A: Hi Orin, We are the manufacturer of Clorox Pool and Spa products. This granular shock does contain CYA. We recommend shocking every week during pool season and this product works well for that application. If you have any other questions or concerns, please give us a call at 1-800-SOS-POOL.
Clorox Pool & Spa XtraBlue Shock is an effective and popular treatment option that targets common algae species while eliminating bacteria and chloramines. Since this pool shock uses a stabilized form of chlorine, it may increase CYA levels.
Some pool shock, like dichlor shock, contains cyanuric acid. But we recommend using unstabilized chlorine shock without CYA. This ensures you're not adding unnecessary CYA to your water each time you shock your pool.
Calcium Hypochlorite
This popular shock method dissolves quickly and is unstabilized. Unstabilized shocks burn off from the sun's UV rays and does not increase cyanuric acid levels.
Ingredients. Active Ingredients: Sodium Dichloro-S-Triazinetrione (63.05%), Copper (Metallic) (Derived from Copper Citrate) (0.26%). Other Ingredients: (36.69%). Total Ingredients: (100.00%).
The main difference between pool shock and Clorox bleach is their purpose and strength. Pool shock is specifically designed for use in pools and is much stronger than Clorox bleach. It is also available in different strengths and forms to meet the specific needs of your 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.
All pool shock is not created equal
Note that some have cyanuric acid and some do not.
Pool shock can raise your cyanuric acid levels, depending on the type you use. If you use a stabilized chlorine shock, then yes, it will raise CYA because it's the stabilizing ingredient.
In order to bring down your cyanuric acid levels, you'll need to dilute your water by partially draining and refilling your pool. While there are other options, like cyanuric acid reducers, they're not as effective. But before you tackle a high CYA problem, you'll need to stop making it worse.
– Two of the most common chlorine products used for disinfection are dichlor and trichlor. Dichlor and trichlor contain both chlorine and cyanuric acid so it is not necessary to add cyanuric acid to the pool water. Stabilizer (aka cyanuric acid) is also sold at most pool supply stores.
Pool shock is a must-have maintenance product for pool owners. This multi-use product injects a boost of oxidizer into your pool water to kill bacteria and algae, and destroy organic contaminants, such as body oils, sweat, lotions and urine.
Regular bleach, or sodium hypochlorite – contains no cyanuric acid. Household bleach is normally a 5% or 6% strength, while commercial strength bleach for pools is generally 12.5% strength, and delivered by truck and hose.
In the pool industry, Cyanuric Acid is known as chlorine stabilizer or pool conditioner. Cyanuric Acid (CYA) is a pool balancing product used to help chlorine last longer.
Read on…. The problem: Heavy rains dilute the cyanuric acid (CYA) levels in your pool, and it (aka stabillzer or conditioner) is a key chemical in protecting chlorine residual in your pool.
A chlorinated pool with cyanuric acid will remain chlorinated in direct sunlight; whereas, without a stabilizer, chlorine will dissipate and leave the pool unprotected without free chlorine in a matter of hours. Most importantly, cyanuric acid will not be consumed and will, over time, build up in pool water.
Use stabilized chlorine for a minor cyanuric acid increase.
Stabilized chlorine is great for maintaining cyanuric acid levels in your pool because it doesn't dramatically change the acid level. If you're unsure if the chlorine you're using contains Cyanuric acid check the package.
If you put too much shock in the pool, simply wait it out. If you have a cover on your pool, take it off. The more sun that hits your water, the faster it will dissipate. Technically, if your free chlorine levels are holding up swimming UP TO your shock level, depending on your CYA, is safe.
The simple answer is yes, you can over shock a pool. This is when the chlorine level in the water becomes too high and can be harmful to swimmers. When you shock your pool, you are raising the chlorine level to 10 times its normal level. This is done to kill off any bacteria or algae that may be present in your pool.
Sodium hypochlorite solution aka liquid chlorine is probably the most common choice amongst pool operators for use as a pool shock. Liquid shock contains no chlorine stabilizer (cyanuric acid) and thus is useful for use in commercial indoor pools and/or when cyanuric acid levels are high.
Cyanuric acid is not the same as muriatic acid, which is used in pH control. WHERE DOES CYANURIC ACID COME FROM? CYA finds its way into a pool either through granular or tablet chlorine containing “dichloro- or trichloro-isocyanurate”, or by direct introduction into the pool as cyanuric acid.
Often, it will look something like this. 12.5% Liquid Chlorine Pool Shock – Normal Dosage: 1 gallon of shock per 10,000 gallons of water. Shock Dosage: 2 gallons of shock per 10,000 gallons of water. Source: Champion Liquid Pool Shock instructions.
Answer: It is true that pool chlorine is stronger than bleach.