Is it possible to shock your pool too much? Yes—excessive shocking of your pool will keep it at an elevated chlorine level. This will cause irritation of the skin and eyes as well as excessive wear and tear on your pool filter system, including excessive corrosion of all metal parts.
Shocking too often can lead to elevated chlorine levels that make the pool unusable, and it takes time to get those levels back to normal.
With 700g/kg of available chlorine presented as Calcium Hypochlorite, our pool shock not only secures your pool against viruses and bacteria but also effectively destroys chloramines, which often cause irritating red eyes and itchy skin.
The effect of excess chlorine in pools is an alteration in pH levels of pool water, making it more acidic. Signs of high chlorine levels can include itchy sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lung irritation, and skin rashes.
Light Green or Teal Pool Water:
This means there's a low amount of algae in your water and you won't have to use a hefty amount of chlorine shock. In this case, you should double shock your swimming pool water. To double shock, you will need to add 2 pounds for every 10,000 gallons of water.
Calcium Hypochlorite: Also common known as “cal hypo,” this shock is the most powerful and fastest acting shock available. Both an oxidizer and sanitizer, cal hypo is quick dissolving and is the most frequently used in the pool industry. It will slightly raise your pH, so make sure you adjust pH while using it.
Even if you shock your pool properly, it takes a while for the natural microorganisms to do their job. This can take up to 12-24 hours, as opposed to a couple of days with harsh chemicals. Thus, the pool water takes time to get clear.
Dilute the pool
Dilution is one of the most straightforward methods. Adding more water without chlorine effectively lowers the concentration in the pool. Partially draining the pool and then refilling will take some time, and the added water will also need to be mixed in and tested again once settled.
Short Summary. It is essential to regulate chlorine levels in a pool between 1-3 ppm, as levels exceeding 5 ppm can be hazardous. Swimming in a pool with high chlorine levels should be avoided. The highest safe chlorine level for a pool is 3 ppm.
Your pump is an important part of this process, as it helps disperse the pool shock across your water. Once the pump is on, leave it running for several hours in order to allow the product to reach the entire pool.
1) What is the difference between chlorine and shock? Do I need to use both? Chlorine is a sanitizer, and (unless you use Baquacil products) is necessary for maintaining a clear and healthy pool. Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly.
Pools can immediately turn green after being shocked when they have metals like copper in the water. These metals oxidise when exposed to high levels of chlorine, which makes the pool water turn green. Adding a metal control product such as Zodiac Metal Remover will help to restore the pool water.
If the water looks good and you simply want to boost the chlorine level a bit, add 1 bag per 20,000 gallons. If the water is hazy or cloudy, use a full bag per 10,000 gallons. Or, if there is algae, use 2–6 lbs per 10,000 gallons, depending on the extent of the algae bloom.
Ideally, you should shock your pool at night, so the sun cannot interfere and destroy the active chemicals before they can do their job. Then, you can add your chlorine post-shock after the chlorine levels have fallen below 5 ppm.
Respiratory Distress: Individuals may experience coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or a burning sensation in the throat and chest. Eye and Skin Irritation: Red, itchy, and watery eyes, along with skin redness and irritation, are common signs of chlorine exposure.
It's best to add chlorine to your pool at night, so it can work while no one is swimming and the sun has set. If you use a slow-dissolve chlorine treatment like a tab, adding it at night gives it time to dissolve, so the pool will be ready to face the day.
A slippery or slimy feel to some or all of the surface of your pool is a sure sign that your pool water is out of balance. Specifically, it means that your pool water is low on chlorine. When the chlorine levels in your pool water are low, algae will start to grow.
If there is too much chlorine added, wait for the chlorine to burn off after a few days or, for a more immediate result, partially drain the pool and refill it with fresh water. Is it possible to shock your pool too much? Yes—excessive shocking of your pool will keep it at an elevated chlorine level.
Sodium ascorbate will also neutralize chlorine. It is pH neutral and will not change the pH of the treated water. Sodium ascorbate is preferable for neutralizing high concentrations of chlorine.
If you need to quickly lower chlorine levels in your hot tub, use a chlorine neutralizer, dilute the water with fresh water, or leave the cover off and run the jets to let the chlorine dissipate. These methods can help reduce chlorine levels to the recommended range of 1-3 ppm.
While this high level of chlorine is effective at killing off unwanted organisms, it can also cause your pool water to become cloudy. The water may also have a strong chlorine smell. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop shocking your pool and contact a professional.
Culprit 2: Copper-Based Algaecides
While copper-based algaecides are very useful for ensuring that algae growth is prevented, using too much can actually spike up the copper levels in your pool to make it reactive enough to your chlorine to turn your pool water green!