Consumer advocacy teardown
Chlorine Stabiliser & UV Shield alternative & active ingredient dupe
Stop paying £16.50 for Clearwater. The bulk active is Technical cyanuric acid granules — 78% less per working litre than a typical pack.
- Active
- Cyanuric acid
- CAS
- 108-80-5
- Dupe
- Technical cyanuric acid granules
- Saving
- 78% / L
Saving is per litre of working-strength mix versus a typical pack price, not versus the DIY kit total. Shop prices move — always check the listing.
The Marketing Claim & The Catch
A typical 1 kg tub pack of Clearwater Chlorine Stabiliser & UV Shield is about £16.50 in pool & spa. That is a snapshot, not a live Amazon price — listings, sizes and deals move. The marketing line is that you are buying a finished lifestyle product, not a weighed chemical.
On the pack: Helps stop sunlight destroying outdoor pool chlorine; and Can reduce chlorine consumption.
The catch: 100% cyanuric acid in a 1 kg spa tub. The same granules sell in 5 kg lots at a fraction of the per-kilo price. Dose to a test kit (typically 30–50 ppm CYA), not a marketing scoop.
- “Helps stop sunlight destroying outdoor pool chlorine”
- “Can reduce chlorine consumption”
Proprietary Blend & Dosage Breakdown
The labelled active is Cyanuric acid at 100%. Everything else in the pack is none (granules).
Even when the pack is sold as “pure” or ready-to-use, the dose that actually does the work is Cyanuric acid. The rest is how they get it into a bottle you will pick up.
Branded working strength is whatever comes out of the bottle. The bulk alternative is 100% Technical cyanuric acid granules, mixed to 0.015 g/L (15 g/m³ for +15 ppm CYA).
- Labelled active
- Cyanuric acid
- 100%
- Carrier
- None (granules)
- Retail pack
- 1 kg tub · £16.50
The Active Chemical Alternative (Dupe Stack)
The dupe stack is Technical cyanuric acid granules at 100% bulk. Indexed as CAS 108-80-5, formula C3H3N3O3. Buy it as 5 kg for about £18.00 from Amazon UK.
Working strength: 0.015 g/L (15 g/m³ for +15 ppm CYA). Indicative cost £0.00 per diluted litre — 78% below a typical branded pack on a per-litre basis, before you reuse leftover bulk.
Follow the mixing method and the supplier SDS. Wear the listed PPE. Do not mix incompatible oxidisers, acids or ammonia.
- Wear gloves and goggles. 150 g in 10,000 litres raises CYA by about 15 ppm. Ideal outdoor range is usually 30–50 ppm — test first.
- Place granules in a skimmer sock or mesh bag in the skimmer. Run the filter until dissolved (often 24–48 hours). Do not dump on the liner.
- 5 kg is five 1 kg spa tubs. Store dry, away from chlorine shock in the same bucket.
Mixing desk
Dilution calculator
Switch between filling a sprayer and covering a measured surface. Figures are educational estimates from the listed ratio — always check the SDS.
Formula
Technical cyanuric acid granules
- Concentrate
- 150 g
- grams of solid
- Water
- 10,000 L
- carrier volume
- Batch cost
- £0.54
- 10,000 L working solution
- Saved vs retail
- £1.94
- 78% · retail £2.48
Estimated coverage at the listed rate: 8.3 m².
Side-by-Side Price & Potency Comparison
Head-to-head comparison
| Measure | Retail brandedClearwater | Raw active dupeDupeStack |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Chlorine Stabiliser & UV ShieldAmazon UK search — listing, not a confirmed seller | Technical cyanuric acid granules |
| Pack / unit | 1 kg tub · £16.50 | 5 kg · £18.00 |
| Active | Cyanuric acid at 100%Carrier: None (granules) | 100% bulkC3H3N3O3 |
| CAS number | Not disclosed on pack | 108-80-5 |
| Working strength | Ready-to-use pack | Dilute 0.015 g/L (15 g/m³ for +15 ppm CYA) |
| Cost per litre | £16.50 / pack | £0.00 / L mixed from bulk |
| Headline saving | Baseline | 78% cheaper |
| COSHH / PPE | Follow the branded SDS | Gloves. Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene)Eye protection. Indirect-vent splash goggles — not ordinary spectacles |
Active ingredient and cheaper alternative — FAQ
What is the active ingredient in Clearwater?
Clearwater Chlorine Stabiliser & UV Shield is labelled as Cyanuric acid at 100%. The carrier is None (granules). Pack size: 1 kg tub. The bulk equivalent we index is Technical cyanuric acid granules (CAS 108-80-5).
Is Technical cyanuric acid granules safe on the intended surface?
Used at the listed working strength (0.015 g/L (15 g/m³ for +15 ppm CYA)), the dupe is the same chemistry as the branded pack for pool and spa water once dosed from a test kit. That is not a blanket all-clear: read the supplier SDS, wear the listed PPE, keep acids away from hypochlorite, and follow UK HSE/COSHH rules. Wellness teardowns are supplements, not medicines.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Clearwater Chlorine Stabiliser & UV Shield?
Yes. The bulk equivalent is Technical cyanuric acid granules (CAS 108-80-5). Indicative saving 78% per working litre versus a typical £16.50 pack. Working strength: 0.015 g/L (15 g/m³ for +15 ppm CYA). Live shop prices move.
How do you mix the Chlorine Stabiliser & UV Shield dupe stack?
Wear gloves and goggles. 150 g in 10,000 litres raises CYA by about 15 ppm. Ideal outdoor range is usually 30–50 ppm — test first. Place granules in a skimmer sock or mesh bag in the skimmer. Run the filter until dissolved (often 24–48 hours). Do not dump on the liner. 5 kg is five 1 kg spa tubs. Store dry, away from chlorine shock in the same bucket.
DupeStack provides chemical concentration data and educational mixing guides. Always review official manufacturer Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and comply with UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and COSHH regulations when handling concentrated substances. Some links on this site are affiliate links.
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- Retail pack
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- Raw active
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DIY stack · 78% / L vs branded
£32.50indicative kit · Amazon cannot add a mixed search kit as one basket