Sand filters need chlorine to sanitize the water. The sand is used to remove debris from the swimming pool, while chlorine is added to get rid of bacteria. Chlorine is a sanitizer; Sand is a filter. Your pool needs both of them to function properly.
You can do your own pool work, including using chlorine--even without a filter.
So if you've ever wondered if it's OK to put chlorine tablets in the skimmer, the answer is yes. As your pool pump runs, water floats in through your skimmer line, past the pump, into the filter, through the heater, and back into the pool.
Never put chlorine tablets into the skimmer baskets of your pool. Some pool companies will put chlorine tablets directly into the skimmer baskets of the pool. Never allow anyone to put chlorine tablets in these skimmer baskets.
SKIMMER NOTES: No. Chlorine and shock are not the same thing.
Shock has a more intense chemical strength than the traditional chlorine sanitizers, and it also differs in how you should apply it to your swimming pool. Short answer: No. Chlorine sanitizers and shock are similar but different in strength.
For the greatest protection against algae, bacteria, and cloudy water, Intex pools should maintain a chlorine level of 2.0-4.0 ppm at all times. If you opted for the Intex Salt Chlorinator, you can make your own chlorine by adding the correct amount of Pool Salt to the water.
A sand filter is essentially a tank full of sand that's connected to your pool's filtration network. As pool water passes through the sand tank, the sand catches debris and particles and prevents them from returning to the pool. This results in cleaner, clearer water.
So yes, while it's perfectly fine to run your pool pump without a filter cartridge installed, it's better to have a backup filter cartridge to ensure that you don't have to run it without one.
While a typical free available chlorine level is recommended at 1-3 parts per million (ppm), without the pump or filter, you should maintain somewhere in the 3-4 ppm range to prevent debris, algae and other problems from potentially developing.
Slow sand filtration is a rentable biological water disinfection method that is capable of reducing the amount of algae, fungi, bacteria and some viruses (e.g. TMV not) in the water. When combined with aeration, the filter can also remove calcium and iron from the water.
Sand filters should be cleaned at least once per season, preferably in the fall before closing. You must clean your sand filter after encountering bouts of algae.
I think the answer to your question is about 3-6 days. The problem is that the chlorine that you need to keep the bacteria in check is used up more quickly as the temperature rises, the activity increases, and as sweat and other body stuff is put into the pool.
It is recommended to wait at least 20 minutes to an hour after adding water balancing chemicals. You should wait 2-4 hours (or one full cycle through the filter) to swim from the moment you use calcium chloride in your pool. It is safe to swim once your chlorine levels are around 5 ppm or after 24 hours.
Can you put too much shock in a pool? SKIMMER NOTES: It's unlikely but it could happen. It would take a lot of shock to really make the water unsafe for swimming. The best way to make sure you're safe to swim is to test your pool water and make sure free chlorine levels are between 1-4ppm for healthy swimming.
Never pour pool shock into the skimmer, pre-dissolve for use in vinyl liner pools. When broadcasting shock across the surface, be mindful of the wind direction. Brush the pool after shocking, and filter the water for at least 8 hours afterward.
So, not only is shocking a saltwater pool okay, but it's actually important to your pool's health. Shocking is the process in which you overload your pool with chlorine (3-5 times the normal amount) to improve your pool's cleanliness and kill off organic matter.
Powdered chlorine is the most typical form of chlorine used in a domestic pool environment. It is typically only slightly more expensive than liquid chlorine but it is much easier to use and has a lower pH, therefore has less impact on your pool's balance when used.
It Should Not Be Done Together
This is because when you mix chlorine and algaecide together, it renders both of them useless. Hence, you should first shock the pool and wait for the chlorine levels to fall below 5 PPM.
The benefit of chlorine tablets is that the tablets slowly dissolve over time so therefore you have a supply of chlorine entering the water over a period. Chlorine granules however must be added so there is a higher risk that levels may drop if the hot tub is not attended to, adding risk of bacteria growth.