Now if we want to dive a little deeper, there are three types of pool shock you can buy to treat your water. The first one is called
Sodium hypochlorite, also known as bleach or liquid shock, is a “heavy-duty” type of pool shock that isn't typically used in home pools. Sodium hypochlorite is quick-dissolving and, unlike cal-hypo, does not need to be pre-dissolved before putting it in 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.
Whether you're a new pool owner or experienced pool professional, it's important to understand the difference between the three main types of pool shock: dichlor, cal-hypo, and chlorine-free. Each of these types of shock has a different purpose in maintaining a clean, safe, and well-sanitized pool.
Chlorine shock is usually the best way to get rid of green algae. However, an algaecide may become necessary if you're fighting more chlorine-resistant algae, such as mustard algae or black algae. Even then, the pool algaecide should work with chlorine or other sanitizers – not as an alternative to them.
Preventing algae is the key to fun in your pool. 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.
It Should Not Be Done Together
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Some common synonyms of shock are collision, concussion, and impact. While all these words mean "a forceful, even violent contact between two or more things," shock often denotes the effect produced by a collision and carries the suggestion of something that strikes or hits with force.
Pool shock is a chemical that oxidizes chloramines in your pool water. “Shocking” your pool is also a process called superchlorination. By shocking your pool, you're adding enough chlorine (or another chemical) to sanitize the water and destroy the buildup of chloramines.
bleach to shock your pool.
Calcium Hypochlorite (Cal Hypo) The cheapest and most readily available pool shock is made with calcium hypochlorite. This is strong and efficient, but it can cause calcium buildup or bleach your pool liner.
Chlorine & Acid
Don't ever shock the pool immediately after adding acid to the water. Also, never add acid to the pool when chlorine levels are high, such as after you've shocked the pool.
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.
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.
If you're dealing with algae or a build-up of organic contaminants, use cal-hypo shock. If you're shocking as part of regular pool maintenance, it's fine to use any type of shock. Just know that dichlor shock will raise your cyanuric acid levels.
Whether mild or severe, it isn't recommended. Significant amounts of swimming pool algae welcome a breeding ground of harmful bacteria that feed on algae. These bacteria pose health risks to swimmers, most commonly resulting in a skin rash. It can also cause various bacterial infections of the ears or eyes.
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.
It's important to know that using pool shock and algaecide together can create bad chemical reactions if you don't take the necessary precautions. Your chlorine levels won't return to normal right after you shock your pool anyway, so we recommend waiting at least 24 hours to add algaecide.