Bleach Tablets

[Dsanduril]

Well, this is what one major manufacturer of the poll tablets has to say (bold added):

Tablets of Tri-chlor are tablet forms of chlorine and is short for Trichloro-s-triazinetrione, a stabilized form of chlorine that has achieved a great amount of use in the last ten years. "Stabilized" means that it has cyanuric acid pressed into the tablets. Cyanuric, also called stabilizer or conditioner, is like sunscreen for the chlorine molecule; an extender. Tri-chlor is created by combining the salts of cyanuric acid and chlorine gas into a tablet or stick and is 90% available chlorine. The pH is somewhat low at 3, so the pH in your pool may gravitate downward. This form is slow dissolving so it works well in floaters or in-line erosion feeders. Using tablets in the skimmer is not recommended because of the corrosive nature of the chemical contacting metal pipes and equipment. This becomes more of a problem when the filter pump is operated on a timer. Tablets have been known to strip out the copper inside of a heater. They are an effective, yet expensive, means of controlling algae. Tablets should also not be thrown directly into the pool, they can stain and etch plaster and bleach and deteriorate vinyl.

[Jim Cate]

yikes! Those tablets sound pretty scary! But I was actually referring to the practice of pouring liquid household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) into the cooling system as suggested by someone upthread. Doing this, one has some control over the chlorine concentration whilst the tablets, with an unknown rate of dissolution, are outta control!

Jim

[sailjumanji]

Bromine tablets worked well for keeping the green stuff from growing in my strainer and system. But I had one of those Groco water strainers with the heavy plastic clear bowl, and it turned that opaque to the point that you could not see the screen.

[antoha]

Well, for what it's worth, some derivative of bromide is what they add to young conscripts' tea in some places, so that young hormones are not such a threat to ladies in neighboring areas. So I wouldn't suppose drinking that water is good for you...


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[Siberianhusky]

Used to install pools and hottubs, you do not want chlorine or bromine tabs in the strainer unless you want to replace your heater!
Chlorine reacts with the water to form hydochlorous acid long term effect is it will eat most metals.
Bromine is almost the same, can't remember what acids it forms.
Most pool chlorine also contains cyanuirc acid as a stabilizer to stop it from reacting with uv light and breaking down.
I think it would be safe for an occasional flush, long term could have expensive results. I have no proof of this last bit. I only know what happens in pools and spas not engines as far as chlorine and bromine chemistry.
OUt of curiosity anybody ever tried phosphoric acid through a cooling system?
One possible bonus side effect would be the conversion of iron oxide to iron phosphate? Phosphoric acid is the main component in most rust removers.

[hellosailor]

If a plastic strainer body turned translucent white instead of clear...maybe that's just the surface of the plastic being attacked, but it still means the plastic has been degraded. And might just literally fall apart some time. So...ask Groco, but do consider replacing the bowl if you like to sleep well at night.

[sailjumanji]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

If a plastic strainer body turned translucent white instead of clear...maybe that's just the surface of the plastic being attacked, but it still means the plastic has been degraded. And might just literally fall apart some time. So...ask Groco, but do consider replacing the bowl if you like to sleep well at night.

I replaced it, and quit using the tablets. You can get Groco replacement parts. And replaced the O-ring at the same time. I like sleeping well! Plus like to see if the strainer needs to be cleaned.