Fill your pool with water. You can use water from the hose that is chlorinated. Chlorine & hydrogen peroxide can mix together just fine. To start treatment, shock your pool with hydrogen peroxide by adding 250 ml (1 cup) of hydrogen peroxide for every 1000 liters (250 gallons) of water.
2. Bleach. Also known as sodium hypochlorite, simple household bleach (which contains 5.25 percent of sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient in bleach) can get stains out of grout that the baking soda couldn't. Bonus Tip: Bleach can also be used to shock a pool.
Fortunately, there is a simple and cost-effective way to maintain your pool's alkalinity and pH. You might use it in your cookie recipes or to freshen your fridge. This handy tool for pools is none other than Arm & Hammer baking soda, although you'll need pounds of it rather than a pinch.
If your pH level is too high, add baking soda to the pool. Add 1 1/2 pounds of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water. If the pool's pH is too low, add 1/2 cup of borax for every 10,000 gallons of water. Borax, which is made of a natural mineral, is found in the laundry aisle of most grocery stores.
Potassium peroxymonosulfate: A less costly, non-chlorine shock. Add it directly to your pool water at any time. Takes roughly 15 minutes to work before you can safely swim.
Pour 1 part liquid bleach and 9 parts water into a bucket. Repeat until full. Store in shade. Do not store in direct sunlight.
What you may not know is that hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizer that can be combined with ultraviolet light to disinfect swimming pools. The combination of ultraviolet disinfection with hydrogen peroxide allows pool owners to safely eliminate all chlorine in their pool or spa.
Statistically, a pool without chlorine is more likely to make you sick because of the possibility of being exposed to the things not contained or killed by chlorine. Remember, your skin is porous, so microscopic impurities can pass through. A pool sans chlorine is akin to a big puddle of murky water.
Bleach is safe and the only chemical you should be using in your pool unless cleaning pool tile with baking soda. So yes, you can use bleach to keep your pool water chemistry balanced.
You can also simply add more chlorine, and pouring household bleach into the pool is one way to do this. Be sure the pH is in the proper range -- between 7.2 and 7.8 -- and add the bleach in the early evening to avoid having most of it degraded by sunlight.
The use of baking soda in pools can spot treat algae
No one ever wants to see algae build up in their swimming pool. It can turn any backyard pool murky green or cause unsightly black spots on the walls and floor of any swimming pool.
Grab a brush and some baking soda. Bicarbonate, the active ingredient in baking soda, is an effective spot treatment to help kill the algae and loosen it from the wall. Make sure you really get every last particle free; black algae has particularly long and stubborn roots which makes it a persistent strand.
Overall, hydrogen peroxide is more expensive than chlorine and works best when iron and sulfur are present in the water supply. Since it works faster than chlorine, no contact tank is required. Additionally, H2O2 is effective at a more comprehensive pH range, meaning that it is more effective on more types of water.
Household bleach, Clorox and liquid chlorine can all be used to sanitize a pool. They are all types of chlorine. Household bleaches such as Clorox usually contain about 5-6% available chlorine, about half that of pool liquid chlorine. Household bleaches often have unwanted fragrances and colors.
Hydrogen peroxide breaks down in light and warmth. Therefore, you'll need to store it in a cool, dark place if you plan to use it for your pool. Food-grade hydrogen peroxide (35 percent concentrate) has a shelf life of about 30 days, so don't plan to keep much more than a month's supply on hand at any one time.
There are alternatives to chlorine including bromine, ionizers, and ozonators, though with each you'll still need to use some chlorine. A fourth alternative is PHMB, which doesn't require the use of any chlorine.
Other chemicals
Bromine — considered a safe substitute for chlorine. Looks for BCDMH tablets, which are typically 66% bromine and 27% chlorine. If unable to find, you can use just bromine but it may leave the water a dull green color. PHMB — Chemical compound named polyhexamthylene biguanide.
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.
Neither will chlorination be effective with a diffuser and without a pump. The best thing to do is to apply liquid chlorine in the pool. Then, you have to circulate the pool manually with the use of a telescopic pole or paddle. This will ensure the chlorine disperse well.
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.
Short answer: yes. Longer answer: it depends on the formulation. The label on every bleach bottle should tell you the ratio of sodium hypochlorite (and available chlorine) in the bottle to everything else. A higher percentage is generally better, as you'll need to use less bleach to treat your pool.