Pool Shock
Pool shock and mistakes to avoid for above ground, salt water swimming pools and in ground swimming pools for the best pool water care.
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Pool Shock Treatment
Why shock a pool? Doesn't everyone do it? Is it Saturday again? Isn't super chlorination right?
What Are Chloramines? Chloramines (combined chlorine) are when your pool chlorine (sanitizer) comes into contact with organic matter (swimmer waste, sweat, urine, etc...). The pool chlorine kills the bacteria and organic matter and we all know what happens when an organism dies, it releases gas. This is the chlorine smell when you enter a pool area. This can also result in a high chlorine demand. This problem is persistent with mostly indoor swimming pools as the sun and wind takes care of chloramines, bacteria, and other contaminants in outdoor pools or a chemical free pool.

Grass, Leaves, & Organic Matter
How Your Pool Gets Chloramines Far too often people say that too much chlorine is used when the opposite is true. There’s not enough
pool chlorine
to take care of the waste, bacteria, and contaminants in the pool or the effectiveness of the chlorine has been compromised. Chloramines are the result of insufficient free available chlorine and usually results in that “chlorine odor” or smell and may result in a higher
residual chlorine demand.
Problems Associated With Chloramines are: Red, burning eyes Burning sensation in the nose, throat and lungs Dry, itchy skin and dry hair Breathing difficultiesAsthmatic bronchitisChronic coughCoughing up mucusYour
asthmatic bronchitis
might flare up, especially in younger childrenBad chlorine smellIf you or your child exhibit any of these acute bronchitis symptoms after swimming in your local indoor pool, take the concern to the pool operator or the manager and try to lessen the amount of time you’re in the pool. Also, a swimming pool with high chloramines may be discolored, either milky or green. This is due to the lower amounts of free available chlorine present.
Proper Chlorine Level Is Essential You should keep your pool’s chlorine level between 1.5-3.5ppm. This way the pool chlorine has time to sanitize your pool properly and keep the chloramines in check. Also remember to purchase a floater for your chlorine tabs and keep it full of tabs. NEVER put chlorine tablets in the skimmer!!

FAS-DPD K-2006 Taylor Test Kit
Use Your Pool Shock In dealing with chloramines, the best and most cost effective way to get rid of them is to use a good pool shock and literally “blast” them out of the pool with a high dose of pool chlorine.There are also many non chlorine shock products on the market such as potassium monopersulfate. Although not a chemical free pool, you'll decrease the amount of pool chemicals used. Bioguard pool chemicals and Soft Swim have good selections for inground and above ground pool chemicals. This is also called “super chlorination”. Normally, you’ll want to bring up the chlorine level 10 times per every 1ppm of pool chlorine, or a 10:1 ratio. Get a good
water testing kit
for accurate pool water testing.
How To Shock A Pool Always remember it's safety first.To start you'll need: - Pair of heavy duty rubber gloves
- Goggles
- Pool chlorine (either liquid or
Calcium Hypochlorite, "chlorine granules")
- Large bucket
- A stir stick or pool pole
You'll want to shock your pool either in the late afternoon or early evening to allow the chlorine to do its job for the longest amount of time. Be sure all of the other readings are in line; the pH, total alkalinity, and hardness. Simply: Scoop out as much debris as possible. The only thing you want soaking up your good pool shock is the water.Fill the bucket up about 1/2 full of water Add the correct amount of pool chlorine into the bucketStir the mixture with a good stir stick (PVC pipe works nicely)Broadcast it around the perimeter of the pool starting in the deep-end and working aroundBe sure the filtration system is running and everything is working properly. Test the water in the morning to be sure your super-chlorination was successfulIf you need to use the pool you can add another chemical called Thiosulphate, which reduces the swimming pool chlorine. If you don't need the pool just allow the chlorine to come down naturally, normally within a few days.

How Much Pool Chlorine Do I Need? The basic formula is to bring your pool chlorine level up 10 times per every 1ppm of free available chlorine or a 10:1 ratio. This is called breakpoint or super chlorination. To reach your breakpoint chlorination with a chloramine level of 1.0ppm or less you may follow this chart: Chart - Super-Chlorinate Your Pool (Amount Needed to Reach 10 ppm) Type Of Swimming Pool Chlorine | POOL GALLONS | | 1,000 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 12,000 | 15,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 50,000 | | Sodium Hypo | 10 oz. | 1 3/4 qts. | 3 1/4 qts. | 1 1/4 gal. | 1 2/3 gal. | 2 gal. | 4 gal. | 6 gal. | | Lithium Hypo | 4 oz. | 1 1/4 lbs. | 2 1/3 lbs. | 3 1/2 lbs. | 4 3/4 lbs. | 6 lbs. | 12 lbs | 18 lbs. | | Dichlor | 2 1/4 oz. | 11 oz. | 1 1/3 lbs. | 2 lbs. | 2 2/3 lbs. | 3 1/3 lbs. | 6 3/4 lbs. | 14 lbs. | | Calcium Hypo | 2 oz. | 10 oz. | 1 1/4 lbs. | 2 lbs. | 2 1/2 lbs. | 3 1/4 lbs. | 6 1/2 lbs. | 13 lbs. | As you can see for every 10,000 - 12,000 gallons of water you will need at least 2lbs. of Calcium Hypochlorite (chlorine granules) to shock your pool and get the chloramines under control. You cannot be cautious when dealing with chloramines. It’s all “all or nothing” approach so don’t skimp on the pool chlorine. When you super-chlorinate your pool you must go all out and pool shock it all at once, not over a few hours or days. Using less or skimping on pool chlorine will only make your swimming pool problems worse and the chloramines and bacteria will only get stronger and more resistant to future pool shocking treatments. Remember, you must use your pool chlorine and “slam it” or the chloramines, bacteria, and contaminants will return.
Ways To Control ChloraminesYou cannot eliminate chloramines or that pool chlorine smell altogether with a pool shock, but you can control them by trying a combination of the following: Good filtration Good pool water chemistry and swimming pool care Good circulation Good ventilation (mainly for indoor pools and spas)

A side note about Calcium Hypochlorite for your pool water treatment. This kind of chlorine granules has a pH of 12 and does, as its name implies, has calcium. So, if your fill wateris has an already high pH level or high calcium level, it may be better to switch to liquid pool chlorine for better pool water care. Use a non-chlorine pool shock such as monopersulfate. This seems to reduce the amount of chloramines without raising the chlorine level. Some pool operators alternate a pool shock between regular pool chlorine and monopersulfate. Volcanic Ash retains the ammonia from chloramines in the filter rather than in the pool Boost the pool chlorine level up 1.0ppm-2.0ppm from your normal level prior to having a heavy bather load Require all swimmers to take a hot soapy shower prior to entering the pool. This is one of the best and easiest ways to reduce chloramines up to 50%. Drain and refill (up to 1/3 of your pool volume)with fresh water Nicely ask people to use the restroom prior to entering the poolYou can
vacuum
the bottom at least once per week and brush the steps and sides of the pool on a daily basisFor the indoor pool at the YMCA, I have reduced my pool shock and experienced a vast decrease in the chloramines by adding two high powered fans at the deep end of the pool. We turn them on "high" blowing over the pool and toward the exhaust fan. We started doing this when we close at night and I gotta say this little extra step sure does work.

Commercial Fan
We still need a good pool shock and now and then, but it has reduced to amount of pool chlorine and the frequency of the pool shocking. While a heavily used indoor pool may never be totally free of chloramines and bacteria but taking charge of the situation with a correct pool shock and doing these steps can greatly reduce both chloramines and your frustrations. For
salt water swimming pools
I would recommend you turning off your salt chlorine generators before a pool shock. The added amount of pool chlorine to a salt water pool may burn up you salt cell which will cost you in the long run. Just turn on the salt generator when the shock is over and the chlorine reaches a safe level of 1.5 - 3.5ppm. Obviously with
natural swimming pools
you would never add any kind of pool shock. Well, there you have it. Everything you need to know about having a successful pool shock. Good luck and keep swimming.
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If you have a chemical related issue, please give the chemicals readings, type of filtration system, what you've done or are trying to do, etc..
Chlorine pH Alkalinity Hardness Cyanuric Acid Sand, Cartridge, DE Filter
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What Other Visitors Have Said
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Pool Shock With Powder
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So I was wondering how many ounces of the powder shock (brand kem-tek....
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Can "regular" "Super Shock & Swim" be used in a salt water pool?
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We have not shocked the pool in a while (a week and a half).
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I would like to know if it is safe to shock my pool while there are still chlorine tabs floating, or should I take the chlorine tabs out first?
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My Pool Has High Chlorine Scent!
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The water in the pool is cloudy.
I have a high chlorine level, but it still smells like chlorine. I've tried the clarifiers?
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I have a 13,500 gal in-ground vinyl pool and have noticed when I "shock" the pool (usually on Friday nights) the Filter ARV valve will rise several points....
I've A Very Small (650g) Pool And I Think I Overshocked It...
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With 2-lbs of HTH shock 3 treatment.
Filter is running and was filled for first time 2-days ago but remains cloudy.
I then read where approximately ...
Total Chlorine..Free Chlorine..Pool Shock Question..
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On a 330,00 gallon pool, it has a total chlorine of 1.3 and a free chlorine of 0.6.
I need to break point the pool how much of the following chemicals ...
Swimming Right After Pool Shock
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I had gone swimming in my pool and was in for about a good 30 mins. After I got out, I was informed that the pool was just shocked. Is there any harm,...
Shock Swimming Pool & Swim the Same Day?
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I was just wondering if you can shock your pool and swim in it the same day?
My water has become a bit cloudy and I was told that I need to shock my ...
Superchlorinating pool
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I have a question about superchlorinating a pool.
How long before you can swim after superchlorinating swimming pool?
Thanks
Good Question ...
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