The 30-Second Summary
The Problem: You add liquid chlorine or salt, test the water a few hours later, and the reading is zero. You feel like you are pouring money down the drain.
The Cause: It is usually one of two things:
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The Sun: Without Stabiliser, UV rays destroy chlorine in hours.
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The Bather Load: Your chlorine is exhausted trying to burn off sweat and sunscreen instead of killing bacteria.
The Fix: Stop blindly adding more chlorine! You need to protect it. Use Water TechniX UV Blockout to shield it from the sun, and Water TechniX Oxi Shock to handle the organic waste.
Factor 1: The "Chlorine Vampire" (The Sun)
Many pool owners blame their salt chlorinator when levels drop. But in 99% of cases during February heatwaves, the equipment is fine. The problem is chemistry.
The Science is simple: Unstabilised chlorine is incredibly sensitive to UV light.
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Without Stabiliser: The sun breaks down the chlorine molecule almost instantly (roughly 90% loss in 2 hours).
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With Stabiliser: The stabiliser acts as a "sunscreen" for the water, holding the chlorine in the pool until it finds bacteria to kill.
The Solution: Test your water. If your Cyanuric Acid (Stabiliser) is under 30ppm, add Water TechniX UV Blockout according to the test results. This bottle of cyanuric acid can save you hundreds of dollars in chlorine expenses over the season.
Factor 2: The "Silent Killer" (Sweat & Sunscreen)
Even with good stabiliser, your chlorine can still disappear if you have had a lot of people in the pool.
Every time someone jumps in, they introduce sweat, sunscreen, deodorants, and organic oils. Your chlorine attacks these "invaders" immediately. The problem? Chlorine gets "tired."
Once chlorine binds to sweat, it turns into a "Chloramine" (that strong chlorine smell). It effectively dies and stops sanitising.
The Solution: Give Your Chlorine a Helper Instead of forcing your expensive chlorine to do all the dirty work, use an Oxidiser.
Water TechniX Oxi Shock (Chlorine Free) is designed to burn up those organic contaminants instantly.
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How it saves money: By using Oxi Shock to burn off the sweat and oils, your chlorine is "freed up" to focus solely on killing bacteria.
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The Result: You use significantly less chlorine because it isn't being wasted on the easy stuff. Plus, you can swim 15 minutes after dosing.
Step-by-Step: The "Chlorine Saver" Routine
To stop burning cash this February, follow this simple check:
1. Check the Sunscreen (Stabiliser) Use a test strip. If CYA is low (under 30ppm), add Stabiliser immediately.
2. Shock the Organics (Oxi Shock) Once a week (or after a big pool party), toss in a dose of Water TechniX Oxi Shock. It keeps the water crystal clear and ensures your actual chlorine reading stays high.
3. Test for Phosphates If you have done both of the above and chlorine is still vanishing, check for Phosphates. If algae has a food source, it will eat your chlorine 24/7. Use Phosphate Remover to starve it out.
Summary: Spend a Little to Save a Lot
Buying a bag of Stabiliser or Oxi Shock might feel like boring purchases compared to a new pool toy. But do the maths:
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Option A: Keep pouring $50 drums of Liquid Chlorine in every week (which burns off in 2 hours).
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Option B: Add a bag of Stabiliser and a weekly dose of Oxi Shock to make your chlorine last 5x longer.
It’s the smartest money you can spend on your pool this summer.
Not sure which one you need? Send a photo of your test strip result to our Support Team. We will tell you exactly what’s eating your chlorine so you can fix it right the first time.