16 Necessary Pool Chemicals: The Best (With Easy Links!)
If you are a new pool owner, it is super helpful to have a quick reference list of necessary pool chemicals.
I trust you have a decent knowledge about pool chemistry, but if not feel free to check out my article Pool Chemistry for Beginners: With 5 Super Helpful Cheat Sheets!
In this post I have made an easy to refer list of 16 necessary pool chemicals for pool owners. There are links to my recommended products so that you can go ahead and order them online from Amazon.
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So let’s get started. Click on the link below to jump to the item that interests you!
- Pool Water Testing
- Pool Sanitizer (Chlorine)
- Shock Treatment (Concentrated Chlorine)
- Stabilizer (Cyanuric Acid)
- Pool Water Balancers
- Algaecide
- Clarifier
- Flocculant
- Sequestering Agent
Pool Water Testing
Before putting any chemical in your pool you must test the current status of your pool chemistry. So get yourself a pool water test kit. There are three options available.
- Test Strips
- Chemical Test Kits
- Electronic Test Kits
Recommended Test Strips
JNW 7in1 Pool and Spa Test Strips
Simply dip the strip into the water for 2 seconds, hold strip horizontally for 30 seconds, and compare with the color chart on the bottle to obtain accurate water results in just seconds.
Recommended Chemical Test Kit
Taylor K-2005 Complete DPD 9-in-1 Test Kit
Tests for free & total chlorine, bromine, pH, total alkalinity, total hardness, and cyanuric acid (CYA) levels.
Recommended Electronic Test Kit
Comprehensive 27-parameter water testing for pools and hot tubs, ensuring crystal clear, safe, and perfectly balanced water.
Pool Sanitizer (Chlorine)
Without doubt, the most critical chemical for your pool is the “Sanitizer”. Your pool will have a a continuous influx of contaminants, bacteria, virus, algae and other microorganisms. Many of them are harmful.
A pool sanitizer is the chemical that fights and neutralizes the pathogens. There are a few choices, but chlorine is by far the most common.
1. Pool Sanitizer (Trichlor)
HTH 42055 Pool Care 3″ Chlorine Tabs Advanced
Sanitizer, clarifier, and algaecide to protect your swimming pool and swimmers with one easy and convenient tab.
Shock Treatment (Concentrated Chlorine)
In terms of chemical composition regular chlorine and “shock” are pretty much the same thing. The difference is in the concentration, rate of release and the objective.
While regular chlorine is released in the pool at a slow steady pace to keep the FC level within 1 – 4 ppm, shock is hyper chlorination. Pool shock is intended to spike up the FC level of the pool to around 30 ppm.
2. Cyanuric Acid Free Shock (Cal Hypo) – Powder
HTH 52037 Pool Care Shock Advanced
A fast-dissolving, convenient 4-in-1 Cal Hypo formula that kills bacteria & algae, reduces chlorine odor & irritation, and quickly restores crystal clarity.
3. Cyanuric Acid Free Shock (Liquid Chlorine) – Liquid
Commercial Grade pool shock. Liquid Chlorine / Chlorinator (12.5% Sodium Hypochlorite). Easy-to-use, fast, and effective. Shock and sanitize your pool by pouring this liquid shock directly into your swimming pool.
4. Calcium Free Shock (Di-Chlor)
Doheny’s Chlorine Di-Chlor Shock
Calcium-Free Chlorine Shock. Leaves behind no residue/clouds. Great for salt- and liquid-chlorine-based pools
Chlorine Stabilizer (Cyanuric Acid)
Chlorine is a great pool sanitizer but Free Chlorine (FC) breaks down very rapidly under UV rays of the sun. UV rays can reduce the half life of Free Chlorine (FC) to as low as 45 minutes.
Cyanuric Acid (CYA) is sunscreen for chlorine and is referred to as a “stabilizer” in pool chemistry. The stabilizer prevents the breakdown of chlorine under UV exposure.
5. Chlorine Stabilizer (Cyanuric Acid)
HTH 67061 Pool Care Stabilizer
- EXTENDS CHLORINE LIFE: Helps slow down the degradation of chlorine by direct sunlight
- EASY APPLICATION: Simply add HTH Chlorine Stabilizer directly to your skimmer
Pool Water Balancers
pH is a measure of the acidity or the alkalinity of the pool water. Total Alkalinity (TA) is a measure of the amount of alkaline particles dissolved in the water.
The alkalinity of water is its ability to neutralize acids. Alkalinity therefore acts, and is known as a pH buffer!
Calcium Hardness (CH) is a measure of the amount of dissolved calcium ions in the pool water.
6. Soda Ash (For Increasing pH)
for Increasing pH and Total Alkalinity
- Granular soda ash
- Raises pH & alkalinity levels
- Quick dissolving
- Prevents damage to pool and irritation for swimmers
7. pH Up (For Increasing pH)
- Raises pH and total alkalinity; Improves swimmer comfort; Prevents stain and scale
- Ensures a balanced pH in your pool
- Apply directly to the pool regularly for easy DIY pool care
- Great for vinyl-lined pools and saltwater systems
8. pH Down (For Decreasing pH)
Lower and balance the pH & TA levels in your swimming pool water for
- Better pool water clarity
- Improved chlorine efficiency
- Preventing scale formation
- Preventing eye and skin irritation
9. Alkalinity Up (For Increasing Alkalinity)
HTH 67060 Pool Care Alkalinity Up
Raises the total alkalinity level to ensure healthy swimming pool water. Helps prolong the life of pool surfaces and equipment.
10. Baking Soda (For Increasing Alkalinity)
America’s #1 Baking Soda Brand. Raises the total alkalinity level to ensure healthy swimming pool water. Helps prolong the life of pool surfaces and equipment.
11. Muriatic Acid (For Decreasing Alkalinity)
Acid Blue Muriatic Acid by CPDI
Vapor Reduction Technology reduces up to 90% of harmful vapors compared to standard muriatic acid.
Miscellaneous
12. Calcium Hardness Up (For Increasing Calcium Hardness)
HTH 67059 Pool Care Calcium Hardness Up
Raises calcium hardness and prevents pool water from becoming corrosive.
13. Algae Guard Ultra (Algaecide)
Algae growth is a fairly common occurrence in a pool, especially during the warmer months. Now, to be fair, algaecide does not really kill algae, but it does help prevent algae growth. (Only chlorine does the killing).
HTH 67089 Swimming Pool Care Algae Guard Ultra
The non-foaming, non-staining and fast-acting formula both kills and prevents extreme amounts of stubborn green, black and mustard algae for a season of crystal clear pool water and offers up to 3 months of protection.
14. Super Clarifier
A clarifier helps to gather together the tiny particles and form larger ones that can be trapped by the pool filter. Add it to the pool water while the filter is running to turn your cloudy pool to crystal clear.
Does not affect pool’s pH levels; Improves filter efficiency to remove dead algae and organic debris; Fast-acting, concentrated formula.
15. Drop Out Flocculant
The pool flocculant will coalesce the microscopic solid particles and make them sink to the pool floor. You should then use a pool vacuum to suck up the muck at the pool bottom and discharge it into the yard or a drain.
HTH 67080 Pool Care Drop Out Flocculant
Clears cloudy pool water; Improves filtration; Does not affect pH levels or damage filter equipment.
16. Metal Out Sequestering Agent
Metal sequestering agents are used to prevent and remove metal stains from pool surfaces. Metal stains are caused by high levels of minerals such as copper, iron or manganese in the water.
Pool Mate Metal Out Stain and Mineral Inhibitor
Prevents discoloration of pool water due to iron, calcium, manganese, copper and other metals and minerals.
Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.
