swimming pools and chemicals questions

[troypiggo (Troy)]

We've recently moved house, and it has a swimming pool. 50kL, chlorine (not salt), painted concrete. First time I've owned a pool, and finding we're dumping a lot of money at the chemicals etc. I'm assuming there are some chemistry or at least IIS users experienced with pools here.

At the moment, money is tight. I've had mates recommending to get a pool cover, convert to salt, get a robot cleaner and so on. That's all great advice, and taken on-board, but at the moment they're frankly out of reach due to budget.

First question. Where's the cheapest place to get pool supplies like the chlorine, acid, even the other stuff like sunblock, clarifiers, algicides and so on? I've seen epools.com.au. Been buying from the local Poolwerx, and their service is fantastic, but they're not cheap. Bunnings I know has some stuff. Any other suggestions?

Second. The test kit supplies. Got one of those little kits that tests the chlorine with DPD(?) tablets. Also does pH with a chlorine neutraliser, 5 drops of some red liquid to see the pH, then you add drops of some other clear liquid to tell you how much acid to add to get the pH back down if too high etc. Again - best place to get them?

Third. Can you do "home test" kits for phosphates? We've had high levels when tested pool samples at Poolwerx and had a green pool when first moved in. Do any home tests detect that? Or just go to the shop and get them to do it?

Finally. Has anyone got any experience on this magicpools.com product "Algi Bloc"? Reading the blurb, and I know there's a lot of sales fluff in there, but sounds like it's some algicide that lasts heaps longer than the normal stuff used. And because of that, you don't need as much chlorine in the water. So really cuts down on chemicals you need to add, and how often you need to check. Thoughts?

[Kunama]

The home test kits work fine if used as per directions. Both of my pools had salt chlorinators though. Generally I only used algicides at the start of each swimming season or sometimes after heavy rains which tended to result in the pool wanting turn a little green. My pools were in Mooloolaba.

I bought my supplies in bulk, works out much cheaper but store them well out of kids reach.

Just read the "AlgiBloc" blurb, not sure I believe it to be that good but have never tried.

In my last house the biggest temptation was to fill the pool in with soil, I think owning a boat would have been cheaper! They were great when the kids were little but once they turned into teenagers the pool use was nearly nil, off to the beach instead.

[Baddad (Marty)]

Hi Troy,

I assume you are still in Brisbane.

We have a 70KL pool. 10yrs experience with different chlorination devices.
Salt is okay but it consumes a lot of electric power. There is no way around it.
We have a self chlorinator / filter. It runs one and a half hours per day in summer and one hr in winter. We have some issues with eucalytus trees dropping leaves in the pool.

I keep the chlorination a little higher than usual. As it drops quickly when the sun hits it and water temp is high in summer.

There are some cheat cuts you can do. Keeps the cost down. The water is invitingly clear. Except in winter when I don't clean it as often.

I will PM you my ph #.

Cheers

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Thanks guys. Pool is under control (ie clear and blue). Main thing is where to get best deals on supplies from here on. Will keep looking around.