If you want to know more about pool cleaning chemicals, this article will explain what they do and how they work. Learn about chlorine, bromine, lithium hypochlorite, and borate to decide which is right for your pool. You can also learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each type of pool chemical.
Chlorine
Despite its reputation, people don’t really hate chlorine as a pool cleaning chemical. The odor and dry skin caused by chlorine-based compounds can be unattractive. But this chemical is essential in keeping water free of microbes that can make swimmers sick, like Escherichia coli. Pool operators add chemicals to maintain a stable water pH level. This makes it a safe choice for swimming pools.
Its ability to kill bacteria is attributed to its chemical reaction with the water, creating hypochlorous acid. This chemical breaks down the lipids in a cell’s wall and renders the microorganism harmless. The difference between the two chemical solutions lies in their effectiveness in maintaining the pH level of the pool water. The acidic property of chlorine kills bacteria faster than a weaker chemical, and it takes half an hour to destroy a single microorganism.
Bromine
Whether or not bromine is a good choice for your pool depends on your personal preference. Chlorine and bromine are similar in their sanitizing properties, but they have very different chemical breakdowns. If you use too much of either, you may cause more damage to your water. Whether you choose bromine or chlorine depends on your pool’s specific needs and how often you use it. Bromine is much more stable than chlorine, so you can use it in spas and hot tubs without worrying about it breaking down too quickly.
In addition to its sanitizing properties, bromine has other benefits, too. It is stable in sunlight and does not cause airborne contamination. Bromine does not require shocking, which means you don’t have to re-shock your pool as often. Furthermore, bromine is less expensive than chlorine. It also has many more benefits but is not suitable for all pools. This article will give you some basic information about bromine.
Lithium hypochlorite
If you are looking to sanitize your swimming pool, then lithium hypochlorite may be right for you. Lithium hypochlorite is a granular powder that contains 28 to 35% free chlorine. It is a great choice for both fiberglass and vinyl pools, as it leaves zero granules. It also won’t affect pH or calcium hardness levels.
Dichlor is a stabilized form of granular shock that contains no calcium. The stabilizer makes it easy to add to your pool water. It doesn’t need to be dissolved before use, and you can also buy stabilized tablets. Be aware that the supply of lithium hypochlorite is diminishing. If you don’t act now, finding the product will become a challenge a few months from now.
Borate
When it comes to the use of borate as a pool cleaning chemical, the answer depends on the type of algae present in the water. Algae are carbon-based organisms that use water as their food source. In contrast, chlorine removes CO2 from water but does not kill algae; it merely starves them. Without water, algae cannot reproduce. Another benefit of borate is that it reduces the demand for chlorine. Some manufacturers claim it reduces chlorine demand by 50%. Borates also increase hydrogen ion levels, which lowers the pH.
