Treatment FAQ

what is in shock treatment for pools

by Reinhold Fritsch Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Pool Shock Brand Weight Size
Clorox Pool & Spa 33512 CLX Pool Shock X ... Clorox 12 lbs 12 Pack
In The Swim Chlorine Pool Shock - 12 X 1 ... In The Swim 13.07 lbs 12 Pack
HTH 52026 Super Shock Treatment For Swim ... HTH 12 lbs 12 Pack
Doheny's Chlorine Super Shock Twenty Fou ... Doheny's 24 lbs 24 Pack
Apr 11 2022

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.

Full Answer

What does a shock treatment do for a swimming pool?

Nov 26, 2021 · Chlorine is the most popular sanitiser for swimming pools and spas. Shock treatments work by immediately increasing the water’s chlorine level, allowing it to clean the pool effectively. Using a shock treatment raises the waters "free chlorine" level.

What to do if put too much shock in pool?

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 levels are too low, bacteria, algae, and chloramines begin to crowd your swimming pool and make it unsanitary. By shocking your pool consistently, you can create the right amount of chlorine that keeps your …

What can you use instead of shock in pool?

5 rows · This powerful pool shock quickly eliminates algae, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants from ...

How do you add shock to a pool?

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... Dichloroisocyanuric acid, also known as “dichlor,” is a formulation of chlorine and cyanuric acid. This product carries... Non ...

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What is pool Shock 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

Is chlorine and shock 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.

What is shock treatment for swimming pools?

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.

Does shock treatment have chlorine in it?

Lithium Hypochlorite Shock Commercial versions contain 35% chlorine. It must be used after dusk. It will be roughly eight hours before you can safely swim again. It can be toxic to aquatic life (making it a solid algaecide), so you must take care when disposing of recently treated water.Mar 17, 2022

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.

How often should you shock your pool?

about once a weekHow 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.Mar 9, 2020

Does shocking pool 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.

Can you use liquid chlorine to shock pool?

Shocking a pool with liquid chlorine or a granular pool shock kills or inactivates pathogens and algae. Shocking will also oxidize other unwanted materials inhabiting the pool water.Oct 15, 2019

Can you add chlorine and shock at the same time?

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.Jan 22, 2020

Can you over shock a pool?

You cannot overshock a swimming pool or add too much. Adding too much shock or overshocking your pool will kill off algae. The negative of adding too much shock is it will upset the chemical balance of your pool. It's likely to do that regardless of if you overshocked the pool or not.

How long should you run filter after shocking pool?

A pool filter should be run for a minimum of 6 hours after shocking a swimming pool. This is to allow the filter to clean the water and give the shock enough time to fully mix with the pool water. Running the filter after shocking for 24 hours to 7 days is necessary if the pool has a large amount of algae.

Can you shock a pool without the pump running?

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.Feb 2, 2022

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 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 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?

Which type of pool shock is right for you? 1 Calcium hypochloride - or “cal hypo,” as the pros say, is a super-concentrated form of chlorine that’s sold in granule or tablet form, and you need to pre-dissolve it before adding it to your pool. It’s super-affordable -- and super-effective at killing algae and harmful bacteria. It’s also super-flammable, which means you need to be careful when handling and storing it. Cal hypo is also quick to burn away in direct sunlight, which means it’s most effective when used at night. 2 Dichloroisocyanuric acid, also known as “dichlor,” is a formulation of chlorine and cyanuric acid. It’s a bit pricier than cal hypo, but unlike cal hypo, it doesn’t need to be pre-dissolved and it’s sun-sensitive, which means you can shock your pool any time.#N#You’ll still need to handle it carefully, though: Dichlor is just as flammable as cal hypo. 3 Potassium peroxymonosulfate. Sometimes shortened to “MPS,” this oxygen-based shock treatment is an excellent choice for odor removal and neutralizing ammonia and other contaminants. If you’ve got algae issues, though, MPS might not be the best fit: It’s much less effective at algae removal than chlorine-based pool shock. It’s also one of the most expensive types of pool shock.

What does shock do to a pool?

What does pool shock do? Adding pool shock to your pool is kind of like power-washing your swimming pool water. By adding higher-than-normal dose of pool sanitizer to your pool water, you’re effectively killing algae, bacteria, and other contaminants -- and making sure they can’t come back to affect your water quality.

What is a dichloroisocyanuric acid?

Dichloroisocyanuric acid, also known as “dichlor,” is a formulation of chlorine and cyanuric acid. It’s a bit pricier than cal hypo, but unlike cal hypo, it doesn’t need to be pre-dissolved and it’s sun-sensitive, which means you can shock your pool any time.

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 best chlorine shock for a pool?

Power Powder Plus (Calcium Hypochlorite ) is our most popular chlorine pool shock, and for for good reason: it effectively gets the job done so you can return to the water faster. Leslie’s Cal-Hypo shock is 73% calcium hypochlorite, which means that it can handle the toughest algae and bacteria problems. Rescuing your pool from an algae bloom or major contamination is a snap with Power Powder Plus; it gives you the highest dose of chlorine available. If you plan to use Cal-Hypo Shock all season long, we recommend purchasing Leslie’s Power Powder Plus in the 25 lb bucket, which will save you time and money.

What are the different types of shocks in a pool?

Whether you’re a new pool owner or an 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.

Why do you shock a pool?

Before we explain the different types of pool shock, let’s go over the main reasons shocking is needed. Shock is used when the chlorine levels are low , chloramine levels are high , algae blooms are present, or there has been an accidental fecal contamination in the water. Shocking is also beneficial after heavy pool use or a major weather event, ...

What is chlor-brite shock?

If high pH and/or calcium levels are a concern, then this is the shock of choice. Dichlor contains Cyanuric Acid (CyA), so it’s perfect if your pool has low CyA.

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.

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.

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