorinate it. so you add more granular chlorine. so isn't buying bags of "shock" a waste of money since they have the same % of chlorine than regular granular chlorine?

@Paggy6668 3 жыл бұрын

You are correct. It is all marketing.