As we all know, swimming pool maintenance is important, especially the pool shock, aiming to prevent the growth of algae, bacteria or other contaminants in the water and ensure that the quality of pool water is clear and sanitary. There are various types of swimming pool shock, among which Cal Hypo Shock is the preferred method to shock your pool. So today I'd like to talk about the effects and features of calcium hypochlorite in depth.
Why Your Pool Needs Cal Hypo Shock Treatment?
Pool Shock, in short, is to increase the amount of free chlorine in the water by adding chemicals such as chlorine to the pool, which sanitizes the pool water, removes chloramines and kills algae and bacteria. But even with enough residual chlorine, bacteria and algae will begin to grow. In order to restore the disinfecting effect of chlorine, pool shock treatment must be performed. The free chlorine level in shock treatment can be as high as 10 to 20mg /L, which is enough to oxidize all nitrogen compounds.
- Maintaining Pool Hygiene: With frequent use of the pool, the pool water becomes cloudy due to the build-up of nitrogen compounds from skin, leaves and other debris, which reduces chlorine levels and then weaken its disinfecting ability. Pool shock completely removes these nitrogen compounds and maintains the balance of the water, thus keeping the pool pathogen-free and algae-free and maintaining the hygiene of the pool.
- Eliminating Smell: Chloramines are formed by the combination of chlorine and the sweat, oil and urine from human body, which is the source of the smell of swimming pools. Not only does it give off a strong chlorine smell, but it can irritate the eyes, skin and lungs. For those people with sensitive respiratory tracts, chloramines can even cause or worsen breathing problems. Therefore, the removal of chloramines is extremely important for pool maintenance.
- Restoring Pool Water Clarity: When the effect of chlorine is decreased by nitrogen compounds, bacteria and algae can grow and cause pool water to become cloudy. Shock treatment can restore its effectiveness and remove the cloudiness caused by bacteria and algae.
What is Calcium Hypochlorite?
Calcium Hypochlorite, short for Cal Hypo, white to off-white granules, is a compound composed of calcium, oxygen, and chlorine. It is widely used in the swimming pool industry as a key ingredient in pool shock. However, it is worth noting that Cal Hypo is an unstabilized chlorine, and additional CYA is required for outdoor use to maintain its stability and avoid rapid decomposition in direct sunlight.
How Does Calcium Hypochlorite Work?
When Cal Hypo is added to water, it reacts with the water to form hypochlorous acid with a strong bactericidal ability that can quickly kill bacteria and viruses in the water. However, insufficient hypochlorous acid reacts with waste products from the body, such as sweat, urine and skin oils, eventually forming chloramines that emit an offensive smell. Hence, increasing the available chlorine to 5-10 ppm or more can completely oxidize chloramines. It's noted that, because of unstabilized chlorine, Cal Hypo will quickly break down in direct sunlight. Ensure to add it to your pool at dusk, so that you can wake up to a sanitized pool.
Cal Hypo Shock Safety
- Always Wear Safety Gear: Please wear safety goggles and chemical-resistant gloves when handling and dissolving chlorine. Sometimes it will release a small amount of chlorine gas when doing a pool shock. Wearing protective gear can help prevent eye and skin irritation.
- Avoid Breathing from Containers: When touching the container, it is best to wear a mask to prevent the chlorine gas from irritating the throat and lungs.
- Never Mix Different Disinfectants: Calcium hypochlorite is a strong oxidant and may cause violent reactions or even combustion when is mixed with reducing chemicals or combustibles. So add each chemical product to your pool separately.
All in all, while enjoying the pleasure of swimming, we should also pay attention to the maintenance and health of the quality of the pool water. If you need Calcium Hypochlorite for Pools, please feel free to contact us. We can not only provide cost-effective Swimming Pool Chemicals, but also professional guidance.