Calcium Hypochlorite Granular Chlorine vs Bleach

[aylad]

In addition to being cheaper, bleach doesn't add anything unwanted to your pool like Cal-hypo does. Bleach breaks down into chlorine and salt water. Cal-hypo breaks down into chlorine and calcium, which is fine for awhile and is actually needed in concrete/plaster pools, but can cause milky water problems as Watermom mentioned above when the levels get too high.

[samtex]

I understand the benefit of using bleach but I find it hard to believe it's half the cost. I was waiting for someone to correct my math though.

[chem geek]

In this old thread I compare the cost of chlorine sources. The prices are old (and Ben, please fix whatever broke with "code" blocks), but basically bleach and Cal-Hypo aren't that different in price, bleach being a little cheaper. In some areas of the country, Cal-Hypo is cheaper than bleach. I think you are getting your factor of 1.7 price ratio because you are using a higher price for Cal-Hypo than one can get if one buys in quantity. Nevertheless, bleach at a good price is usually the least expensive source of chlorine (other than chlorine gas you can't get).