Swimming Pool Biguanide Chemicals

Water purification additives containing Biguanide chemicals are sold under the trademarked names of Baquacil and Soft Swim. The active ingredient in these products is known as Biguanide. Unlike chlorine, biguanide is not an oxidizer, so it does not irritate your body by reacting or “burning up” organic contaminants the way chlorine does.

Biguanide is a 3 part manual process, it is very, very expensive. Sometimes costing several times more than chlorine.

Biguanide needs to be purchased in bulky containers and needs to be manually added to the pool water regularly. After prolonged use of Biguanide, some pool owners complain that it takes more and more of the product to achieve the desired water quality. Pool owners also mention that the product causes a unique odor in the water after extended use. Biguanide is not recommended for more than 25,000 gallons, the pool pump needs to operate for at least 12 hours per day, 7 days a week and should use a sand filter with the pool draining from the bottom.