Popgot Starter Pack: Saltwater Pool Maintenance on a Budget
Maintaining a saltwater pool requires regular attention to water chemistry and the right products. While some equipment like brushes and nets are one-time purchases, certain chemicals and supplies need regular replenishment and those costs add up significantly over time. This is where Popgot helps tremendously - by leveraging the power of unit price shopping across multiple retailers, we help you save substantial money on these recurring purchases. Here's a detailed guide to the consumable products you'll need to keep on hand, with Popgot's data-driven recommendations that ensure you always get the absolute lowest price per unit, maximizing your savings without compromising on quality.
Starter Pack Products
1. Water Testing Strips
- Purpose: The first step in pool maintenance is to test your water chemistry
- Why It's Important:
- Prevents wasting chemicals on unnecessary treatments
- Identifies imbalances before they become serious problems
- Ensures water is safe and comfortable for swimmers
7+ Parameter Water Testing Strips
Selection Criteria
Salt Test Strips
Not all 7+ parameter test strips include salinity as a parameter, so if you still need salt test strips, we recommend the following:
Selection Criteria
2. Pool Salt
- Purpose: Maintains proper salinity levels (2700-3400 ppm)
- Why It's Important:
- Salt is converted to chlorine by your salt cell
- Low salt = no chlorine production
- High salt = equipment damage
- Frequency: 1-2 bags per month (depends on usage and rainfall)
- Recommendation: These generally come in 40lb bags which can cost alot to ship. We recommend buying in bulk from a local retailer.
3. pH and Alkalinity Adjusters
- Purpose: Maintains water balance
- Why It's Important:
- pH affects chlorine effectiveness
- Imbalanced pH causes skin/eye irritation
- Can lead to equipment corrosion
- Frequency: Generally applied weekly to balance out the water
pH/Alkalinity Increasers
Selection Criteria
pH Decreasers
Selection Criteria
4. Stabilizer (Cyanuric Acid)
- Purpose: Protects chlorine from sunlight degradation
- Why It's Important:
- Without stabilizer, chlorine burns off in hours
- Too much stabilizer reduces chlorine effectiveness
- Proper levels save money on salt
- Frequency: Once at the beginning of the season and as needed
Selection Criteria
5. Salt Cell Cleaner
- Purpose: Removes calcium buildup from salt cell
- Why It's Important:
- Buildup reduces chlorine production
- Can permanently damage the cell
- Leads to expensive replacements
- Frequency: Every 3-4 months
Selection Criteria
6. Shock Treatment
- Purpose: Oxidizes contaminants and restores chlorine levels
- Why It's Important:
- Prevents algae growth
- Removes organic contaminants
- Maintains water clarity
- Frequency: We recommend applying non-chlorine shock weekly, plus either dichlor or cal hypo shock for treating any algae issues that may arise.
Non-Chlorine Shock (MPS)
- Recommended for weekly maintenance
- Oxidizes contaminants without raising chlorine levels
- Allows swimming within 15 minutes of treatment
Selection Criteria
Dichlor Shock
- Contains stabilizer (cyanuric acid)
- Effective for treating algae outbreaks
- Good for less frequent shocking in outdoor pools (frequent use will cause increased cyanuric acid levels)
Selection Criteria
Cal Hypo Shock
- Highest available chlorine content
- Best for severe algae problems
- Good for less frequent shocking in outdoor pools (frequent use will cause increased calcium hardness levels)
Selection Criteria
Conclusion
Popgot's price lists are continuously updated in real-time, pulling the latest data from Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Costco. This ensures you're always seeing current prices and can confidently find the best deals on all your pool maintenance supplies. By comparing unit prices across different package sizes and brands, you can save 30-60% on your pool care essentials without the hassle of deal hunting. Over the course of pool season, this can easily save you hundreds of dollars!