Is Old Liquid Conditioner Ok to Use?

[Bree1978]

I just have a little kiddie pop up pool....I have liquid stabalizer that is several years old. It supposed to be liquid anyways as far as I know, it's now like a paste. I kept it in the garage an I am in northern Ohio. I got it from someone else, was it always paste like??? Can I still use it?

The brand is natural chemistry if that matters.

Thank you!

[aylad]

If it's supposed to be a liquid, and now it's a paste, I wouldn't use it in the pool. However, depending on the volume of your pool, if draining/refilling is easy for you, then I guess you could try it and just drain if it doesn't work or really messes up your water....your call, but I personally wouldn't use it.

Janet

[CarlD]

I thought liquid stabilizers only came out last year or the year before. I definitely wouldn't use it if it's a paste.

Carl

[Bree1978]

I definitly had it for three years....okay won't use! what a bummer because this stuff is expensive, lol the price sticker says it's 27.99.... Thanks for the advice! S

[waterbear]

It's a slurry, not a liquid. If it pours it's probably still good. Carl, it's been around for a few years now, btw.

[Bree1978]

Well, since it is supposed to be a slurry, I added some tap water in it and shaked well. It turned back to a 'slurry/liquid' -which was predominatley smooth. So I used it, it's not a big pool, around 3600 gallons? Supposed to be 3800, but these pools just don't hold what they say imho. It did not seem to have ill affects, water still clear. Will wait a day or two to see if the CYA registers. It had some small particles, but seemed to dissipitate well. I added enough to have around 20 (according to the directions on the back), hopefully I can see something with my cheap drop test... but I doubt it, probably need another small dose at least. I realize that it may not be very strong anymore, I don't know how CYA breaks down. It did not smell like ammonia.

Yes, I know I should have a better test, but this is a just a kiddie pool and I am being as cheap as possible...we only can get around three months a year use out of it...and if you have ready my other posts I have a lot of iron in my water (which is crystal clear now). We generally have a high KID bather load and pool gets full sun- since I can barely get the cover on before someone else wants in! That means A LOT of bleach if you don't have any CYA, even in a tiny pool!

Thanks everyone, its a work in progress! Ill let you all know the rest of the story when I get it!
S