Yep. The phantom reagent thief struck again. Happens every year to 10′s of thousands of people worldwide. Lucky for you we know where a place that will deliver a whole new kit right to your doorstep.
Total Chlorine & pH 2-Way Test Kit for Pools and Spas
What’s that? you say you don’t need a whole new kit? Sad to say, but in most cases a whole new kit will cost about a buck or two more than purchasing just the reagents. Don’t blame us, though. We just have the gun task of delivering the news. 
While the majority of pool owners use some form chlorine to keep their pool water clean and sanitized, a good number of people use bromine tablets or bromine powder in place of chlorine.
As a general rule bromine offers more disinfecting power than chlorine because even its combined/used form (bromamine) still has the power to help keep water safe and clean. Additionally, by shocking once a week w/ an extra dose of bromine pool and spa owners effectively ‘free’ bromine molecules up to return to their assigned task of oxidizing biological contaminants.
Do bromine pools require stabilizer?
Despite bromine’s superior stability in water compared to chlorine, pool experts suggest maintaining a cyanuric acid level between 30 and 60 part per million. Note: As with chlorine, excessively high stabilizer levels can restrict bromine’s ability to do its job effectively.
What form does bromine come in?
Bromine usually comes packaged in tablet or granular form. Most people use tablets in a floater or feeder of some sort for everyday purposes and granular bromine for weekly shock treatments. One may also use granular bromine as a means of establishing a bromine level in fresh water so that it will begin to draw off of bromine tablets in a feeder or floater.
Who sells bromine?
Pretty much EVERY pool and spa store carries bromine in one form or the other, thought usually most will not carry bromine powder in large containers.
As far as online retailers go, we know that In the Swim carries different sizes of bromine tablet pails ranging from 3.5 pounds all the way up to 500 pounds.
In the Swim’s “Americas Strongest Bromine”…
A question you may have at this point: “How do I test for bromine?”
As usual the easiest method involves the use of test strips manufactured by companies like Aquachek or Pool Check. Test strips offer fast, reliable test results without the need for complicated testing procedures or messy powders and liquids.
We recently got asked for information about the best ‘brand’ of 3-inch chlorine tablets for use in floating chlorinators and chlorine feeder systems and quite honestly we do NOT have an opinion — except that we suggest avoiding using chlorine tablets purchased from large retail chains such as T#rg#t, W#lm#rt, To#s’#'us, K#a#t, etc. if possible.
Will chlorine from those (and other large retail) stores work? Yes, but you will go through more of it faster because it typically has a lower available chlorine content than 3-inch chlorine tablets purchased from pool stores. Why? Last we heard it has something do with the chemical licenses held by large retailers which take into account the ways (and places) in which they store/display chlorine products.
Another thing to consider: Chlorine Stabilizer (cyanuric acid). Most floating chlorinators and chlorine feeder systems do not work properly if you attempt to use non-stabilized chlorine tablets in them. Plus, non-stabilized forms of chlorine tend to volatilize out of the water quickly making it harder to maintain free chlorine residuals in the water.
Also, do NOT use fast/rapid dissolving tablets in chlorine feeder systems. Dangerous situations involving the rapid (no pun intended) formation of dangerous pressure levels in your pool’s plumbing may result!
So… Where can you purchase stabilized 3-inch chlorine tablets that will provide the higher level of available free chlorine? In the Swim carries a quality product that comes in a variety of sizes:
Given how BUSY most people get during the rest of the year, why would Summer offer them a break in their hectic routine? Therefore it definitely didn’t shock us one bit when ‘Mary12Adam’ wrote in and asked,
“My husnband and I both work 2 jobs and take turns shuffling the kids around to all their school, soccer, band and scout stuff. We don’t have time to run back and forth to the pool store every week for more pool chemicals. Do you know a chemical kit that will last us most if not all summer long?”
We certainly empathize with your situation, Mary, since we have kids, too, and have to create time to do ANYthing other than work, housework and drive them hither and yon.
We typically stock up on chemicals from our local pool supply store early in the season and don’t have to make a trip back until at least 3/4 of the way through the season, though sometimes a bit sooner if we get a lot of rain or have 2 or 20 more social gatherings at the homestead.
Since it sounds like you clearly don’t have a lot of time on your hands, Mary, for going to the pool store even ONCE, we suggest that you look into a pool chemical package like the Chemical Season Supply Kit (Large) from Amerimerc.Com, a leading online retailer of pool chemicals, pool test kits, pool supplies, and, of course, pool toys.
What does the kit contain? So glad you asked!
Looking for other chemicals and supplies for your swimming pool and want them delivered right to your door? Check out the latest offerings on Amerimerc.Com!
We get this question countless times… because some pool companies either don’t do a good job explaining to customers what they will need to do when swimming season rolls around again OR because people have purchased homes that have a pool — and the former owners didn’t leave instructions.
In either case, we get this question a lot. Below you will find links to four areas of interest for pool owners in the Spring:
And, of course, an area that too many pool owners neglect: Pool Water Test Kits.
Can’t I just dump a bunch of chlorine in and call it a day?
Sure… but then you will more than likely waste money correcting the problems you’ve created or didn’t solve by simply adding chlorine.
Testing your pool water for at LEAST the basics (metals, pH, alkalinity, free chlorine, total chlorine, calcium hardness and cyanuric acid) will give the knowledge you need to purchase the correct pool chemicals and add the correct amounts so you can get your pool started properly and avoid annoyances such as staining caused by the addition of chlorine to water containing high levels of metals, algae caused by poorly balanced water in which chlorine cannot do its job, etc.
Consider This : 99% of the time it costs MORE money to fix a pool water chemistry issue than it does to test in the first place and add the correct chemicals the first time!
Did you open your pool this season and discover that an overly harsh Winter put holes in your Winter cover and/or turned it into a useless tarp that resembles swiss cheese? If so, then trust us when we say that happens ALL the time.
Too much water on the cover, ice shifting over the Winter, squirrels, cats, dogs, kids and the occasional stray water buffalo can all cause irreparable damage to a Winter cover.
Now that the weather has warmed, the ice has all melted and the water buffalo has left your yard, you may find yourself in need of an affordable winter cover that will… cover your pool and keep bugs, leaves, dirt and debris out of the water. Take a look at the Cantar line of above ground winter pool covers. They offer excellent pool protection at a good price — and more.
Get more information about pricing and availability of Cantar Above Ground Pool Covers on the PoolCenter.Com Web Site.
Choosing to ignore an often overlooked pool water parameter can result in a lot of wasted time, energy and money. Some folks believe adding chlorine to their pool water on a regular basis will guarantee them clear, clean and safe water for the duration of the swimming season.
Not true. Chlorine will find ANY excuse to leave your pool water before it does the job you wanted it to. Sunlight, especially, will deplete a pool of its chlorine content before you can count to… well, it happens pretty fast if your pool lacks the proper amount of chlorine stabilizer (aka: cyanuric acid).
Picture, if you will, a chlorine molecule as an excitable child that wants to run all over the place and do things it ought not do — like leave the playground without permission. Cyanuric acid acts as a calming tool that slows down chlorine’s A.D.D. ways and keeps it in your pool water (the playground) longer so it can ‘take care of’ unwanted biological contaminants such as urine, fecal matter, etc.
So yes, you want cyanuric acid in your pool water if you use chlorine. Some forms of chlorine come with a built in stabilizer (see stabilized chlorine powder, 3″ slow dissolving tablets, stabilized chlorine tablets for skimmers, 1″ fast dissolving tablets for skimmers, and 8 ounce stabilized chlorine sticks) while other forms of pool chlorine (see calcium hypochlorite powder and liquid chlorine) lack chlorine stabilizer entirely.
So… How can a pool owner determine if they have enough chlorine stabilizer in their water? Good question!
Thus far we know of three methods; each with its own advantages and drawbacks.
In recent years pool accessory manufacturers have come up with all sort of interesting gadgets designed to make opening pools in the Spring easier, less time-consuming, and less painful in terms of manual labor. Devices include mesh covers which allow rain and snow water to pass through, winter cover clips which hold above ground cover edges in place, water bags for above ground pools that also help to hold cover edges in place, and ‘unbreakable’ aqua blocks to replace the single water tubes and double water tubes that squirrels, chipmunks and other animals seem to enjoy chewing holes in every year.
Looking for the latest and greatest way to keep unwanted debris off of your winter cover and out of your swimming pool? If so, then you may want to take a look at the Pool Tree.
Featuring an innovative and interesting design that supports your winter cover and eliminates the need for awkward air pillows, the Pool Tree has the potential to save you time, money and frustration when it comes time to open your pool back up in the Spring.
When used in conjunction with a mesh cover, water from rain and snow passes through the cover and the angle created by the Pool Tree makes it nearly impossible for leaves and other forms of blowing debris to get stuck on the cover.
When used in conjunction with a solid winter cover, the downward and outward sloping angle created by the Pool Tree forces collected water and debris all the way out the edge of the pool and/or over the side of the pool — making clearing off the cover a simple process.
The A/G (above ground) Pool Tree works with both solid and mesh winter covers and will fit round pools up to 27′ in diameter and oval pools up to 18′ x 36′ in size.
The I/G (inground) Pool Tree works exclusively with SAFETY COVERS ONLY and will fit inground pools up to 20′ x 40′ in size.
If you live in area with high winds, you may want to consider using cover clips to secure your above ground winter cover. When used properly, winter cover clips can keep strong gusts of wind from getting underneath your winter cover and possibly causing it to come off of your pool. The winter pool covers listed below come with clips so you won’t need to pick them up separately:
So let’s assume your winter cover survived last year’s blizzards and the squirrels didn’t get to it over the Summer. Did the water tubes (sometimes called water bags) survive as well? If not, then the following links will definitely come in handy.
