Which type of pool shock is right for you?
- Calcium hypochlorite - or “cal hypo,” as the pros say, is a super-concentrated form of chlorine that’s sold in granular form. It’s super-effective at killing algae and harmful bacteria. ...
- Dichloroisocyanuric acid, also known as “dichlor,” is a formulation of chlorine and cyanuric acid. ...
- Non chlorine shock. ...
What does a shock treatment do for a swimming pool?
May 30, 2013 · Pool shock treatments add 5.0 to 10.0 parts per million (PPM) of free chlorine to your swimming pool water. Prior to a pool shock treatment you should test and balance your pH. It is best to shock-treat after sun down with the pool pump and filter running. After a shock treatment the water needs to be tested. The pool should not be used until the free chlorine …
What is the Best Shock Treatment for pools?
Nov 13, 2021 · A pool shock is a project of inputting chlorine or non-chlorine chemicals to your swimming pool to raise your level of free chlorine. When your free chlorine levelsare too low, bacteria, algae, and chloramines begin to crowd your swimming pool and make it unsanitary.
How long to wait between pool shock treatments?
10 pool shock treatment Review: 1. HTH 52026 Super Shock Treatment Swimming Pool Chlorine Cleaner, 1 lb (Pack of 12) Features : BENEFITS: Increases the... 2. DryTec 1-1901-24 Calcium Hypochlorite Chlorine Shock Treatment for Swimming Pools, 1-Pound, 24-Pack Features : 24... 3. HTH 52028 Ultimate ...
What to do if put too much shock in pool?
Potassium Peroxymonosulfate (non-chlorine shock) Calcium hypochlorite is the usual main ingredient of shock, with the mixture holding around 70% chlorine and calcium. There are also shock packs with lithium hypochlorite that contains 35% chlorine and dissolve a lot faster than normal shock treatments would.
What is pool shock treatment made of?
There are four main types of pool shock: calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione, and potassium monopersulfate. Calcium hypochlorite is the most commonly used pool shock with a typical chlorine level of between 50 to 80 percent.May 5, 2021
What is inside pool shock?
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.
Is shock and chlorine the same thing?
Are chlorine and shock the same thing? 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.
Is calcium hypochlorite the same as shock?
Calcium Hypochlorite (Cal Hypo) is a calcium-based granular chlorinated shock that can be used as a maintenance or treatment product.
What happens if you swim in a shocked pool?
If you enter the pool immediately following a chlorine pool shock treatment, you are risking as little as skin and eye irritation and as much as fatality. Shocking your swimming pool is necessary, but take caution when doing so.Oct 21, 2021
Does pool shock raise pH?
When you shock a pool, you test and adjust the pH level for a reason. With that said, if you shock a pool outside of the 7.2 to 7.4 pH range, not only will you waste a significant amount of the chlorine used, you will also end up with cloudy water.
Does Shocking a pool make it clear?
Adding a recommended dose of shock to your pool can clear it right up. Poor circulation or filtration can contribute to cloudy water. Make sure your pump and filter are working properly.
Can I just use shock instead of chlorine?
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. Without tabs, the chlorine shock will dissipate quickly out of the water; without shock, the chlorine level will not get high enough to fully sanitize the water.
Is liquid chlorine better than shock?
Liquid chlorine and granular shock have the same active chemical that sanitizes your pool, what changes is the strength and the way you use it. Liquid chlorine is less costly, unstabilized and comes in liquid form. Granular shock is stabilized and comes in a solid form that dissolves in your pool.
Is sodium dichlor chlorine?
Sodium Dichlor Granular Chlorine (granular spa shock) Dichlor is the only packaged chlorine form suited for spas because although it is a little more expensive, it has near-neutral pH and does not require the addition of cyanuric acid stabilizer.
Which is better for Pool sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite?
When buying disinfectant for your pool, you'll probably most commonly see cal-hypo. But if you live in a region where calcium deposits are an issue, sodium hypochlorite might be the more effective way to go. Just make sure that you're testing all your levels frequently and using it with a stabilizer like CYA.
Which is better sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite?
When considering the chemical structure of these two compounds, calcium hypochlorite contains two hypochlorite anions associated with one calcium cation whereas sodium hypochlorite contains one hypochlorite anion associated with one sodium cation. Moreover, calcium hypochlorite is more stable than sodium hypochlorite.Aug 24, 2018
What is a Pool Shock?
So, what is pool shock, exactly? "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.
Types of Chlorine
As you learn how to shock a pool, it's vital to understand the difference between the types of chlorine .
How to Shock the Pool
When you’re shocking a pool, the goal is to raise the free chlorine level of the pool water to roughly 10 times the combined chlorine level. Reaching this mark is the breakpoint chlorination.
Types of Pool Shock
There are several types of products you can use to shock the pool. Typically, you will not use regular chlorine tablets as pool shock chlorine.
Shocking Saltwater Pools
Saltwater pools need to be shocked, too. Saltwater pools use regular table salt to create chlorine, by passing the slightly salty water over two electrically charged plates. How often you need to shock a saltwater pool is no different from when to shock other chlorine pools.
How Often to Shock Your Pool
How will you know when to shock a pool? Don’t wait for a bad smell or eye irritation before you shock your pool. It's recommended that you should do a pool shock once a week. The more you use the pool, the more often you need to shock it.
What does shock do to a pool?
But exactly what does pool shock do? Pool shock increases the total amount of free chlorine in your pool, either by adding more chlorine or other shock chemicals that break apart combined chlorine . The increased level of free chlorine then destroys contaminants such as algae, bacteria and chloramines.
How does chlorine shock work?
How do the chemicals react differently? 1 Algae: The free chlorine that the shock treatment creates will kill all the algae currently in your pool, no matter their size. This creates a soft, easy-to-disturb blanket of dead algae plants that sink to the bottom of your pool. 2 Plants: Depending on the type of plants that are in your pool, hopefully, nothing that is growing, the chlorine may not have any reaction. However, dead or alive leaves will all be bleached a bright white before turning into dust if left for long enough. 3 Murkiness: Depending on what is causing the murkiness, the shock can increase or decrease the total murkiness in the pool. A chemical imbalance might be made worse by shock treatment, while murkiness from algae will die out and sink to the bottom. 4 Bacteria: You won’t see the bacteria in the pool, but once the free chlorine levels in the pool increase, they will all die out. Chlorine does not leave anything behind, and bacteria are easily killed by the chemical once it is no longer stuck to other chemicals. 5 Pathogens: Pathogens can be harmless, good, or bad for you, and chlorine will not distinguish between them. The extremely high chlorine content in your pool will kill off any pathogens while the chlorine is present; however, as the levels drop, they return.
How long does it take to swim in a non chlorine shock?
They contain no chlorine but instead uses oxygen to to remove contaminants from the pool. With this type of shock you can usually swim in as little as 20 minutes after adding it to your pool.
Why does my pool water turn green?
As your pool chlorine levels continue to increase, you will find that the pool water can easily damage your skin or even cause your hair to turn green. Chlorine at high levels can cause a lot of damage to your body, making the pool you are swimming in dangerous.
Is chlorine bad for you?
Pathogens: Pathogens can be harmless, good, or bad for you, and chlorine will not distinguish between them. The extremely high chlorine content in your pool will kill off any pathogens while the chlorine is present; however, as the levels drop, they return.
Can you shock a pool with chlorine?
This leads to many thinking that if they simply add chlorine from their own supply to a pool, they are effectively shocking the pool. However, this is not true, and you can have two different types of shock treatments for your pool, depending on how high the current pH levels are.
What is the active ingredient in pool shock?
It quickly eliminates algae, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants from your pool water. The main active ingredient in this pool shock is 68% calcium hypochlorite for quick sanitizing. Quickly kills algae and bacteria and removes micro-contaminants that make pool water cloudy.
What is pool shock?
This pool shock is one of the most powerful shock treatments you can buy. It also kills the toughest algae and bacteria as well as other harmful water contaminants including green & yellow mustard algae. Treats Up To 30,000 Gallons. Kills All Types Of Algae. Chlorine Shock And Clarifier.
What is shock xtrablue?
Clear cloudy water, destroy microscopic contaminants, and fight algae with Shock XtraBlue. We like this pool shock because it improves filter performance and kills and prevents green, black, and mustard pool algae. The fast-dissolving formula works quickly so you can treat and swim in just 15 minutes.
Can you go swimming in the summer without breaking the bank?
If you want to go swimming this summer without breaking the bank an above ground pool is an excellent choice! Above ground pools are easy to set up and you can be swimming in just a few hours.
Does pool shock work?
You should use this pool shock as a weekly as part of a regular maintenance routine. Overall, this pool shock creates crystal clear water, improves filter performance, and won't impact your pH levels. Kills Bacteria And Algae. Improves Filter Performance.
What is the best pool shock?
Calcium Hypochlorite is the most common, strongest and cheapest pool shock, available in two strengths, Shock and Super Shock. Dichlor is a stabilized granular pool shock, made with stabilizer to protect it from the sun and keep it active longer during the day.
Why do pools shock?
Pools are also shocked to remove excess bather waste and bacteria after heavy pool use, contamination events, or for the removal of visible algae in the water . Bromine treated pools and spas also use pool shock to reactivate bromide ions in the water.
What is the best algaecide for a pool?
Algae: Green, yellow, pink or black, the best algaecide is chlorine, and lots of it. Pool algae growth can be controlled with algaecide, but to kill algae and clear the pool, we use pool shock. Be sure that the pH is adjusted to 7.1-7.3 range, so the chlorine shock is most potent.
What is chlorine shock?
Use chlorine shock to remove bacteria after heavy pool use, heavy storms, long winters or for swimmer ‘accidents’. Bather waste includes skin, hair, lotions, cosmetics and soaps, as well as sweat, urine, feces and fungus. Chloramines, Contaminants, Cloudy Water: Combined chlorine molecules are responsible for ‘red-eye’ and a strong chlorine smell.
How long does it take for chlorine to drop?
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, but check the package label, to be sure.
How often should I shock my pool?
All that said, a general rule of thumb for most pool owners is you should shock once a week, knowing, however, that unusual events might require more frequent shockings. The ideal time to shock your pool is in the evening after all swimming is complete.
Why is my pool shocking?
The most common reason for shocking your pool or spa is to deal with combined chlorine. There are three measurements of chlorine in pool or spa water: free chlorine, combined chlorine, and total chlorine.
What is shocking chlorine?
Shocking is the process of adding chemicals (usually chlorine) to your pool to: break apart chloramines, also known as combined chlorine. quickly raise your chlorine level. kill algae, bacteria or other harmful pathogens. Chloramines Bad, Free Chlorine Good.
What is total chlorine?
Total chlorine is simply the combination of free and combined chlorine. Shocking then releases the combined chlorine and off-gasses the contaminants, increasing the amount of free chlorine in your pool or spa. The question of whether to use a chlorinated or non-chlorinated shock will depend on how much total chlorine you have in your pool or spa. ...
What happens when it rains in a pool?
Also, as the rain is falling through the air, it picks up contaminants such as pollen and pollutants and dumps them in your pool. Heavy rain may cause ground runoff to empty into your pool. Thou shalt shock if thy combined chlorine level is at .5 or higher.
What happens after a party?
After a party - the extra bather load of active swimmers will put additional strain on chlorine in the pool. After/during a period of hot sunny weather - Not only does the sun boil the chlorine out of the water but as the water temp increases, algae and bacteria grow at a faster pace.
