Pros
- Fast-acting product
- Eliminates algae and bacteria from pool water
- Dissolves fast
Cons
- Way too expensive than competition
- Price is known to fluctuate drastically

Tips on Choosing the Best Chlorine Tablets
As you can see from the above list of the best products, there are a lot of differences in chlorine tablets. This is why we are going to take a look at a few factors that you need to consider when you are searching for the best chlorine tablets to use in your pool.
What are Chlorine Tablets?
Before you take a look at those factors, it will help to understand exactly what it is that you are using for your pool’s maintenance. Just as the name suggests, chlorine tablets contain chlorine, but they also contain a host of other chemicals that help the chlorine do its job.
This mixture of chlorine disinfects your pool and kills off algae, bacteria, viruses and any other contaminants in the water. Impurities and contaminants in the water do not just make your pool look dirty; they are an active threat to your health and safety. As chlorine tablets release chemicals into the water and prevent these contaminants from spreading, you can enjoy a safe swim all year long.
How Much Chlorine Should You Use?
The amount of chlorine you need depends on the size of the pool, how much debris you get in the pool and the type of pool you have. Typically, the right amount of chlorine tablets depends on the gallons that your swimming pool can hold. The general rule is that a single tablet can cater to the chlorinating needs of 5,000 gallons.
One thing you should always do is round off the number of gallons you are adding to the next 5,000 when you add the chlorine tablets. For instance, if your pool has 16,000 gallons, add four tablets to it or the amount equivalent for 20,000 gallons. If it is 15,000 gallons, add three tablets. This way, you will not have less chlorine per gallon in the swimming pool.

What is the Best Time for Chlorination?
The best time to chlorinate the pool is in the evening or at night. The basic reason behind this is that the chlorine will get plenty of time to do its job and eliminate bacteria and algae in the pool. If you add chlorine during the day, the sun may interact with it and cause the tablet to dissolve faster. This means, it will not get the kind of time it needs to do an effective job.
If you happen to have an indoor pool and the pool water is safe from exposure to UV rays, you can add chlorine tablets during any time of the day.
Chlorine safety and precautions
One thing you need to make sure is that you take as many safety precautions as you can when you are using chlorine tablets. These tablets contain a mixture of different chemicals that need to be stored properly and used with caution.
Make sure that the tablets are stored in a cool and dry place with proper ventilation. If chlorine is exposed to the likes of chlorine or even liquid chlorine, it can result in the release of a lot of harmful gases. In some cases, it can even cause explosions. If the chlorine tablets come into contact with moisture or dirt, they can lose their effectiveness.
Making sure that the chlorine tablets are stored safely is one thing. You should also keep a few more things in mind so you can use them safely:
- Do not mix the chlorine tablets with other types of chlorine
- Avoid mixing them with any other types of chemicals
- Chlorine can be deadly if ingested, so make sure you do not eat any of these tablets
- Store them somewhere out of the reach of children and pets
- If you ever see chlorine fumes coming out of the tablets, take them outdoors and avoid inhaling the fumes
- Use gloves whenever you are handling chlorine
Why You Should Not Add Chlorine Tablets to a Skimmer
While a lot of manufacturers advertise that you can use the chlorine tablets they make with your skimmer to add it to the pool, it is best to avoid doing that. While using the skimmer can make it a lot easier to add the chlorine, it can cause a major problem for pool water and you, as a result of that.
If you put the chlorine tablets in the skimmer, they will enter the pump and the filtration system. When you turn the pump and water filter off, the tablets will start to dissolve within the skimmer. This can result in highly acidic water which can go into the filter when you turn the pool’s pump back on.
The acidic water can damage the filter drastically. This can cause the filter to malfunction or stop working entirely.

What is the best way to chlorinate your swimming pool?
Instead of trying to use your skimmer to chlorinate your pool, it is always a better idea to use a chlorinator. You can preset the chlorinator to release the chlorine gradually into your pool as time passes. A chlorinator can work with the existing pump and filter in most pools and you can install it without a hassle.
The best thing about an automatic chlorinator is the fact that it can ensure an even distribution of chlorine throughout the water in your swimming pool. The only thing which swimming pool owners might not like about chlorinators is that they have quite a price tag on them.
For someone who does not want to invest a lot of money in a chlorinator, a more affordable alternative is a floating chlorinator or a floater. It is a simple plastic vessel that floats on the pool and releases chlorine into the water. While it is not as effective as evenly distributing the chlorine, it costs a lot less and it is easier to use.
If you do not want to spend any money at all on something to help you chlorinate the pool water, you can just drop the tablets into the pool. Just make sure that you drop the tablets to the point where the water returns into the pool, so you can avoid any damage to the filter and other water circulation equipment.
Calculate Chlorine Demand
Now that you have an idea of how to safely use the chlorine tablets, here is a look at the factors which can help you decide which one to go for. The first thing we are going to take a look at is calculating the chlorine demand. Chlorine demand is the amount of chlorine your swimming pool needs to stay clean.
If you add too little chlorine,the bacteria and algae won’t be eradicated. Adding a lot of chlorine means a higher cost and it can make your pool water cloudy. Exceptionally high levels of chlorine in the pool water can also damage the sensitive pool circulation equipment.
Understanding how much chlorine you should add to your pool is very important. The shape and the size of the pool are important factors but the amount of water in the pool is the main determining factor. There are a lot of ways you can calculate the chlorine demand. The best thing to do is to invest in a high quality digital meter that will give you the exact reading to ensure you get the chlorine amount right.
Stabilized vs. Unstabilized Chlorine Tablets
There are mainly two types of chlorine tablets in the market: stabilized and unstabilized. The stabilized chlorine tablets last a lot longer and dissolve slowly. Some can last long even when they are exposed to the UV rays from sunlight. They are able to perform better in the sun and that is why stabilized chlorine tablets are more suitable for outdoor pools. They are equally effective when it comes to catering to both above ground and in-ground pools.
Unstabilized chlorine tablets are ideal when you need to chlorinate small pools or hot tubs. They are also very good for indoor pools that are covered. Since they are unstabilized, these chlorine tablets dissolve a lot faster and they can lose their impact if they are exposed to the UV rays in sunlight.
Understanding the Chemistry
As annoying as it might feel, it is a good idea to freshen up on your chemistry. The major ingredient in most of the chlorine tablets in the market is trichloro-s-triazinetrione. Most manufacturers, of course, combine a host of other chemicals to the trichloro-s-triazinetrione so that they can increase the effective lifespan of the tablets. The chemical mixture is also able to help the tablets fight algae more effectively.
The mixture of chemicals is designed to increase the lifespan of the tablets by slowing down the rate with which they dissolve. Some of these slow down the rate of chlorine release so much that their overall effectiveness is a lot lower than what you need. This means you might have to use a higher number of tablets to bring the chlorine levels up to a desirable level.
It is not easy to understand the exact balance that you need to maintain. In order to make it easy to understand, think of it like this: If your pool stays clean for most of the time, you should go with high trichloro-s-triazinetrione concentration tablets. If your pool has a lot of algae formation and other issues, you should go with chlorine tablets that have a greater quantity of algae fighting additive chemicals.

Price vs. Quantity
Most of the chlorine tablets you can get are pretty reasonably priced. Of course, the overall cost of maintaining your pool can be very high. The reason for that is, so many aspects come together to make sure that your pool is well maintained and safe.
It makes sense to save even a few dollars if you can. When you do that, it will bring down the overall cost of maintaining your pool. We have made the best possible effort to include cost- effective chlorine tablets in the list of reviews for this guide. This means if you go with any of these, you can have the added peace of mind that you will not be spending too much.
You should still make it a point to compare the prices and the quantity being offered of each product. This is because some manufacturers offer higher quantity than others do. This can make comparison slightly difficult.
Final Thoughts
Using the best chlorine tablets in the right quantity and at the right time will mean you can keep your swimming pool water crystal clear without spending too much money. All of the chlorine tablets that we have discussed in this guide are the top products in the category. They are all effective at doing their job and have had great reviews from pool owners who have been using them.
Make sure that you do not chlorinate the swimming pool too often. Match the quantity you add to the recommended chlorine demand of your swimming pool. Last but not least, make sure that you use the chlorine safely and only as it is intended. Take all the safety precautions that we have mentioned and make sure you keep it out of the reach of pets and children. We hope that the guide will help you decide on which one is better suited for your swimming pool. Carefully read the reviews of each product and tally it against your pool’s requirements before you make the decision to buy any of these.
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