You can pre-mix chlorine granules in a 5-gallon bucket that's 3/4 full of pool water. Add the granules to the water; don't pour water onto the granules. Pour the mixture around the edges of the pool. You can pour liquid chlorine around the edges of the pool.
But since tablets are the most common, we can say that the rule of thumb for how much chlorine to add is two 3-inch tablets per 10,000 gallons, or one 3-inch tablet per 5,000 gallons. The goal is to have a chlorine level at 1 to 3 parts per million (ppm).
Pouring undissolved chlorine into the pool can cause cloudiness, but more importantly, depending on the pH of the chlorine itself, it can affect your surface. Always pre-dilute.
Low chlorine levels often cause green or hazy water, so if your water looks a little cloudy and you haven't shocked in a while, adding shock is the first step. It is always best to shock the pool in the evening, when the sun if off the water. If not, the sun will suck it out as fast as you add it.
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. Only then should you introduce algaecide to get the best results.
Depending on how much you have added and the size of your pool, it is generally safe to wait about 4 hours after adding liquid chlorine or until levels reach 5 ppm or lower.
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.
A pool sans chlorine is akin to a big puddle of murky water. And because of unrestrained algae growth, the pool wouldn't be all that visually appealing. To be fair, you could swim in a pool without chlorine and probably be just fine, but the health and safety risks would be much greater.
Chlorine is added to the swimming pool to get rid of harmful bacteria, parasites and algae. Low chlorine levels will: Allow microbes to grow and thrive in the pool water, making your pool unhealthy and unsanitary to swim in. Make the pool water cloudy.
Generally you will want to wait at least 4 hours, but ideal is waiting for one complete turnover of the water (the time it takes all the water to go through the filter).
Tips for Adding Start-Up Pool Chemicals
Add one chemical at a time, using a pool brush and your pool pump to distribute. Run the filter pump while adding chemicals to circulate. Allow ample time between adding chemicals to prevent an adverse chemical reaction. Re-test the pool water after 8 hours of pump run time.
Therefore, your safest bet is to stick with the ratio of 2 gallons of liquid chlorine per 10,000 gallons of water. Your water's pH will level as the bacteria and algae die off, thus providing a safe swimming environment.
Having too much chlorine in your pool water can be dangerous. Exposure to high levels of chlorine can cause lung irritation, skin and eye damage, and provoke asthma. Not only is it bad for your health, but it can be bad for your pool due to the increase in chlorine.
Both liquid and powder shocks contain the same active chemical used for pool sanitation, but their usage and strength are different. Other than coming in a different form, liquid chlorine is also more budget-friendly and unstabilized. On the other hand, powder shock is easy to stabilize, and its solid form dissolves.
If you want a reliable, low-maintenance way to keep a steady level of chlorine in the pool, slow-dissolving 3" tablets are the way to go. On the other hand, if you're looking for a quick way to increase chlorine levels on demand, liquid chlorine might be a better option.
Calcium Hypochlorite: Also referred to as cal hypo, this chemical is one of the least costly and most convenient ways to shock your pool. It's usually sold in granular form. Needs to be dissolved before you add it to the pool. Must be used after dusk.
Shocking is crucial for removing any pathogens in the water and making a pool safe for swimming, but it involves using some heavy-duty chemicals, including chlorine. Going in too soon after a pool's been shocked can potentially cause skin, eye, and even lung problems.
Not removing chlorine can make your skin (and hair) dry out, stripping the natural, protective oils from your skin and leaving you itchy and dry, particularly if you're already prone to sensitive skin.
Add chlorine to your pool every couple of days as part of regularly monitoring your pool water chemistry. You can also add it in the form of pool shock when the chlorine in your pool needs a fast boost. Add chlorine after sunset and make sure no swimmers are in the pool.
If you're just adding chlorine, you'll want to wait a few hours (up to 4) before getting in the pool. If you're shocking it, you'll want to wait a full 24 hours.
Once you have cleaned the pool, you should move on to the sand and DE filter. The expert says you should backwash them. However, for a cartridge filter, it is best to remove the cartridges and hose them off.
For many residential pools, or if you just want a ballpark estimation on how much pool shock you will need, simply follow the directions on the packaging. 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.