BBB method?

A BBB guide to supermarket poolcare.
Use store-bought bleach, baking soda
and borax to replace proprietary pool chemicals.
Watergirl
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BBB method?

Postby Watergirl » Mon 19 May, 2008 08:31

Okay I give, what is the BBB method?? I am looking for a cheaper, but still safe for my pool method of maintaining, these chemicals from the pool store are killing my pocketbook.


Guest

BBB method

Postby Guest » Mon 19 May, 2008 11:38

BBB is bleach, baking soda and borax.

Bleach for sanitizing. You can use the stuff from the supermarket but get the unscented kinds. Less additives.

Baking soda from the supermarket. Raises total alkalinity.

Borax from the supermarket. Raises pH.

It works fine and is safe. You do need to monitor the chemical balance of your pool as always. If you check your pool once a week you'll probably have problems with the water.

Check the chemicals levels daily and adjust and you'll be happy with the results.
Watergirl
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Posts: 6
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Chemicals for BBB method

Postby Watergirl » Tue 20 May, 2008 08:46

Pool user,
Thank you also for the great info, I think we will give it a try.
pryor

BBB method

Postby pryor » Sun 25 May, 2008 21:20

Ok,
I understand the BBB method to a point....

What I am having a hard time figuring out is how much do you use?

We have ag pool, 16x4ft. round, I believe it is 6000 gallons (if I am wrong please tell me!)

How much product do I use at one time?

Thanks ahead of time!!
Guest

BBB method

Postby Guest » Sun 25 May, 2008 23:34

6000 should be right.

Try the calculator here www(dot)poolcalculator(dot)com
Guest

BBB method

Postby Guest » Wed 28 May, 2008 13:22

ok, here are my levels

TC 1
FC 0
PH 6.8
TA 40
CYA 40

so I add...

32 oz(vol) Borax
50 oz Bleach
67 oz (vol) Baking soda

in that order?
through the skimmer? or broadcast? or does it matter?
Do I wait between each step or can I do it one after another?

Just double checking before I do something I can't undo!
Thanks in advance!!
Guest

BBB method

Postby Guest » Thu 29 May, 2008 03:39

I would add the baking soda to raise the TA. The pH will go up somewhat. Test again to see where your TA and pH are.

I would double the bleach total you have there. That is assuming you don't have a dark green swamp on your hands. Right now you have CC (combined chlorine) and you want to get rid of that with your chlorine dose. Test again later and see where FC and TC are. If they are the same you have gotten rid of the CC.

If you pool is full of algae then your dose of bleach should be higher and then kept at that high level.

Anonymous wrote:ok, here are my levels

TC 1
FC 0
PH 6.8
TA 40
CYA 40

so I add...

32 oz(vol) Borax
50 oz Bleach
67 oz (vol) Baking soda

in that order?
through the skimmer? or broadcast? or does it matter?
Do I wait between each step or can I do it one after another?

Just double checking before I do something I can't undo!
Thanks in advance!!
Guest

BBB method?

Postby Guest » Tue 10 Mar, 2009 07:03

Is this really cheaper?
How about clorinating likwid?

Does the likwid keep good and have a good shelflife?
Me...
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BBB method?

Postby Me... » Tue 10 Mar, 2009 08:57

The tests above are missing the Calcium level.

The water is soft without it and can be tougher to filter while it foam like crazy, all the while eating whatever it can to get to the hardness level that makes it happy.

Too high and the water will try to soften up by coating everything it can with all the excess.
chem geek
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Joined: Thu 21 Jun, 2007 21:27
Location: San Rafael, California

BBB method?

Postby chem geek » Tue 10 Mar, 2009 10:20

Pool User wrote:Is this really cheaper?
How about clorinating likwid?

Does the likwid keep good and have a good shelflife?

Chlorinating liquid may be less expensive than bleach in your area. Multiply your 12.5% chlorinating liquid price per gallon by 0.4 (or your 10% chlorinating liquid by 0.5) to get the equivalent price for a 3/4-gallon jug of 6% bleach. As for shelf-life, lower concentrations of chlorine last a lot longer so the bleach will last longer than the chlorinating liquid. The table at the bottom of this link shows you the half-life as a function of concentration (strength) and temperature.

Richard

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