Pool chemicals

[BetterSense]

I don't want to discuss whether chemicals that are not marketed specifically for photography are pure enough or whatever, we already have a thread for that. I would just like to know what photochemicals I might find disguised as pool chemicals.

I found out that the pH increaser sold at walmart is, according to the label, Sodium Carbonate. I also called the pool supply place and asked if they had Sodium Sulfite. They said they had Chlorine remover which was the same thing. Online, however, I found that most places said that their Chlorine remover was Sodium Thiosulfate. Wikipedia says that both Sodium Sulfite and Sodium Thiosulfate can be used as pool chemicals, so I'm unsure if you can buy Sodium Sulfite at the pool store yet, but it looks like I can get fixer (at about $5/lb).

 

[Ian Grant]

A couple of years ago I found a small supplier in the UK while looking for something else, they supplied to the hotels for swimming pools etc. The packaging was the regular technical grades that I'd bought before. If your pool supplier says its Sodium Sulphite it will be marked as such on the bags, in the UK they would be obliged to give you an MSDS sheet the first time you buy each chemical that should be the same in the US.

It's worth talking to the pool supplier as they may also be able to get chemicals they don't normally stock for you.

Ian

 

[mts]

pH reducer is Sodium bisulfate that hydrolyzes to sulfuric acid. It's cheaper than photo-grade, probably USP, but is not commonly used in current photo formulae. pH tester (for acid) can be used to make indicator stop bath.

 

[dpurdy]

I most recently bought my 50 pound bags sodium sulfite and sodium carbonate from a swimming pool supply and I have found they work just fine though the sodium carbonate is for some reason lighter in weight per volume measure. The pool place had to special order the sodium sulfite for me but it was still cheaper than a regular chemical supply house and way cheaper than a photo store.
Dennis

 

[Ian Grant]

though the sodium carbonate is for some reason lighter in weight per volume measure.
Dennis

That's why in the chemical trade it's lways referred to as Light Soda This differentiates it from the Mono-hydrated which is far less common but more importantly the Heavy crystalline form, it's the old fashioned name for Anhydrous.

Ian

 

[Lowell Huff]

Why would you guys want to buy raw materials from places where the quality can not be varified and where it is not a priority requirement to demand the highest quality available. Its like a previous question "is it okay to use food grade chemicals...?" It is if you accept food grade images.
You also might just want to buy raw materials from suppliers that supports your passion.

 

[amuderick]

This list may be handy:
http://www.sas.org/tcs/weeklyIssues_2006/2006-06-16/feature2/index.html

 

[matt miller]

I regularly buy sodium thiosulfate, for use as fix, from my local pool supplier marketed as "halogen reducer".

 

[BetterSense]

This list may be handy:
http://www.sas.org/tcs/weeklyIssues_2006/2006-06-16/feature2/index.html

Ironically, the only source they list for sodium sulfite is "Photography store catering to the at-home darkroom crowd".