Shocked Your Pool And Its Still Green
Sadly, theres no magic wand to wave to make your pool crystal clear overnight.
If your pool water has turned into a lovely shade of green, chemically shockingyour pool is your best bet to get it back into shape.
To ensure your pool returns to normal, there are three things youll need to get your pool back into shape: the correct chemicals, a filtration system, and of course, plenty of patience.
After completing the entire process outlined below, you should start to see your pool crystal clear, sparkling new and ready for a splash.
If you find your pool still murky green after you do chemically shocking your pool, dont panic.
This can be easily fixed!
What Is Shocking A Pool And Why Should You Do It
Shocking a pool, also known as pool chlorination, is adding chlorine in swimming pool water to sanitize itgetting rid of chloramine , contaminants, bacteria, preventing algae, ammonia, and other living organisms from thriving in your pool.
Chlorinating a swimming pool is a very important and necessary part of pool maintenance.
Every pool owner should at least understand how to do it, how frequently, what amount of chlorine to add, and which chlorine shock to use in a pool.
Moreover, the cornerstone of keeping free chlorine active all the time is keeping it in proper balance with cyanuric acid.
The higher the cyanuric acid level in your water, the more your free chlorine will be ineffective, and the more chlorine you will use in your pool.
Confirm on Trouble Free Pool’s Chlorine/CYA Chart to know the correct amount of chlorine to add at a given level of cyanuric acid.
By regularly adding chlorine shock to your water, you completely avoid the hassle of SLAMing your pool to clear algae and ammonia.
To have a trouble-free pool throughout the summer, I always recommend the use of non-stabilized chlorine known as sodium hypochlorite with a 12.5% chlorine concentration for pool sanitization.
You can also use sodium hypochlorite with a 10% chlorine concentration, but not a regular household bleach that comes with low chlorine concentration of 8% and below.
When To Shock Your Pool And How Often
Shocking your pool is not a one-time thing that you should occasionally do. It is a lifelong process that takes focus and discipline. It would be best if you kept a log by your pool to stay on top of shocking it consistently.
If you are operating on a weekly oxidizing and shocking schedule, you should alternate between a non-chlorine and chlorine shock each week. This system makes chlorine much more effective when it gets implemented, but it will lower the amount of chlorine required.
So, when are the specific circumstances where you must shock the pool?
Rain and thunderstorms are not always things we can plan for, but you should try and shock your pool afterward. While the storm is occurring, your swimming pool will get contaminated by rainwater, debris, and dust. Algae outbreaks are also a key signal for pool shocking. When the algae begin to pop up, you should utilize a shock type with extra chlorination or other cal hypo alternatives.
You should also make sure to shock your pool when you are opening and closing for the season. After you have balanced the other chemicals, you can shock the pool so that you can eliminate any bacteria, make the water clear, and oxidize any particles. Lastly, if you have many people use the pool at once for a party, the water can get contaminated quicker. It is also essential to shock it after these events too.
You May Like: How To Remove Algae Stains From Pool Walls
Read Also: How To Lower Cya In Pool
Pool Shock The Boilerplate
When I started doing research for this article, I visited some of the most respected survival and preparedness blogs and forums for background material. After all, pool shock is pool shock and there must be some standards for use, right?
With just one exception, all of the sites I visited included this boilerplate from the EPA:
You can use granular calcium hypochlorite to disinfect water.
Add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite for each two gallons of water, or 5 milliliters per 7.5 liters of water.
The mixture will produce a stock chlorine solution of approximately 500 milligrams per liter, since the calcium hypochlorite has available chlorine equal to 70 percent of its weight.
To disinfect water, add the chlorine solution in the ratio of one part of chlorine solution to each 100 parts of water to be treated. This is roughly equal to adding 1 pint of stock chlorine to each 12.5 gallons of water or to be disinfected.
To remove any objectionable chlorine odor, aerate the disinfected water by pouring it back and forth from one clean container to another.
Have your eyes glazed over yet? Mine have. Being an accountant, I like to deal in absolutes so what is this business about one heaping teaspoon? Plus, whats up with the references to approximately and roughly?
Did I mention this made my head hurt?
What Do You Do If Youve Overshocked Your Pool
If you accidentally add more than the recommended amount of shock for your pool, there arent many solutions except to wait. Over time, the chlorine in the water will evaporate out as it is exposed to sunlight and oxygen through a process called oxidation.
To speed up this process, make sure the pool stays uncovered while the shock wears off and that you run the pool pump to keep the water circulating.
Read Also: How Many Btu’s Do I Need For Pool Heater
Potassium Peroxymonopersulfate Pool Shock
Potassium peroxymonopersulfate pool shock is oxygen-based, which means it wont kill off algae — its not an algaecide. This non-chlorine pool shock is best for pools with too much chloramine, but no evident algae. Its a good choice for post-party and post-storm shocking, particularly if you want to swim the same day.
MPS is often used in vinyl liner pools, but its also popular with pool owners who want their pool clean ASAP. It works quickly, sometimes in just 15 minutes, and it wont add chlorine to your pool. It also wont do anything to your pools cyanuric acid level.
Most non-chlorine pool shocks are marketed for spas and hot tubs, but theyll work just fine in the proper quantities. Here are a few good options:
Signs You Need To Shock Your Swimming Pool
Any pool owner will likely agree, the installation of a swimming pool can help to improve the quality of your health and lifestyle. To continue using and making the most of your pool, clean and safe water is essential. Keeping the water sparkling is as easy as regular maintenance, monitoring and the occasional shock.
In this article, were going to take a closer look at pool shock, including how often to shock your pool, the best day and when. To begin, lets take a look at some of the tell-tale signs that your pool needs to be shocked.
Also Check: Aria Liquid Pool Cabana
Should I Add Chlorine To A Saltwater Pool
Before I changed my non-saltwater pool to saltwater two years ago, I used to shock regularly.
Basically, a chlorine-based pool needs more maintenance than a saltwater pool. Unless there is an algae outbreak or a build-up of contaminants such as oil and soil, a saltwater pool does not need much treatment. This is because saltwater pools use chlorine generators to produce a chlorine compound similar to the chlorine in shock treatments.
Chlorine generators can be adjusted to increase the amount of chlorine in the pool, for instance, before heavy usage. However, this technically isn’t shocking. It is just a way to maintain chlorine at the recommended level.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
Dohenys Chlorine Super Shock
Best to Buy in Bulk
This effective shock treatment is ideal for the weekly cleaning of your swimming pool.
The 68% active ingredient of Calcium Hypochlorite works quickly to eliminate all harmful contaminants in your water after every use.
If youre using it often, one of my favorite things about this shock is its available in a lot of bulk sizes 6, 12, or 24 count 1-pound bags or in a 50- or 100-pound bulk bucket.
The larger amounts do not include pre-portioned 1-pound amounts, but it is an extremely cost-effective option to take care of your pools maintenance for multiple seasons. The reported shelf life of this product is approximately three years.
Dohenys is also a popular and trusted provider of pool chemicals and cleaning supplies. The company has been selling pool products sine 1967.
- Shock is not pre-measured if purchased in large amounts
You May Like: What Hotel Has The Best Swimming Pool In Las Vegas
When To Shock A Pool
Experienced pool pros often recommend shocking your pool at night, after the sun sets.
Why shock your pool at night?
Its pretty simple.
Chlorine can be neutralized by the suns UV rays. If you add pool shock to the water when the suns out, youll need to add more of it to get the desired effect, because youll lose some of it to the sunlight.
Its also better to add pool shock to your pool at night because theres less likelihood of unexpected exposure.
You can warn your friends and family, but some folks just wont realize how risky it can be to jump into a freshly-shocked pool until theyve already jumped into it. Save everyone the trouble, and save a little money, by waiting to shock your pool until nighttime.
Chlorine Vs Powdered Shock Which One Will Fight Harder For You
When you visit us in store you may notice other pool owners walking around with different forms of chlorine. Some are walking around with jugs, some small packages, and others carry chlorine in buckets. Chlorine is often a widely-used term, as it has become the generic label for the worlds most popular sanitizer. Truthfully, chlorine is only available in gas state. Pool chlorine, is derived from this form of gas that has been mixed with other chemicals to form a liquid or solid sanitizer.
The true difference amongst chlorine does not lie in the form it comes in, but rather from being either unstabilized or stabilized. Liquid chlorine and powdered shock have the same active chemical that work to clean your pool, the difference is in the way that you use them.
Don’t Miss: Does Target Carry Pool Supplies
How To Shock A Swimming Pool
What Is Free Chlorine?
It is unbound chlorine that is “free” to sanitize.
Why Do I Really Need Pool Shock Sounds Like Effort
Think of the last time you were near a really strong, chemical-smelling pool. Well, we have to pause there. Because contrary to what anyone might first think, that smell isnt from chemicals at allits from a lack of chemicals. That smell is chloramines! And not only do they smell bad, but they greatly reduce how well the chlorine you add to your pool works.
Without active chlorine, all the bacteria that prevents your pool from being clean and safesome bacteria are pathogenic, after allwill continue life uninterrupted. Basically, that pool pump you run for the proper amount of time every day, the pipes that connect it to your pool, the sanitizing chemicals you add, the skimmers you clean out regularly⦠all of these actions which take time and money to keep your pool in shape are compromised. Are you with me now?
Read Also: Infinity Pool Plans
The Optimal Shocking Frequency
Most pool owners will shock once every 1 to 2 weeks this is ideally what you should be aiming for with your pool maintenance schedule.
Youll come across various thoughts on this topic. Some people say you must shock once a week, while others are fine shocking once a month!
Its also important to understand that you cant overshock.
The worst thing that will happen is the pools chlorine level will be temporarily spiked and then naturally burn off after a few hours of sun exposure. Another downside to overshocking is that youll just be wasting your money.
However you do need to be aware of the must shock scenarios that will steer you off your regular shocking schedule.
What Are The Different Types Of Pool Shock
With different pool shocks or shock products are available, how do you know which one is best for your pool?
Heres a breakdown of the top 3 pool shocks.
- Calcium Hypochlorite: Commonly referred to as cal-hypo, this shock is the most popular option, and contains 70% chlorine for killing algae and contaminants. Its unstabilized nature means the sun will burn it off and it wont increase cyanuric acid levels in your pool.
Cal-hypo has a high pH and will temporarily raise those levels, so its a good choice for pools that test at a normal or low pH level. Of note, your water may become temporarily cloudy, and cal-hypo may also increase your waters calcium hardness.
- Dichlor: Sodium dichlor is 55% chlorine and stabilized, which means it contains CYA. This makes it last longer in your pool water than cal-hypo, and the lower pH level and lack of calcium will keep the pool from getting cloudy.
However, because it contains CYA, CYA levels can increase. This has to be carefully monitored otherwise you may need to invest in a CYA reducer, or even drain/dilute your pool.
- Non-Chlorine Shock: Also known as Potassium Monopersulfate , this is a chlorine-free shock that oxidizes contaminants, but wont rid the pool of bacteria. Compared to chlorinated shock, you can use MPS shock at any time of day and be swimming in the pool 15 minutes later. Its pH neutral so your level wont fluctuate, and by focusing on oxidation, it frees up the pools chlorine to be more efficient at sanitizing.
You May Like: How Many Btu’s Do I Need For Pool Heater
What Is The Best Time Of Day To Shock A Swimming Pool
Shock your pool late in the evening or at night, when the sun is down, to make sure free chlorine will stay in your water longer. Ultraviolet rays from direct sunlight greatly reduces free chlorine levels, so shocking during the day will not be very effective.
If you absolutely must do it during daytime, use a chlorine stabilizer, such as cyanuric acid, to prolong the life the chlorine.
Why Shock A Pool
Chlorine levels can fluctuate depending on the bather load and contaminants in the water. 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 is by shocking the pool.
To break up the bound chlorine, you will need to reach breakpoint chlorination. This is done by raising the chlorine up to a very high level for a period of time before dropping it down. Breakpoint chlorination will ensure that you are burning off all the contaminants and turning the combined chlorine back in to an effective sanitizer. We typically recommend using a calcium hypochlorite shock when super chlorinating a pool. Just keep in mind that this type of pool shock has a small amount of calcium and will cloud the water for up to 12-24 hours in certain situations. Leslie’s Power Powder Pro is ideal for helping pool owners reach breakpoint chlorination.
Pro Tip: If you can “smell chlorine,” this indicates that the chlorine is combined with ammonias and no longer sanitizing the water. Shocking the water will free up effective chlorine and eliminate this smell.
Don’t Miss: How Do You Get Iron Out Of Pool Water
Why You Need To Shock Your Pool
Whether you’re a brand new pool owner or a veteran, you need to be familiar with the process of shocking your pool.
Certain living organisms can still survive in your pool with its normal chlorine amounts. Others can become completely immune to it.
There are basically three reasons to shock your pool:
- 1
- Heavy rain can dilute your pool, leaving you with very low chlorine levels
