Household bleach contains 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (52,500 ppm). Typical pool chlorine is actually a chemical compound made up of 65% calcium hypochlorite with the remaining 35% made up of calcium and other inert ingredients. A large, 8-pound tub of chlorine granules or powder can cost around $55, which comes out to around $6.50 per pound. It seems pretty clear that chlorine provides a better bang for your buck when it comes to cleaning power and overall effectiveness in your pool. When hypochlorous acid oxidizes in your pool water, it kills germs and renders other nasty bacteria inert. It also means that if you’re using bleach, you’re going to have to add a lot more to get the same result. Pros: Fast dissolving, no residue, adds no calcium or cyanuric to pool. Maintaining a clean, clear, and sparkling pool all summer long is every pool owner’s dream. The hypochlorite ion, also known as chlorate (I) anion, is ClO −. Once you mix up a stock solution of calcium hypochlorite it weakens at a similar rate to household bleach. It also means that if you’re using bleach, you’re going to have to … However, it can sometimes seem like an unwinnable battle between the elements and the sanitizer in your pool. Calcium Hypochlorite; Calcium Hypochlorite is commonly seen as granular Chlorine but also is in puck/tablet form. When adding a calcium hypochlorite tablet, add no more than three at a time and DO NOT fill up the chlorinator. Household bleach is a solution of sodium hypochlorite which generally contains 5% (50 g/litre or 50 000 ppm) available chlorine. This is the chemical responsible for disinfecting your pool through the process of oxidation, in which electrons are taken away from molecules. The rule of thumb for using bleach to sanitize your pool is to use 1 gallon for every ¾ pounds of chlorine you might normally use. It’s also the key ingredient in household bleach. But which is the best option? While both alternatives are proven disinfectants, there are a couple of differences. It’s mostly commonly sold as a white, chlorine-smelling powder/granules, which are then poured directly into the pool water, or sometimes via the pool skimmer. Dry Calcium Hypochlorite Powdered or granulated chlorine, such as calcium hypochlorite, has a ten year shelf life if stored in a cool, dark place. It is also known as “Pool Shock“. August 21, 2020; Keeping a pool sparkling clean is a task. How much bleach to use in Swimming pools? With either bleach or liquid chlorine, you can simply add them to your pool’s skimmer and wait, running your pump while it goes to work. So my aim here with this post is to make equivalent Regular Bleach from Calcium Hypochlorite. The effectiveness and overall strength of traditional chlorine, however, can’t be ignored. Some of the benefits of using pool shock. The key difference between sodium chlorite and sodium hypochlorite is that sodium chlorite contains chlorine atoms having +3 oxidation state whereas sodium hypochlorite contains chlorine atoms having +1 oxidation state . Calcium hypochlorite is very similar to sodium hypochlorite. It turns out, however, that pool chlorine is substantially more powerful than household bleach for several reasons. Studies have shown that if you dissolve 1 gram of chlorine in a liter of water, you’ll get an FAC level of 0.47 grams per liter. Remember too, that chlorine loses much of its cleaning power when used in the sunlight, so it’s always a good idea to add chlorine to your pool at night. Hypochlorous acid is the end goal here. It destroys a variety of disease causing organisms including bacteria, yeast, fungus, spores, and viruses. So either cal hypo or dichlor may be a better chlorine source for you." It is the main active ingredient of commercial products called bleaching powder, chlorine powder, or chlorinated lime, used for water treatment and as a bleaching agent. Short shelf life. Make sure you know the difference between calcium hypochlorite and sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach). Bleach is also a bit more convenient in that it doesn’t need to be mixed or added in any specific way, as chlorine does. Bleach (noun) A variety of bleach. While chlorine may be the go-to option for pools, however, bleach is the weapon of choice in the battle against germs inside the home. This chlorine is then reacted with sodium hydroxide to create sodium hypochlorite. If you decide to use traditional chlorine, however, for the same 30,000-gallon pool, you’ll need 1.5 pounds of solid chlorine (tablets, powder, or granules) to thoroughly cleanse your pool. *Bleach may contain 6 or 8.25% sodium hypochlorite. Thus, some comme… Once you’ve diluted your chlorine of choice in a bucket of water, make sure to let it sit for an hour before adding it to your pool. Truth about bleach, Sodium Hypochlorite, and Chlorine. Calcium hypochlorite—or what most people just call “cal hypo”—is one of various types of chlorine you can buy, and it looks exactly how you’d expect pool chlorine to look. Chlorine, on the other hand, should usually be pre-mixed in a bucket, diluted with water, and then poured evenly around your pool. For less of the stuff, you’ll get the same amount of cleaning power. This translates to 2 gallons of bleach for an average-sized, 30,000-gallon pool. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference and as long as you are testing frequently and topping up when needed, you’ll have a sparkling clean pool for you and your family to enjoy together. Calcium Hypochlorite vs. Bleach (noun) A chemical, such as sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide, or a preparation of such a chemical, used for disinfecting or whitening. �/�~^��yw�S��0rz�U��O�F�o�x�f���U�}�h�xת{�z�q�iՎ[-0~? 1.Sodium hypochlorite , commonly called “liquid bleach”, is commercially available in strengths approximately 15% by weight. It is a white solid, although commercial samples appear yellow. #sh #bleach #sodiumHypochlorite These prices are extremely high for what it is. The benefit of purifying water with granular calcium hypochlorite is that the solution of “chlorine” made with 1 teaspoon to 2 gallons, can be used for small batches of purified water, and that’s all that is needed at the time. Pool chlorine usually comes in a solid-state like tablets, powder, or granules, but can also come in liquid form as bleach does. Calcium Hypochlorite is a granular (or powder) product typically used to chlorinate swimming pools. The production of commercial strength hypochlorite is a multistep process, starting with electrolysis of a brine solution to form chlorine that is similar to the process utilized by OSG. This compound is relatively stable, is similar to sodium hypochlorite in disinfection properties and has greater available chlorine than sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach). Unless you have round the clock people for maintenance, the pool is difficult to maintain, and maintaining the chlorine compound that is calcium hypochlorite balance in the pool prevents bacteria from growing in the water. We’ve determined that bleach is weaker, so you’ll need to have more on-hand at all times to do the same work as less chlorine. It is not highly soluble in hard water Chlorine and bleach are very similar chemicals that both do a great job of fighting the good fight against a scummy, dirty, and murky pool. So, like its calcium counterpart, sodium hypochlorite keeps things germ free. Like calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite is used is some pool sanitizers albeit less often. Bleach is composed of sodium hypochlorite, water, and a bit of salt to keep the chlorine gas in its liquid form. Calcium hypochlorite is an inorganic compound Ca(CIO)2 As a mixture with lime and calcium chloride, it is marketed as chlorine powder or bleach powder. ]L&ԥ�ޮnO��@��b>���GI��So�{��3��x�~eƺŐl��Q�2�0��3wL����c��j��ۨW�F�ȔN��X��Rb0���.���D��{@�=�o��������nT�&�KO�0�2����}�x���$�x�Ds,���U^��P9̹�Zϣ' 65Z�-�jj��J��ʸQVCI �2td��Z��&Ue��\��H�Dvvxс��w�N�x*��s-��. Very high pH level. The biggest difference is in the appearance. The exception here is liquid chlorine. Hypochlorite solutions of 50–2,500 ppm are used to inactivate microbial agents. Once you add water to the Calcium hypochlorite the clock is ticking on its effective life-span, just like regular bleach. This will give it a chance to fully dissolve and work its magic when you do add it to the water. It is a hazardous chemical which can cause chemical burns to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Generally dosing with about 40 -50 ounces every couple of days. So I have to use more bleach than chlorine to get the same effect, right? The two most commons cleansers of choice are bleach and chlorine to keep your pool free of bacteria and other organic invaders. In my test case the clorox was purchased from the store 1 month ago. The quick answer is this. Chlorine-based disinfectants are available in liquid form (sodium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide) and solid form (calcium hypochlorite). Summary – Calcium Hypochlorite vs Sodium Hypochlorite Both calcium and sodium hypochlorite compounds are important as bleaching agents and disinfectants. Re: Shelf Life of calcium hypochlorite vs bleach (sodium hypochlorite) I'm buying a case (four gallons) of 12% sodium hypochlorite (labeled as shock) I go through this in about 3-4 weeks or so. One important difference is the concentration of free available chlorine (FAC) in each chemical. It has excellent stability when kept in dry storage, maintaining its potency over time. The verdict is in. Cons: Harder to buy, store and use. Bleach seems to do the trick when it comes to cleaning your countertops and bathrooms so why not your pool? For example, bleach cost relative to cal hypo (calcium hypochlorite) or dichlor (sodium dichloroisocyanurate) are up, compared to what they were in 1997. Calcium hypochlorite is sold as “pool shock.” It is commonly found in a powder or granulated form containing 68% calcium hypochlorite and other salts. If you’re using liquid chlorine, it will take between 150 and 300 ounces in a 30,000-gallon pool, depending on how much you need to increase your levels. � ��zG�/���eh,�m��h�MKr�fd[c��3���W Calcium hypo is a white powder and sodium hypo is a yellow liquid. Chlorine is available in one of three forms: sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite and liquid chlorine. Calcium hypochlorite contains calcium, and sodium hypochlorite … Note that: ... Calcium hypochlorite powder or granules (70%) (High Test Hypochlorite -HTH) 7 g (0.5 tablespoonful) per 1 litre of water So I began looking into the calcium hypochlorite. Hypochlorites, the most widely used of the chlorine disinfectants, are available as liquid (household bleach, sodium hypochlorite) or solid (common pool chlorine, calcium hypochlorite). So how effective are they at their job? This equates to between 1 and 2 gallons of liquid chlorine (or more) when adjusted for the size of your pool. This little ion is a bit finicky, however, and will only transform into hypochlorous acid if the pH in your pool water is just right. Bleach is such a ubiquitous product with a long shelf life and a very low price tag. Both chlorine (in any form) and bleach dissolve in water to release a hypochlorite ion. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is a transparent, light-yellow solution with water contains 9 to 15 percent chlorine. Sodium Hypochlorite. Be sure to rotate your stock to ensure you have the freshest supply possible. Bleach costs roughly $1-3 per gallon (a gallon is 8.35 pounds) in any grocery store, which comes out to $0.35 per pound (on the higher end). Bleach (noun) A disease of the skin. I guess the price of each would end up evening out in the long run then? Chlorine has long been the most common chemical used to sanitize pools. If price-point is your main concern then sanitizing with bleach may be your best bet. We’ll use the Dry Calcium Hypochlorite to make our own bleach solution, to purify water. The Cleaning Power of Chlorine and Bleach, Pee In Swimming Pools: 7 Things You Probably Didn’t Want To Know, Best Chlorine Tablets: A Review & Buying Guide, The Different Parts of A Pool (How A Swimming Pool Works), Best Solar Pool Heater: Buying Guide & Review. Always use caution when adding bleach to your pool, as splash-back is still a safety concern with even this less-potent chemical. Often, seawater is used as the brine source for production of hypochlorite because of its availability and low cost. The pool shock derived bleach is actually a better whitener than the clorox. This compound is relatively stable and has greater available chlorine than sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach). The key difference between calcium hypochlorite and sodium hypochlorite is that calcium hypochlorite contains two hypochlorite anions associated with one calcium cation whereas sodium hypochlorite contains one … If you do the same with bleach, however, you’re FAC level is closer to 0.04. 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