Pool Supplies

This article aims to discuss the most common pool supplies that you will want to understand if you are considering buying a swimming pool, or already an owner but wish to develop swimming pool maintenance knowledge.  With a little bit of reading, you should be able to greatly reduce common problems and identify and assess products suitable for your purpose.

Swimming Pool Supplies Explained

Depending on the type of swimming pool you wish to maintain, you will need various swimming pool supplies to ensure it continues to function and provide safe and healthy bathing.  The biggest factor is the size of the pool.  Extremely large commercial pools can often have expensive and advanced technology to sanitize pool water.   However this guide aims to deal with those wishing to learn more about in-ground garden pools, and cheaper above ground pools such as those made by Bestway and Intex.  If this is relevant to you then the we will now continue to explain the most common swimming pool supplies.

Pool Chemicals Supplies

The most important items you will need are pool chemicals supplies.  Without proper attention to pool water maintenance, your pool will quickly deteriorate and resemble something more comparable to something found in nature, such as a woodland lake or large garden pond…!  Bacteria and algae quickly take over, turning your water green, providing a place for mosquitoes to breed and generally cause an eye-sore in your garden.

But with a bit of basic learning you will quickly discover that pool chemicals supplies need not be a mystery to you, and you will only need a few items on a regular basis.  We will now discuss these pool chemicals in more detail so that you can identify and differentiate between the thousands of products available and more efficiently hone in on those chemicals suitable for your pool supplies.

How will I remember all these pool chemical supplies?

But before we get in to that, please try to remember the following acronym which will help you to remember each of the following areas of pool maintenance responsibilities and associated products:

B.O.A.S.T

The BOAST system was first adopted by Blue Horizons Pool Chemicals. This brand of chemicals are all color coded so you can identify which products relate to which part of the system.

B – Balance your pool water’s pH level.
Balancing pH level reduces problems such as skin irritation, and also increases the effectiveness of other pool chemical supplies.

O – Oxidize your pool water. 

A – Algae Control

The best way to control algae is to prevent it with pool algaecide supplies.  Algae can be present a long time before the pool goes green, and once established it can be tricky to get rid off.

S – Sanitize your pool water

The most common form of sanitizer is pool chlorine, although bromine can also be used, as well as many other solutions.  However, pool chlorine is the easiest and the cheapest way to sanitize.

T – Testing pool water.
Although the step comes last in the BOAST acronym, in reality it actually comes first.  Before you can adjust the balance, the pH, or the sanitizer levels you must use pool test strips (or another pool tester method) to first check the current levels.  From there you will calculate how much the levels need to change (to bring them back into the ideal ranges), and how much of each pool chemical supplies you need to add to make this change.   Testing pool water prior to bathing is also advised if pool chemicals have recently been added.   Pool chemical supplies can be dangerous.  ALWAYS refer to the packaging and pay close attention to dosage requirements.

Pool Chlorine Supplies

Pool chlorine supplies alone are enough to boggle the mind.  We will here try to explain the different types and why you might or might not wish to choose to use them.  Sodium Hypochlorite, Calcium hypochlorite, chlorine granules, chlorine tablets, shock chlorine, and hundreds of variations in brand and subtle differences such as multifunctional chlorine tablets which also contain algaecides and clarifiers.  How can you possibly choose the right products?

The truth is, you might need several types of chlorine in your pool supplies.  Most pool users will predominantly depend on chlorine tablets to sanitize water, as this form of chlorine is slow dissolving and provides a long and slow gradual release, protecting your pool from unwanted bacteria and impurities for a long period of time.   These tablets can be dropped in a skimmer, or used in a floating chlorine dispenser.

However, Chlorine granules should also be used in small quantities alongside your chlorine tablets, to provide a quick dose and to ensure levels meet the recommended value. 

Chlorine Shock is also very important to have about, especially if you are not using algaecide.  If the pool starts to go green due to (for what ever reason) your sanitizer levels running low, then you can apply the special shock chlorine granules to literally shock dose the pool and quickly kill off the algae.

Liquid chlorine, or “hypo” as it is sometimes referred is also a very cheap chlorine and can also be used to shock a pool.  However, this is a dangerous chemical and sometimes difficult to obtain, as it is one of the few that can not be delivered by courier or any kind of mail service.  As such, it can sometimes be overpriced.  If delivery is not available, then you have to run the risk of an accident whilst transporting it home from your local pool supplies store.  Be very careful when handling liquid chlorine, and refer to all safety warning on the labels.  It is also recommended that you wear protective eye-wear so as not to have chlorine splash back in your face accidentally.

To summarize, it is advised that you use pool chlorine tablets alongside pool chlorine granules, with a bottle of shock chlorine granules, or liquid chlorine (if you can get it and use it safely) on standby for those pool maintenance “oops!” moments.   Pool chlorine refers to the ‘S’ of “BOAST” standing for sanitizing pool water.

Pool pH Chemicals Supplies

B of BOAST stands for Balance, and when we talk about balancing pool water we are referring to the pH level in your pool water.   For this you will need some basic pH chemical supplies.  It is important to balance pH correctly, because chlorine works best, and conditions most ideal for skin lies within the range of 7.2 to 7.6. 

By using some pH test strips, you can ascertain the current level and how much you need to raise or lower it by.  In your pool supplies you will need pH plus (such as swimming pool alkali) and pH minus (such as swimming pool dry acid).   Always be double sure to check the dosage instructions when adjusting levels of any pool chemical supplies.  Also, always pre-dissolve pool chemical granules in a bucket of warm water by added chemicals to the water, and not water to the chemicals.  This prevents any kind of concentrated splash back.

Pool Algaecides Supplies

As previously discussed, algaecide can be a real pest and has been known to ruin the possibility of enjoying your pool at the worst possible time.  Without proper prevention, algae can infest you water and remain invisible to the naked eye long before it goes green.  If you are in the habit of planning pool parties, and you want to ensure appealing water, then invest in a litre or two of long-life algaecide to proactively prevent the growth of algae and those embarrassing green pool moments.

There are various types of pool algaecide supplies, which fall mainly in to two categories. Copper and non copper algaecides.  Copper algaecides are generally more effective, but there are also some great non-copper algaecides.   The algaecide issue is represented by the ‘A’ of the B.O.A.S.T system.

Other Pool Chemicals Supplies

There are many other pool chemicals supplies, most of which you will possibly never need.  However, if you encounter certain problems such as being unable to balance your pH, and chlorine becoming ineffective, or undesirable cloudy water, you might wish to explore a little further and find some specialty products which can make life easier, albeit at a little additional costs.

One of the most commonly advised additional products for pool and spa users, besides algaecides, are clarifiers and flocculants.  As these pool supplies can be costly and apparently un-necessary, many choose not to experiment with them.  But flocculants such as the award winning and jovially named Jolly Gel will significantly help to maintain crystal clear water, even after a major algae problem is resolved.

Pool Clarifiers & Flocculants Supplies

Pool clarifiers and pool flocculants basically improve water clarity by help to aid filtration.  There are various different forms, such as liquid based clarifier chemicals such as Pro-swim Bright & Clear, which you add directly to the water.  Jolly Gel as you can guess from the name is gel based.  For spas and above ground pools, or anything that works with a cartridge based pool filter, you will want to use a liquid based clarifier.  For larger pools based in larger sand based filtration systems, Jolly Gel is highly recommended.  Liquid clarifiers work by literally sticking to unwanted cloudy water particles, which otherwise would be too fine to be collected by the pool filter.  Gel based flocculants work by creating a porous membrane which collects particles too fine to be collected by sand alone.   Jolly Gel flocculant is especially recommended for larger commercial pools which can present very difficult maintenance problems regarding cloudy water.   A very useful chemical to have in your pool supplies!

Pool Test Strips Supplies 

It is arguable that pool test strips are the most important pool supplies and it is recommended that you use a relatively cheap 5 in 1 pool test strip so that you can test regularly.   Regular testing is important to ensure that levels are all within safe limits, and to gauge how much of each pool chemical to add in order to adjust levels back to within these limits. 

It is advised that all dosing of pool chemicals takes place after the day’s bathing is done, and that testing takes place prior to use the following day.  This prevents any risk of bathers entering the pool with an unusually high chlorine reading.  For example, if you mistake shock chlorine granules for regular chlorine granules.  Testing your pool water is your responsibility to everyone who will use your pool.

Why 5 in 1 Pool Test Strips?

Most of the time you could get away with a simple 3 in 1 pool test strip, assuming that at the very least it will provide a test for chlorine, and one for the pH level.  However, due to tough competition on the internet, prices for 5 in 1 test strips can be frequently found to be equal to, or even lower than the 3 in 1 options.  Plus, they will give the extra advantage of being able to spot other potential problems such as Total Alkalinity readings, Cyanuric acid, and total hardness calcium levels etc.  Occasionally you can experience problems if this reading are outside of the advised ranges as shown on the result chart of any test strip.   If you have a problem with balancing pH and readings for chlorine don’t seem to make sense, it is recommended that you test for total alkalinity and these other readings.   If you find you have a problem with these, you can seek a specialty product to deal with it first, before then readjusting pH and chlorine levels.  All this is done with your trusty 5 in 1 test strips.   We recommend QualAqua 5 in 1 pool test strips, as they last a lot longer than other strips due to the foil style wrappers.  With only 5 strips per wrapper, the reagent chemicals on the pads stay fresher, and provide more reliable testing.  Pool test strips are vital pool supplies.

Pool Chemical Supplies Summary

Ok, so how to remember all this?  Well when dealing with pool supplies, always refer to the BOAST acronym system of maintaining pool water where you would:

Balance pH
Oxidise
Algaecide
Sanitize with Chlorine
Test for all levels.

In your pool supplies you will need 

pH Plus
pH Minus
Pool Chlorine Granules
Pool Chlorine Tablets
Pool Chlorine Shock
Algaecide
5 in 1 Pool Test Strips
If you experience cloudy water, also consider a Flocculent.

Pool Chemicals Supplies Help

This article is just a basic introduction to pool supplies and not intended as a complete training guide.  For more information, please visit our pool chemical supplies help section.