Liquid pool shock can be added directly to your pool water. Granulated shock must be mixed before application. Using a five-gallon bucket filled with about 3 gallons of water, add your shock.
Yes you can. Slowly pour the shock agent around the edge of the pool as you walk around it. It will disperse.
Turn your pool on and check that the multiport is set to filter or normal operation. Add the shock. Add shock in front of the return fitting and around the edge of the pool to ensure that it mixes properly and doesn't concentrate in one area and bleach your pool finish.
While some mistakes are small and recoverable, adding pool shock through your skimmer will literally blow up your pool's filter system! The gasses created from the mixture of dichlor and chlorine chemicals in such a small chamber create a deadly explosion.
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.
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.
Turn on the Pool Pump (& Keep It Running)
Once the pump is on, leave it running for several hours in order to allow the product to reach the entire pool. Tip: This step can be easy to forget, so we recommend turning the pump on before adding the shock to your pool!
Adding a recommended dose of pool shock to your pool can clear it right up.
If you're dealing with an algae infestation, brush the pool after shocking to remove lingering debris and run the filter. Rinse or backwash your filter to avoid recontamination. If you've still got traces of algae, shock your pool again.
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.
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.
Vacuuming removes debris and algal growth from the walls and floor of the pool and should be performed before shocking the pool water. Vacuuming before shocking allows the chlorine to be more effective in disinfecting and clearing up the water and breaking down skin and nose irritating chloramines.
Run your pool pump and filter for at least 8 hours after you shock your swimming pool. This provides adequate time for the filter to clean the water and for the pump to circulate the chemicals.
It's usually recommended to wait at least 24 hours after shocking a pool before swimming. However, it's best to check the chlorine levels; they should be back to safe levels (around 1–3 ppm) before you get in. Always follow the instructions on the shock product you used.
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 you're having to shock the pool too often, it may be time to look at other potential problems rather than continuing to shock. 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.
Yes you can backwash the morning after shocking. My rule of thumb is back wash until clean, rinse 10 seconds, backwash again, rinse 10 seconds, Obviously turning off the system between each step.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF DAY TO SHOCK? The best time of day to shock your pool is in the evening. This is because the sun's rays can affect the effectiveness of the chlorine by dissolving it too quickly, before it has a chance to rid the pool of contaminants and clean the water.
Algaecides act as a backup to your normal sanitization program and prevent algae from starting and growing in the pool. Algaecide should be added after every shock treatment.
Hot & Rainy Months: Weekly
During the hotter months of the year, or when the forecast shows a chance of rain, shock your pool weekly. These conditions can significantly increase the chance of algae growth, and a weekly dose of shock will help keep the green away.