In the hot summer, people prefer swimming to other sports. Due to frequent use of the pool and the weather change, the swimming pool water is susceptible to pollution, affecting the health of swimmers. Thus, regular shock treatment is important for keeping pool water clean and hygienic. The swimming pool shock includes chlorine shock and non-chlorine shock. In this article, we will focus on chlorine shock and explore how to shock a pool in the right way.
The Importance of Pool Shock
Chlorine shock, also known as super chlorination, can rapidly increase the available chlorine content in the water by adding a high concentration of disinfectants to kill bacteria, viruses, algae and other harmful microorganisms, while removing organic matter and odor. This process can ensure the health of swimmers, extend the service life of the pool and maintain the good image of the pool.
The Choice Of Disinfectants In Pool Shock
In the pool shock, it's crucial to choose a suitable disinfectant. Both sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SDIC) and calcium hypochlorite (CHC or Cal Hypo) are commonly used disinfectants, which can be used for shock treatment.
SDIC Disinfectant
SDIC, usually in the form of white granules, has 55%-60% available chlorine content with splendid disinfecting ability. SDIC disinfectant with high solubility, can be fast dissolved in the water, thus quickly killing viruses, bacteria and algae to provide a safe and perfect swimming environment. Besides, SDIC is stabilized chlorine that can produce cyanuric acid (CYA), protecting chlorine in an outdoor pool from being broken down by UV rays.
Cal Hypo
Cal Hypo, white to off-white particles, is non-stabilized chlorine that does not increase the CYA level in the pool. It contains 65%-70% available chlorine content, showing strong oxidation and bactericidal properties, thereby quickly destroying the cell structure of microorganisms to achieve the rapid sterilization effect.
You may like: What Is the Difference Between Stabilized and Unstabilized Chlorine?
How To Shock Your Pool
Clean the pool
To prepare for a perfect pool shock, clean the dirt, grease and algae thoroughly from the surface and bottom of the pool.
Test the water quality
Before shock treatment, you need to conduct a comprehensive test on the pool water quality, including pH levels and total alkalinity to understand current water quality conditions. Using our pool test strips can help you check the pool water.
Adjust the water quality
According to the water quality test, adjust the appropriate pH level (usually 7.2-7.8) and total alkalinity (usually 60-180 ppm) to ensure the best effect of the disinfectant.
Calculate the dosage
According to the pool volume and instructions, calculate the suitable amount of disinfectant required.
In terms of dosage, you can calculate it based on the dosage (g) = 10 x water (m3)/available chlorine content. Generally, 10ppm of available chlorine is sufficient. For example:
1. If you have 80 m3 of water and want to shock the pool with SDIC (56% available chlorine), then
80*10/56%=1429 g of SDIC
2. If you have 20,000 gallons of water and want to shock the pool with Cal Hypo (70% available chlorine), then
20000*3.788/1000=75.76 (m3)
75.76*10/70%=1082 g of Cal Hypo
Add disinfectants
Dissolve them in the water firstly, then add their clear solution evenly to the pool. Be careful with direct contact with skin and eyes when handling them.
Keep the pool equipment running
Turn on the pool circulation filtration system to keep it running so that the disinfectant in the water can be fully mixed evenly.
Test water quality again
Test free chlorine and combined chlorine next day. If the combined chlorine level still exceeds 0.4 ppm, then you need to shock your pool one more time. If the free chlorine level is higher than 4 ppm, please wait a few hours. If there is a high level of free chlorine and you want to swim right away, you can add a chlorine neutralizer to reduce the free chlorine to the normal range (1-4 ppm).
Maintain the water quality
After that, continue to monitor water quality changes and make adjustments and maintenance as needed to ensure long-term stability of water quality.
Precautions of pool shock
If you want to use Cal Hypo for pool shock treatment, there are a few things need to be noted. On the one hand, Cal Hypo is non-stabilized chlorine that is easily broken down by UV rays used in outdoor swimming pools. So you can add it to the pool at dusk for shock treatment. On the other hand, Cal Hypo contains a large amount of insoluble matter, which needs to be dissolved and clarified before being added.
Conclusion
In short, swimming pool shock treatment is one of the key measures to keep the water safe and hygienic. By choosing the right disinfectant and following the correct instructions, the pool water quality can be effectively improved, providing a healthier and more comfortable swimming environment for swimmers. If you need disinfectants for pool shock treatment, welcome to contact us!
If you are interested in non-chlorine shock, you can refer to Non-Chlorine Shock for Swimming Pools.