# Figuring out how much pool cleaner to use.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/figuring-out-how-much-pool-cleaner-to-use/409057>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 22, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/figuring-out-how-much-pool-cleaner-to-use/409057 "2007-06-22T21:45:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sofaspud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@Sofaspud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofaspud)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/figuring-out-how-much-pool-cleaner-to-use/409057/1 "2007-06-22T21:45:05Z")

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I’m basically trying to check both my math and my understanding of chemicals.

I have a pool, approximately 1300 gallons capacity (above-ground model). Despite my filter’s best efforts, algae has gained a foothold, and I’m resorting to chemical warfare.

Now, the gallon jug the algae-killer comes in states that for initial treatment one should use 1 gallon for every 50000 gallons of water. I imagine this jug will last me a long time, with my pitiful 1300 gallons. 🙂

Doing the math, I find that 1300 gallons is roughly 2.6% of 50000 gallons – therefore, it seems reasonable that I should use 2.6% of a gallon for my initial treatment. I find that 2.6% of 1 gallon is roughly half a cup, sez Google (0.416 cups, specifically).

This seems wrong, somehow, but I can’t put my finger on why. So, can someone check my math and assumptions?

(By the way, I can’t stress enough how much I LOOOOVE Google Calculator! :))

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**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/figuring-out-how-much-pool-cleaner-to-use/409057/2 "2007-06-22T22:05:30Z")

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You might want to double check that size — mine is a standard 16’x32’ in-ground and it is ~18,000 gal, so it seems like an above ground pool with only 1300 gal (\< 1/10 the volume of my humble pool) would be pretty darned tiny.

Whenever the pool turns green, I just go and get two 5 gal jugs of chlorine from the pool store and dump it right in. That is the kick in the pants that the algae needs.

Talk to the pool store folks. They know your area and can recommend the correct amount of chemicals to dump in.

ETA: If your pool is really 1300gal, then dump in a gallon of pure chlorine from the pool store and that should set it right.

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**Author:** ![Sofaspud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@Sofaspud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofaspud)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/figuring-out-how-much-pool-cleaner-to-use/409057/3 "2007-06-22T22:28:02Z")

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[QUOTE=minor7flat5]  
You might want to double check that size — mine is a standard 16’x32’ in-ground and it is ~18,000 gal, so it seems like an above ground pool with only 1300 gal (\< 1/10 the volume of my humble pool) would be pretty darned tiny.  
[/quote]  
Well… it’s not very big. 🙂

It’s 12’ in diameter and approx. 3’ high; you only fill to about 32-34 inches at most, though. Not sure how to calculate volume on that (I didn’t do so well in high-school math 🙂 )

> [@](#):
>
> Whenever the pool turns green, I just go and get two 5 gal jugs of chlorine from the pool store and dump it right in. That is the kick in the pants that the algae needs.

I’m assuming this stuff is essentially super-chlorine, but 10 gallons? Eep. My eyes would bleed! 🙂

> [@](#):
>
> Talk to the pool store folks. They know your area and can recommend the correct amount of chemicals to dump in.
> 
> ETA: If your pool is really 1300gal, then dump in a gallon of pure chlorine from the pool store and that should set it right.

Well, I talked to the pool store folks (they’re the ones who sold me the jug), but they said they’d never dealt with the small above-ground pools like mine. One guy there said “Just drain it and start over.” Eh. I’d rather not have that hit on my water bill again. 🙂

I’ll try calling some other pool stores, I guess… just seems like nobody takes you seriously unless you’ve got an in-ground big pool.

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**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/figuring-out-how-much-pool-cleaner-to-use/409057/4 "2007-06-22T22:39:08Z")

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You could try [this pool volume calculator](http://focuspools.com/poolcare/volume.asp). At 12’ by 2.8’ deep, I came out with 2378.88 gallons.

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**Author:** ![Sofaspud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@Sofaspud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofaspud)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/figuring-out-how-much-pool-cleaner-to-use/409057/5 "2007-06-22T22:51:07Z")

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[QUOTE=levdrakon]  
You could try [this pool volume calculator](http://focuspools.com/poolcare/volume.asp). At 12’ by 2.8’ deep, I came out with 2378.88 gallons.  
[/QUOTE]

Well, dang. That’s handy.

I looked at the box to find out how much water was in there. The box says 1300 gallons, but that calculator says what you have. Strange.

Well, I guess that means my original calculations were a bit off… arrgh. Why can’t this stuff just come with accurate figures? 🙂

Another pool store said don’t use chlorine, it’ll eat the pool walls. They don’t care that the documentation says it’s safe for use with all pool chemicals. They want me to buy this above-ground all-organic (whatever that means) cleaner and filter kit. Sigh.

I’ll keep calling around, I guess. 🙂