Is a 33' round unstable?

[Jacob99]

So is a self chlorinator a good thing to have?

[Watermom]

You don't need a self-chlorinator. They use tablets that are a stabilized form of chlorine. If they are used too long, too much stabilizer (CYA) builds up in the pool and if you don't run higher than normal chlorine levels as a result, then you may have algae problems. (Take a look at the Best Guess chlorine chart in my signature below.) It is no big deal to just add a little chlorine each day.

On the other hand, if you travel, you can use the chlorinator while you are away to add some chlorine to the pool.

I don't have one and don't ever plan on having one. But, some people do use them.

[CarlD]

You can use a floater if you need to use tablets. That's what I do. No plumbing and they run $10 or less.

Carl

[BigDave]

From what little I could find on the Internet regarding prevail sanitizer: I was wrong to assume it was a mineral type - chlorine free - reduced chlorine system (I hate being worng). It is , apparently, a system that delivers some (unknown) type of solid form chlorine in an "easy to use" - "recycleable" plastic cartridge. I couldn't determine what type of solid form chlorine comes in the carts - but - all (almost all) solid form chlorine comes with some built-in usage limit. For di-chlor and tri-chlor, it's CYA and rising CYA requires rising FC levels for effective sanitization and algea supression. Calcium hypochlorite use is limited by rising calcium hardness levels that can cause scaling or cloudiness.

My general skepticism (and a casual understanding of the costs of packaging) leads me to surmize that whatever is in the carts costs more than the same chemical in a bucket. I would also guess that prevail is not widley distributed and that it's dealers enjoy a significant mark-up and a captive market.

Please - learn about the BBB method so you can determine for your self what you need and what you don't. You will certainly need some of what they're incluing in the package - you'll certainly need stabilizer (aka conditioner, Cyanuric Acid) but what the (_ _ Double Hockey sticks) is activator?