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.
While shocking and adding algaecide is effective in getting rid of algae, 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.
Unfortunately, you can't shock your pool using your regular 3-inch chlorine tablets. Common chlorine sanitizing products are great for maintaining chlorine levels, but not necessarily eliminating new waste, bacteria and algae.
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.
It's often recommended to shock your pool once a week. If you don't do it every week, you should at least do it every other week. This is necessary to maintain your pool's water chemistry. If you have a lot of people over in your pool or have a party, you may want to shock your pool more frequently.
While this high level of chlorine is effective at killing off unwanted organisms, it can also cause your pool water to become cloudy. The water may also have a strong chlorine smell. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop shocking your pool and contact a professional.
Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly. Chlorine tabs (placed in a chlorinator, floater, or skimmer basket) maintain a chlorine residual in the water. You do need to use both tabs and shock.
"Shocking” refers to the process of adding chlorine or non-chlorine pool chemicals to the water in order to raise the "free chlorine” level. The goal is to raise this level to a point where contaminants such as algae, chloramines and bacteria are destroyed.
Pool chlorine is made to attack and sanitize bacteria so the pool is safe to swim, but will also bound to ammonias and nitrates in water. This type of bacteria comes from debris, bird droppings, sunscreen lotions, etc. The only way to release the bound (chloramines) is by shocking the pool.
Heavy shocking with granular chlorine will generally require 24–48 hours before the chlorine level has dropped to safe swimming levels (below 5 ppm). Lithium and non-chlorine shock labels typically allow immediate swimming or a brief 15-minute waiting period, but check the package label to be sure.
Ensure the pool pump is running. Pour the mixture from the bucket into the water around the edges of the pool. Let the pump run for about 6 hours or more and test the water. Don't use the pool right away – wait for the free chlorine levels to drop to 1 – 3 ppm before it is safe to swim.
There are several reasons why your free chlorine levels are still low after shocking your water: Other pool chemicals are out of balance: Without the right amount of pH or cyanuric acid in your water, your chlorine levels can fluctuate. So make sure these are balanced before shocking your pool.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity.
You need to wait for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours after using a chlorine-based shock before you can swim. And you'll want to retest your water to make sure your chemical levels are within range. If your free chlorine is at or below 5 ppm and your pH levels are at or below 7.6, it's likely safe to swim.
Adding shock to your pool will oxidize and destroy organic material, giving a boost to your free chlorine. It will also oxidize the combined chlorine and allow it to gas off, reducing the total chlorine in your pool and making it more pleasant to swim in.
A pool that hasn't been used for a while, however, needs to be prepped, or "shocked," before you can jump in and splash around or do laps. 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.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SHOCK MY POOL? Shocking your pool regularly will help to keep the water clean and free of contaminants. You should aim to shock your pool about once a week, with the additional shock after heavy use. Some tell-tale signs that your pool needs to be shocked are cloudy, foamy, green, or odourous water.
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.
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.
In a clear and clean pool, the standard pool shock treatment of 1 lb. per 10,000 gallons is usually sufficient. For pools with visible algae or debris, additional pool shock is recommended, keep adding until the water turns a blue-gray color, without any green hue or tint. Blue and Clear - 1 lb per 10,000 gal.
For example, the instructions may recommend that you use one pound of shock per 10,000 gallons of water. Note: Some situations, such as an extreme algae bloom, may require a double or even triple dose of pool shock.
The ideal time to shock your pool is in the evening after all swimming is complete. In the evening because the sun will not be boiling the chlorine out of your pool, and after everyone is done swimming because shocking is going to bring the chlorine level up to a level that may be irritating to skin and eyes.
Shock Your Pool
Shocking is the process of adding chemicals to your pool to raise chlorine levels and kill bacteria and algae. We recommend using a calcium hypochlorite shock to treat your algae problems.
Run Your Filter 24/7
You'll need to continuously run your filter over the next few days to help clear up the cloudy water. Then you can return to regular filter run times once your water is clear. Your pool will clear faster depending on the type of filter you own.