At Leisure Industries, we carry a number of pool sanitizer products. If you’re ever unsure what you need, don’t hesitate to contact us or come down to our store to speak with a staff member. Using our information below, you will be able to browse the different pool sanitizer chemicals, along with Features and Benefits of each. All pools and spas must be sanitized with chlorine or bromine to ensure the water is safe to swim in. But with certain systems you can reduce that amount and still be able to maintain a safe, enjoyable pool or spa.
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine (Sodium Hypochloride)
Features
10.3% available chlorine
Benefits
Controls bacteria and algae
Fast acting
Ideal for shocking
Available in re-fillable containers
Negatives
Very high pH: 11.7 Corrosive
Dangerous to handle
May bleach if spilled
Not stabilized, therefore quickly evaporates with sunlight.
Granular Chlorine (Calcium Hypochloride)
Features
65%-75% available chlorine
Benefits
Controls bacteria and algae
Fast acting
Ideal for shocking
Negatives
Corrosive
Dangerous if mishandle
May bleach Vinyl Liners
Not stabilized, therefore quickly evaporates with sunlight.
Chlorine Tablets or Pucks (Trichloro)
Features
90% available chlorine
Benefits
Controls bacteria and algae
May be dispensed through a floating or automatic chlorinator
Stabilized, therefore not subject to sunrays
Negatives
Corrosive
Dangerous if mishandle
May bleach Vinyl Liners
Additional shocking necessary
Bromine
Bromine Tablets
Features
39.2% available bromine 44.4% available chlorine
Benefits
Ideal for hot water (Spas)
Maybe dispensed via floating or automatic brominator
Negatives
Corrosive
Dangerous if mishandled
Additional shocking is necessary
Salt
Salt Chlorination
Features
Electrolytic converter
Plumbed into pool or spa equipment
Benefits
No daily or weekly handling of chlorine.
Automatically manufactures chlorine on site.
Softens the pool water.
Negatives
Produces liquid chlorine resulting in a very high pH level. pH down required on a continual basis.
Very corrosive to metals in pool and equipment (especially heaters) ladders and rails.
Splashing may errode and pit certain decks.
Salt treated pool water cannot be pumped (ie from backwashing, winterizing) into the city sewers. Such as Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton and many more. Otherwise a dechlorination device must be used.
Salt cells must be cleaned frequently otherwise they will calcify and be non operational.
Cells must be replaced every few years at a substantial cost making salt chlorination the most expensive of all pool sanitizers.
Ionization
Argenia ClearBlue
Features
ClearBlue is a pool ionizer system. Combined with a reduced amount of chlorine or bromine, it provides a safe, low maintenance and cost effective solution for maintaining clean, clear water in you pool.
Benefits
Ionization is an effective algaecide and assists in controlling bacteria
With a ClearBlue you can reduce the lever of chlorine in the pool to 0.6 – 3 ppm
ClearBlue releases microscopic mineral ions into the water which gives it a fresh, comfortable feel
Intense sunlight can reduce the effectiveness of unstablized chlorine. ClearBlue ions maintain a consistent concentration under all sun conditions
Clear Blue ions have no effect on the pH level of your water
Once the ClearBlue ionizer is installed, you set it and forget it. We do still recommend checking your pool water regularly to ensure all other parameters are in balance.
