Pool owners always want to know the best way to add their pool granules into the pool. This isn’t quite a big challenge.
You can choose to add chlorine granules by broadcasting them directly into the pool. You can also decide to dissolve it in a bucket of water before pouring it into the pool.
In the rest of this article, I will be explaining how you can do this effectively and also answering any related questions.
Can you use granules in an above-ground pool?
Yes, you can. Chlorine granules are one of the most efficient ways to give your above-ground pool a boost. Even if your pool has gone green, adding chlorine granules is an effective way to arrest algae and bacterial outgrowths.
Where do I put the granular chlorine in my pool?
If you choose to add granular chlorine to a pool, you can choose to dissolve it or not. This also depends on the type of chlorine shock you are using. If you are making use of dichlor shock, you can add it directly to the pool as it is fast dissolving.
All you have to do is broadcast it evenly over a wide area of the pool. Don’t add it to the skimmer. If any particles settle on the bottom, you can use a pool brush to disperse them evenly.
On the other hand, if you are using a Cal-hypo shock that doesn’t dissolve as fast, then you might have to predissolve. Predissolving involves dissolving the chlorine granules in a pail or bucket before pouring them into the skimmer.
Can you put chlorine granules in a floating dispenser?
No, you shouldn’t. Floating dispensers are built in a way that accommodates tablets. This way, the tablets can dissolve slowly and then diffuse into the water.
How often do you add chlorine granules to an above-ground pool?
If you are adding chlorine granules, luckily for you, it can serve two functions. You can use chlorine granules as a daily dose sanitizer. For this, you can add 4 grams to every 1000 liters of water. This will be necessary when the pool is in daily use.
Also, you can use chlorine granules to shock your pool once a week. Shocking will require a larger amount because you are aiming to take the chlorine levels to 10 parts per million and above. To shock a pool, you will need to add about ½ kg or 1 kg to about 45000 liters of water.
How many chlorine granules do I put in my pool?
This depends on the state of your pool. If this is a routine weekly shock, then experts recommend adding 1 pound of granular shock to every 10,000 gallons of water. If you are having an algae outbreak, the dosage would increase.
For light green algae, you will need to double shock. This requires adding 2 pounds of shock to every 10,000 gallons of water.
For dark green algae, you will need to triple shock. In this situation, it is recommended that you put 3 pounds of shock in every 10,000 gallons of water.
You will need to quadruple shock for black green algae, which is the most severe. And you guessed right, you will need to add 4 pounds of shock to every 10,000 gallons of water.
How long after adding chlorine granules can you swim?
In general, it is advised to wait for four hours before diving into the pool. Another opinion is that you wait for the pump to cycle the water once or twice. This is to give the chlorine time to mix properly.
However, the safest among these options is actually testing the water to know the chlorine levels before jumping in. Chlorine levels of 5 parts per million are okay. Anything above that can cause issues for you.
Do I need to dissolve chlorine granules?
As stated above, dissolving chlorine granules depends on the type of chlorine shock used. For fast-dissolving shock like Dichlor, you don’t need to dissolve it before adding it to the pool. You can just simply broadcast it evenly in the deepest parts of the pool.
On the other hand, when using a shock with larger grains, such as Cal-hypo shock, you must dissolve it first. Or else, it won’t disperse properly.
Is granular chlorine better than tablets?
We can’t really say one is better. It will still boil down to preference. However, there are some factors that can influence whether you choose chlorine granules or tablets. Let’s go right in.
- Convenience: When using chlorine tablets, simply place the required dosage in your chlorine dispenser. Then you just wait for it to slowly dissolve. Some pool owners are of the opinion that this saves time and you don’t need to monitor it as much.
Even though there is some truth in this, you will find it harder to boost chlorine levels. Now, this is where chlorine granules come in. Chlorine granules can raise chlorine levels quicker and more rapidly. This is because of the fast dissolving nature of the granules. Their effects can be felt much more quickly. To show how crucial chlorine granules can be, some owners even administer chlorine granules after using tablets because they want rapid action on algae and bacteria.
In essence, if you just want a consistent supply of chlorine in your pool, then using chlorine tablets is the option you go for. On the other hand, if you just want quick, fast action, then you should invest in chlorine granules.
- Bacteria control: It is expected that chlorine will destroy bacteria. But with regards to comparing the two methods, you will find that using a dispenser gives your pool a steady supply of chlorine. The advantage here is that it doesn’t require constant monitoring.
On the other hand, chlorine granules have to be added by hand. This means that if there is no one present to administer the chlorine, the chlorine levels could drop. When there is no one to add chlorine to, it can give an opportunity for bacteria to multiply. The dispenser gives you the option of a “set and forget” system. Due to this, chlorine tablets are a better option.
- Cost effectiveness: If you want to make use of chlorine granules, you might have to spend slightly more than if you choose to use chlorine tablets. If you are opting for SpaChem Spa Chlorine Granules, you will be spending £16.92 on a 1 kg tub.
On the other hand, if you go for the SpaChem Spa Chlorine 20g tablets, you are looking at a figure of £14.83 for that same 1kg tub. The difference in expense isn’t that much, but over time, you will save more with chlorine tablets.
- Impact on bathers: The active component of chlorine is trichloroisocyanuric acid. This means that chlorine tablets are more acidic. On the other hand, chlorine granules are composed of sodium dichloroisocyanurate.
This compound is quite neutral in terms of affecting pH. When chlorine tablets dissolve in your pool water, it can cause a reduction in the pH and alkalinity. This can cause your skin to itch and even sting your eyes.
Another risk that chlorine tablets pose is their presence in dispensers. If swimmers tamper with them, the acidity can cause harm to them, as chlorine is in a very concentrated form. As a result of this, always make sure that the dispensers are nowhere near swimmers before they swim.
- Impact on water chemistry: As mentioned earlier, chlorine tablets can lead to pH reduction. To understand how serious this is, most US hot tub manufacturers threaten to void the warranty on your hot tub if you use chlorine tablets in it.
This is not farfetched, because low pH levels can be harmful to your hot tub parts. In addition, low pH levels affect how effective chlorine can be. If the effectiveness of chlorine is hampered, bacteria can grow with reckless abandon. Surely you wouldn’t want that.
What type of chlorine do I need for my above-ground pool?
For above-ground pools, the best option is liquid chlorine. It is the most popular and most widely used sanitizer. It is quite cheap and easy to use, with no fuss at all.
Liquid chlorine disperses easily into water without much hassle as it readily dissolves. It also has the fewest side effects and least harmful byproducts when compared to other forms.
Can you use chlorine tablets and granules together?
Yes, you can. They can be used hand in hand. Granules give your pool that quick boost of chlorine. It can spike the chlorine levels in a short time.
On the other hand, chlorine tablets give your pool a steady supply of chlorine as it dissolves. This means you can use it for long-term maintenance. So, when shocking, it is wise to make use of both options.
