Xtremeclear 3 Swimming Pool Chlorine Tablets 99% Pure Tri-Chlor| Long Lasting & Slow Dissolving | Pro-Grade Pool Sanitizer | 5 Pounds Bucket

The Verdict

If you’ve priced pool chemicals at big-box stores lately, you know the sting. A 5-pound bucket of 3-inch tabs runs $18–$25 at most retail chains. The Xtremeclear version sits at $12.99. That’s not a clearance typo — it’s the going rate for a 99% pure tri-chlor tablet that does exactly what it claims. With 3,652 ratings and a 4.7-star average, this is one of the most-reviewed pool sanitizers on Amazon. Here’s whether it’s the right buy for your setup.

What’s Actually in the Bucket

You get 5 pounds of 3-inch tablets in a white plastic bucket with a handle. The tablets are noticeably dense — no crumbling at the edges, no chalky residue dusting the bottom of the container. Each tab is a standard 3-inch diameter, which fits every floating feeder and in-line chlorinator I’ve tested. The 99% tri-chlor concentration is the headline here. Most budget tablets hover around 90% active ingredient, with the rest being filler that dissolves into your pool as sludge. At 99%, you’re putting more sanitizer into the water and less inert material.

Real-World Performance

The slow-dissolve claim holds up. In a 15,000-gallon in-ground pool with a 90°F Texas summer, one tablet lasted roughly 5–7 days in a floating dispenser set at 3. That’s on par with name-brand tabs costing 50% more. Buyers consistently back this up. One reviewer wrote, “These dissolve slower than the Leslie’s tablets I was using, and they’re half the price.” Another noted, “I’ve bought three buckets this season. Zero complaints — my chlorine levels stay steady at 3 ppm with one tablet every five days.”

The 99% purity also means less pH drift. Tri-chlor is acidic by nature, so you’ll still need to monitor alkalinity, but the absence of fillers reduces the pH swings that plague cheaper tabs. If you’re maintaining a saltwater pool, these work fine as a supplemental shock or during heavy bather load.

Where It Falls Short

This is a pure sanitizer — there’s no cyanuric acid (stabilizer) in the formulation. If you have an outdoor pool in direct sun, your CYA levels will drop over time, and unprotected chlorine burns off fast. You’ll need to add stabilizer separately. That’s not a flaw, but it’s a distinction from “all-in-one” tabs that combine chlorine with algaecide and clarifier.

The bucket lid is another weak point. It’s a snap-on lid, not a gasket seal. If you store it in a humid environment, the tablets can absorb moisture, stick together, and emit a stronger chlorine odor. Keep it in a dry, cool spot and you’re fine — but don’t leave it in the garage next to the dryer.

Also, the 5-pound size is a trial run, not a season supply. A 20,000-gallon pool will burn through this in two to three weeks of normal use. You’re better off buying two buckets upfront to avoid running out mid-week.

Who Should Buy This

• Budget-conscious pool owners who don’t want to pay brand-name markup for the same active ingredient.
• Smaller pools (up to 15,000 gallons) where a single bucket covers a month of sanitizing.
• DIY maintainers who already test and balance their water — this is a no-frills, high-purity product for people who know what they’re doing.

Skip it if you want a stabilized, all-in-one tab that handles CYA and algaecide in one drop, or if you need bulk quantities for a commercial or very large residential pool.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tablets are in a 5-pound bucket? Approximately 10–12 tablets, depending on exact weight per tab. Each tablet weighs around 6–7 ounces, so you’re getting roughly 10 tablets per bucket.

Can I use these in a saltwater pool? Yes. Tri-chlor is compatible with salt systems. Use it for shocking or during heavy usage periods when the salt cell can’t keep up.

How often should I add a tablet? For a 10,000–15,000-gallon pool, one tablet every 5–7 days in a floater at setting 3–4 is typical. Test weekly and adjust — hot weather or heavy swimming can require more frequent additions.

The Verdict

Buy it if: You want high-purity chlorine at a genuinely lower price, and you’re comfortable managing CYA separately. The 99% concentration, slow dissolve rate, and rock-bottom cost per pound make this an easy recommendation for DIY pool owners.

Skip it if: You need a stabilized all-in-one tab, or you’re stocking up for a large pool and don’t want to deal with multiple small buckets.

At $12.99, this is the best value in 3-inch chlorine tablets I’ve reviewed this year. It performs at the level of brands charging $18–$20 per bucket, and the 4.7-star rating across 3,600+ purchases reflects a product that consistently delivers. For a 5-pound bucket, that’s a solid 4.6 out of 5 — the half-star deduction is for the non-sealing lid and the lack of stabilizer, both of which are easy to work around.

Rating: 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.