Can you shock a pool with chlorine tablets?

Unfortunately, you can't shock your pool using your regular 3-inch chlorine tablets. Common chlorine sanitizing products are great for maintaining chlorine levels, but not necessarily eliminating new waste, bacteria and algae.

How many chlorine tablets do I need to shock my pool?

The best rule of thumb for pool owners trying to estimate how many tablets to add is this: Add one tablet for every 5,000 gallons of water and always round up. For example, if your pool has 21,000 gallons of water, add five tablets per week. If it has 8,000 gallons, use two tablets.

Is shock and chlorine the same thing?

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.

How long after shocking pool Can I add chlorine tablets?

You should wait one hour per pound of shock product added, and then test the water to confirm the pH and chlorine are in the proper range before letting anyone enter the pool. As a reminder, you want your pH to be between 7.2 and 7.8ppm and your free available chlorine to be 1-4ppm for safe swimming.

Do you shock a pool before adding chlorine?

In general, you should shock your pool when: Algae begins to grow in your pool. The free chlorine level of your pool measures zero. The chloramines or combined chlorine level rises above 0.5 parts per million (ppm).

Are Chlorine and Shock the Same?

What can I use instead of shock for pool?

Common unscented household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) works well to shock a pool.

Is liquid chlorine better than tablets?

We dive in and find out. Liquid chlorine is preferred over chlorine tablets by pool professionals however home swimming pools will benefit too. Liquid chlorine quickly raises or maintains chlorine levels without raising stabilizer. Chlorine tablets maintain chlorine levels and add stabilizer to the pool water.

Which is better liquid chlorine or shock?

Liquid chlorine is generally less costly than granular shock and comes in refillable containers, where granular shock does not. Liquid chlorine does not need to dissolve in your water as it is already in liquid form. In addition, liquid chlorine is non-scaling and leaves no residue.

Can you over shock a pool?

Can you put too much shock in a pool? SKIMMER NOTES: It's unlikely but it could happen. It would take a lot of shock to really make the water unsafe for swimming. The best way to make sure you're safe to swim is to test your pool water and make sure free chlorine levels are between 1-4ppm for healthy swimming.

What happens if you swim in a shocked pool?

What Happens If You Swim In A Shocked Pool? If you do not wait for the chemicals used to shock a pool to totally dissolve then you could be placing yourself in serious danger by swimming in it. At the minimum, you will feel itchy skin and eyes because of the chemicals present in the water.

Why is my pool still cloudy after shocking it?

But if the cloudy water persists long after you've shocked the pool, you're likely having an issue with water balance, circulation, or filtration. Heavy use of a calcium based pool shock (cal-hypo) may increase Calcium Hardness over a period of time, increasing your odds of cloudy water.

How quickly do chlorine tablets work?

Typically, a 3-inch pool chlorine tablet is designed to chlorinate from 7,500 to 10,000 gallons of water per week, meaning it'll take seven days to dissolve. If you have a 30,000-gallon pool, you'll need to place three 3-inch pool chlorine tablets in a chlorinator or floater.

What time of day should I shock my pool?

The best time of day to shock your pool is in the evening. This is because the sun's rays can affect the effectiveness of the chlorine by dissolving it too quickly, before it has a chance to rid the pool of contaminants and clean the water.

Do you need liquid chlorine if you use tablets?

Pool owners often like chlorine in tablet form as tablets are easy to apply, pre-dosed and no measuring is required. Simply test the water at least once a week and add more tablets, if necessary, to maintain a 1-4 ppm free chlorine.

Is it better to use chlorine tablets or granules?

The Advantage of Chlorine Tablets for Swimming Pools

The most significant benefit of using chlorine tablets for your pool is its longer-term nature compared to granules. Once you get the right dosage, you shouldn't have to add another chlorine treatment for at least a few days.

Do chlorine tablets raise pH?

So, chlorine tabs lower pH and Total Alkalinity and increase cyanuric acid levels.

Can I shock my pool with Clorox bleach?

Now you can know the gallons of bleach you would need to shock your pool as follows: use 0.5 gallons of Clorox per 10K gallons of water to increase the level of chlorine by 5 ppm. If you want to raise the level of chlorine by 2.5 ppm, then you would need ¼ gallon of the product per 10K gallons of water.

How soon can I swim after shocking pool?

After Shocking Your Pool

It is safe to swim once your chlorine levels are around 5 ppm or after 24 hours. It is always best to test first!

Should you run the pool filter after shocking?

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.

What chemicals should I balance first in my pool?

Total Alkalinity (TA) is the first thing you should balance in your pool water. TA refers to the amount of alkaline material in the water. And since alkaline is a pH stabilizer, the number of alkaline substances in water will affect the pH balance. The ideal Total Alkalinity range for pool water is 80 – 120 ppm.

How do I shock my pool for the first time?

Can I add non-chlorine shock and chlorine at the same time?

Non-chlorine is an oxidizer, meaning that it does a great job cleaning up oils and organic matter. However, it doesn't actually kill bacteria or algae—you need chlorine for that. Therefore, you always need to use non-chlorinated shock in conjunction with chlorine to keep your pool water healthy for swimming.

How long does pool shock take to work?

Always run the pump when shocking the pool and allow it to circulate for 24 hours. The water should then be a blue or cloudy blue color. Test the water 24 hours after shocking and start adjusting pH and alkalinity levels. The chlorine will still be elevated, but over a few days, it should stabilize.