Pool & spa
Lo-Chlor Copper Algaecide dupe
Why pay around £14.99 for Lo-Chlor? The bulk active is Copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O) — 75% less per working litre than a typical shelf pack.
From the retail pack to the active and the mix
1 · Retail
Lo-Chlor Copper Algaecide
1 litre · £14.99 typical snapshot
Water and acidifier
2 · Active
Copper sulphate pentahydrate
7% on the label
7758-98-7CuSO4·5H2O
Bulk Copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O)
3 · Mix
0.5–1.0 ppm copper in pool water (follow your volume maths)
£0.01 per working litre · 75% less than the shelf pack
- Active
- Copper sulphate pentahydrate
- CAS
- 7758-98-7
- Dupe
- Copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O)
- Saving
- 75% / 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.
Label teardown
What the pack promises versus what the label chemistry actually is.
The marketing claim
“Controls algae in pools and spas”
The chemical reality
Not BAC (Clearwater algaecide is a quat — we skip that duplicate). Lo-Chlor copper is copper sulphate in acidified water — a classic metal algicide. Bulk CuSO4·5H2O crystals dissolve to the same copper donor without the pool-shop markup.
Active vs filler
7% Copper sulphate pentahydrate · 93% carrier / filler — Water and acidifier
- Typical retail
- £14.99
- 1 litre
- Estimated active cost
- £0.01
- Scaled from bulk £12.00 / 1 kg
- Indicative markup
- 1249.2×
- Snapshot maths, not a live shop price
The Marketing Claim & The Catch
A 1 litre pack of Lo-Chlor Copper Algaecide typically retails around £14.99 in pool & spa. That is a UK shelf-price snapshot for the maths on this page — not a live shop quote or a manufacturer RRP. Listings, sizes and deals move. The marketing line is that you are buying a finished lifestyle product, not a weighed chemical.
On the pack: Controls algae in pools and spas; Long-lasting copper residual; and Works alongside normal chlorination.
The catch: Not BAC (Clearwater algaecide is a quat — we skip that duplicate). Lo-Chlor copper is copper sulphate in acidified water — a classic metal algicide. Bulk CuSO4·5H2O crystals dissolve to the same copper donor without the pool-shop markup.
- “Controls algae in pools and spas”
- “Long-lasting copper residual”
- “Works alongside normal chlorination”
Proprietary Blend & Dosage Breakdown
The labelled active is Copper sulphate pentahydrate at 7%. Everything else in the pack is water and acidifier.
At 7% active, most of what you pay for is carrier and packaging. The brand is selling convenience, fragrance and a label — not a uniquely potent molecule.
Branded working strength is whatever comes out of the bottle. The bulk alternative is 100% Copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O), mixed to 0.5–1.0 ppm copper in pool water (follow your volume maths).
- Labelled active
- Copper sulphate pentahydrate
- 7%
- Carrier
- Water and acidifier
- Retail pack
- 1 litre · £14.99
The Active Chemical Alternative (Dupe Stack)
The dupe stack is Copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O) at 100% bulk. Indexed as CAS 7758-98-7, formula CuSO4·5H2O. Buy it as 1 kg for around £12.00 from Amazon UK.
Working strength: 0.5–1.0 ppm copper in pool water (follow your volume maths). Indicative cost £0.01 per diluted litre — 75% 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.
- Toxic to aquatic life. Gloves and goggles. Pre-dissolve crystals in a bucket of pool water before pouring — never dump dry crystals on a vinyl liner.
- Typical maintenance band: enough CuSO4·5H2O to hold ~0.5 ppm copper in your pool volume. Use the calculator with your litre count; overdose stains plaster and hair.
- Compatible with chlorine when dosed separately — never mix concentrated copper and concentrated hypochlorite in a bucket.
- 1 kg of pentahydrate crystals is many seasons versus 1-litre bottles. Store locked away from children and pets.
Dilution recipe
10,000 L pool / spa volume
Working strength 0.5–1.0 ppm copper in pool water (follow your volume maths). Educational estimate from the listed ratio — check the SDS before you mix.
Chemical
5,000 grams
Copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O)
Water
10,000 litres
Carrier / diluent
0% concentrate · 100% water by working volume (solids are dissolved into the water share).
Required PPE
Loading calculator…
Side-by-Side Price & Potency Comparison
Head-to-head comparison
| Measure | Retail brandedLo-Chlor | Raw active dupeDupeStack |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Copper AlgaecideAmazon UK search — listing, not a confirmed seller | Copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O) |
| Pack / unit | 1 litre · £14.99 | 1 kg · £12.00 |
| Active | Copper sulphate pentahydrate at 7%Carrier: Water and acidifier | 100% bulkCuSO4·5H2O |
| CAS number | Not disclosed on pack | 7758-98-7 |
| Working strength | Ready-to-use pack | Dilute 0.5–1.0 ppm copper in pool water (follow your volume maths) |
| Cost per litre | £14.99 / L typical pack | £0.01 / L mixed from bulk |
| Headline saving | Baseline | 75% 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
Is copper algaecide the same as Patio Magic?
No. Patio Magic is benzalkonium chloride for paving algae. Pool copper algicide is copper sulphate (CAS 7758-98-7) dosed in pool water. Different job, different PPE, never pour pool chemicals on the garden path.
Will copper stain my pool?
Yes, if overdosed or if pH is too low. Follow the bottle’s ppm target, test copper if algae persist, and keep pH in range. Not for spas on stainless or some heater metals — read the label.
How do you mix the Copper Algaecide dupe stack?
Toxic to aquatic life. Gloves and goggles. Pre-dissolve crystals in a bucket of pool water before pouring — never dump dry crystals on a vinyl liner. Typical maintenance band: enough CuSO4·5H2O to hold ~0.5 ppm copper in your pool volume. Use the calculator with your litre count; overdose stains plaster and hair. Compatible with chlorine when dosed separately — never mix concentrated copper and concentrated hypochlorite in a bucket. 1 kg of pentahydrate crystals is many seasons versus 1-litre bottles. Store locked away from children and pets.
DupeStack provides chemical concentration data and educational mixing guides only. Wellness pages compare food supplements, not medicines or prescribed treatments. Always review the supplier Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and comply with UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and COSHH regulations when handling concentrated substances. Mixing and storage are at your own risk. Some links are affiliate advertisements (Amazon Associates, eBay Partner Network, and Awin when those programmes are live). Commissions do not change listed concentrations or calculator output.
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- Retail pack
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- Retail pack
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- Retail pack
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- Raw active
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£24.00Save 75% / L
Indicative DIY stack