Pool Chemicals

Collection: Pool Chemicals

192 products

Discount Pool Chemicals for Inground & Above Ground Swimming Pools

Keep your pool water balanced, clear, and algae-free with discount pool chemicals for inground and above-ground pools. PST Pool Supplies offers specially priced pool chemical products from Matrix Swimming Pool Solutions, Pool Season, Natural Chemistry, and Solaxx — covering phosphate removers, water clarifiers, flocculants, and specialty algaecides, all starting from under $20.

Phosphate removers are the standout category in this collection. Phosphates enter pool water from fertilizer runoff, leaves, swimmer waste, and municipal tap water — and serve as the primary nutrient source for algae. Eliminating phosphates starves algae before it can bloom, reducing the chlorine demand and keeping water clearer between treatments. Matrix Black Label Phosphate Remover (available in 64 oz measurable and 1-gallon sizes) is a highly concentrated formula for pools with elevated phosphate readings. The Matrix Phos Eliminator Concentrate and Pool Season Phosphate Control offer more targeted options for regular maintenance dosing. Pool Season Super Water Clarifier coagulates fine suspended particles into larger clusters that the filter can capture, restoring water clarity after algae treatments or following heavy rain. Pool Season Liquid Floc Plus causes suspended particles to sink to the pool floor for manual vacuuming — ideal for rapid water clearing after severe clouding events. Yellow Out (4 lb) is a specialty treatment for yellow/mustard algae, one of the most difficult pool algae strains to eliminate. For a full range of pool sanitizers, balancers, and specialty chemicals, browse our complete pool chemicals collection. Water chemistry guidance is available from the National Swimming Pool Foundation.

Phosphate testing and control is becoming an increasingly important part of pool maintenance, particularly in pools near landscaped areas or in regions where tap water contains elevated phosphate levels. The Pool Season and Matrix phosphate removers in this collection are lanthanum-based — they bind to phosphates to form an insoluble compound that your filter traps and removes. Always test pool chemistry (pH, alkalinity, chlorine) before adding any specialty chemical, and ensure the filter is clean and operating normally for maximum effectiveness. Phosphate removers temporarily cloud pool water during treatment — run the filter continuously and backwash or clean the filter after treatment to remove the captured phosphate compounds.

Shop discount pool chemicals and maintain cleaner, clearer water with targeted specialty treatments at reduced prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are phosphates and why do they matter in my pool?
Phosphates are naturally occurring compounds (orthophosphates and polyphosphates) that enter pool water from multiple sources: fertilizer runoff from lawns and gardens, decomposing leaves and organic debris, swimmer body products (sunscreens, lotions), bird droppings, and municipal tap water (which often contains phosphate-based corrosion inhibitors). Phosphates are the primary nutrient that algae uses to grow — pools with high phosphate levels (above 100–200 ppb) are significantly more prone to algae blooms even when chlorine levels appear adequate. High phosphates also cause elevated chlorine demand, meaning you consume more sanitizer trying to overcome the nutrient-fueled algae growth. Removing phosphates with a lanthanum-based phosphate remover starves algae at the source and reduces overall chemical consumption.
What is the difference between a water clarifier and a flocculant?
Both clarifiers and flocculants address cloudy pool water, but they work differently. A water clarifier (like Pool Season Super Water Clarifier) is a coagulant — it causes fine suspended particles (which are too small for the filter to capture) to clump together into larger particles that the filter can capture. Add clarifier with the pump running and allow 24–48 hours for the filter to trap the clarified particles. A flocculant (like Pool Season Liquid Floc Plus) works more aggressively — it causes all suspended particles to bind together into heavy masses that sink to the pool floor. After floc treatment, turn off the pump and allow 8–12 hours for particles to settle, then vacuum the pool floor to waste (bypassing the filter). Flocculants work faster and more dramatically but require manual vacuuming; clarifiers are easier but slower.
What is mustard algae and how do I treat it with Yellow Out?
Mustard algae (also called yellow algae) is a chlorine-resistant strain of green algae that appears as yellow or mustard-colored dusty patches on pool walls and floor — particularly in shaded areas. Unlike green algae, which is killed quickly by normal chlorine shock, mustard algae survives in the presence of chlorine and brushes off walls only to settle back in the same spots. Yellow Out (4 lb) is a specialty treatment used in combination with a superchlorination (shock) to break down mustard algae's chlorine resistance. The treatment protocol: brush all affected surfaces, apply Yellow Out per label directions, immediately follow with a heavy chlorine shock (at least 30 ppm free chlorine), and keep the pump running for 24 hours. Also treat all pool equipment that contacts the water (toys, brushes, vacuum hose) as mustard algae can survive on surfaces and reinfect the pool.
How do I use the Solaxx SafeDip pH buffer tabs?
The Solaxx SafeDip pH Buffer Tabs are a convenient pre-dosed pH stabilization product for use with the Solaxx SafeDip digital tester system. Each tab acts as a reference calibration buffer for pH testing — they're particularly useful for calibrating or verifying your digital tester's pH readings when you want to confirm accuracy before treating pool water. They can also be used as pH increaser (sodium bicarbonate equivalent) when dissolved into the pool water per the dosing instructions on the packaging. For general pH management, the target pH range for residential pools is 7.2–7.8. Keeping pH in this range maximizes chlorine effectiveness, prevents equipment corrosion (low pH) and scale formation (high pH), and ensures swimmer comfort. Always add pH chemicals with the pump running, and retest after 4 hours of circulation before adding additional chemical.