Chlorine is the most common chemical used to sanitize swimming pool water and kill bacteria that can be harmful to swimmers. Pool chlorine commonly comes in two forms—solid (like chlorinating tablets) and liquid. While chlorinating tablets and chlorinating liquid both sanitize pool water, there are some key differences to consider when choosing which product is right for you.
Chlorinating Tablets
Chlorinating Tablets are a great option for most swimming pools and often include stabilizer to help chlorine last longer.
Tablets typically come in two sizes—3-inch chlorinating tablets, which are typically best for larger swimming with a volume of 5,000 gallons or more. Or, 1-inch chlorinating tablets, which are best for smaller pools that are less than 5,000 gallons.
Pool owners often like chlorine in tablet form as tablets are easy to apply, pre-dosed and no measuring is required. Simply test the water at least once a week and add more tablets, if necessary, to maintain a 1-4 ppm free chlorine.
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Chlorinating Liquid
Chlorinating Liquid is a popular choice among pool owners and can be used as a substitute when chlorinating tablets may be unavailable. Chlorinating liquid is not stabilized, which means it may require a chlorine stabilizer to help the chlorine last longer. Chlorinating liquid can also raise pH in pool water resulting in the need for a pH decreaser.
Test pool water at least once per week and maintain 1-4 ppm Chlorine, 7.2-7.6 pH and 30 – 150 Stabilizer. If you are substituting chlorinating liquid for tablets, then 1 gallon of liquid is equal to 2 tablets.*
Chlorinating tablets and chlorinating liquid are both suitable sanitizers for your swimming pool when applied according to label directions. Choose the sanitizer that best suits your individual preferences.
*1 gallon of chlorinating liquid delivers the same amount of chlorine as 2 chlorinating tablets.
