Temporary Pool Treatments?

**nuisance26** · 06-12-2010, 08:14 AM

~We just bought and set up a kiddie pool last week. It's a 6'X11' pool with a maximum depth of 12 inches of water. The plan was to change the water weekly and keep it covered by a tarp when not in use. But after 4 days of use last week it started to get cloudy and I'm worried about the bacteria growing. I doubt it could be much worse than the water holes and lakes I swam in as a kid but I still would like to treat the water.
Would bleach, vinegar or salt help at all? Having to dump the treated water on the lawn is also a concern. Any tips?~

**Libby** · 06-12-2010, 08:25 AM

No tips but growing up I recall we changed the water weekly for this exact reason. Is it due to dirt/grass going into the pool?

I know chlorine hurts the eyes even though diluted in the public pools but wondering about salt and vinegar etc for your kids eyes as well....would the sting factor be more stronger then chlorine? (not suggesting you use chlorine either)

**baxjul** · 06-12-2010, 09:12 AM

I put baking soda in ours. They sell big bags of it near the pool supplies. I still change the water weekly, but it helps cut down on the cloudy/sliminess in between!

**craftypam** · 06-12-2010, 06:06 PM

I would find out the recommended amount of chlorine to put in. If you put in the small amount needed for that size pool it should not bother the kids eyes. You do need to keep the bacteria out; that would be worse for the kids eyes than the chlorine.

**monkeywrangler71** · 06-12-2010, 08:05 PM

I think vinegar would attract flies, I know fruit flies love it.

**Whatshername** · 06-13-2010, 02:23 PM

We have a 18x48 pool and though we don't change our water we use one bag of Oxy Klear a week. It costs around $5 per bag. It doesn't burn the eyes like chlorine nor does is bleach clothing or turn blond hair green like chlorine does. We've used it for three years now and it really does better than anything we've ever used.

OXY-KLEAR – An oxygen-based, non-chlorine shock treatment that effectively removes contaminants and restores sparkle to pool water. You can shock the water and swim within 15 minutes after treatment. The product is ideal for all pools.

**Whatshername** · 06-13-2010, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Whatshername

We have a 18'x4' pool and though we don't change our water we use one bag of Oxy-Klear a week. It costs around $5 per bag. It doesn't burn the eyes like chlorine nor does it bleach clothing or turn blond hair green like chlorine does. We've used it for three years now and it really does better than anything we've ever used.

Oops I had to correct my post. The package calls for one bag per 10,000 gallons of water a week so I'm sure only a spoonful or so would work wonders and last all season long.

**craftypam** · 06-13-2010, 10:54 PM

I've had a pool all my life and have never heard of that; where did you buy it.

Thx Pam

**Whatshername** · 06-13-2010, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by craftypam

I've had a pool all my life and have never heard of that; where did you buy it.

Thx Pam

I buy it from my local pool store. I believe when it first came out it was intended for use in hot tubes. (atleast I think that's what the pool boy told me) We are completely amazed by it. We used chlorine for a few years and it was too much trouble so we switched to baquacil. That was way too expensive and never seemed to work so the pool guy suggested the oxy-klear and boy are we ever glad that he did! We do add an algae chemical every week but this is just to help the oxy-klear out but if you're going to be changing the water I don't see any use for that.

**craftypam** · 06-13-2010, 11:06 PM

My pool is too big to change the water. I do use a type of shock and that is what this sounds like. I don't know the name of the one I use though. I just know what it looks like and buy it to use with chlorine.