What shock level?

[kenny]

I'm going to shock my pool. The Chlorine/CYA chart in Pool School tells me to use shock level of 30 (my cya is 80 and FC is 5.5). However, the pool calculator is saying to shock it at 21. Which one should I use?

thanks,

 

[kenny]

Also, I know nothing about chlorine and what types to use. Any recommendations?

 

[Butterfly]

Hi Kenny,

The Chlorine/CYA Chart is a little more agressive than Jason's Pool Calculator for shock levels.

Both will work, but the higher should work a little faster.

We recommend that you use only Liquid Chlorine/Bleach (plain unscented 6%) for shocking your pool.

Have you read How to shock your pool in Pool School?

 

[kenny]

Thanks,

I read pool school but it said to just add Chlorine and I wasn't sure if it was liquid or granuler. Is liquid chlorine cheaper than bleach or are they the same?

I talked to the pool store today and they said the liquid chlorine was more expensive than the bags of shock treatment??

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

Not really. A cost analysis was done by one of our special contributors and it showed bleach was the cheapest method of chlorine, when other issues are factored in. You have to shop around for the best price, I can get 12.5% liquid chlorine for $3.00 gallon/128 oz which is similar in price to Wal-mart's Great Value 6% bleach at $2.54 for 182 oz.

 

[FlyboyTR]

Kenny,
I'm new around here myself...and the sum of my knowledge, well…isn’t much…but I’m learning the BBB way! The preferred chlorine is the plane ol’ 6% Chlorox (not the outdoor stuff, scented, or ???) I just made a Wal Mart run and it was $3.34 for the 182oz jug. I had priced out Home Depot and several local pool stores for their liquid chlorine (most of which was 12%) and the 6% Chlorox is the best deal (and yes I did consider the other was 12%). :-D

 

[reebok]

highly location dependent. research it for yourself. around my part of florida (is the whole state the same?) liquid chlorine is a better deal than bleach.

 

[FlyboyTR]

Thanks reebok...You are right... Costs are always location dependent.

 

[reebok]

after re-reading my post it could be taken as rude. I meant to say "kenny, research it for yourself."

 

[FlyboyTR]

No offence taken here! …”it’s all good!” :-D

 

[kenny]

Thanks for the replys. I'll do some homework tomorrow.

 

[Krickett]

Where can you get liquid chlorine? I can get 6% bleach from Costco for about $8.41 (includes tax) or about $1.97/gal which at the rate I'm using it is still a lot.

 

[reebok]

It always blows my mind that liquid chlorine seems to be impossible to find in Texas. The main source is the pool store, but some areas have it at walmart, grocery stores, hardware stores, etc. But I've seen several people from Texas on here who can't find it anywhere.

 

[Bob_Funk]

I'm going to shock my pool. The Chlorine/CYA chart in Pool School tells me to use shock level of 30 (my cya is 80 and FC is 5.5). However, the pool calculator is saying to shock it at 21. Which one should I use?

thanks,

Why are you shocking? Is your pool green?

 

[kenny]

We've had a lot of rain and it seems to be getting a green tint.....could be my imagination though. The balance of the pool has been real good and haven't shocked the pool since we opened it 3 months ago. So I figured I'd try it for the first time.

 

[reebok]

or you could do this test and completely avoid a possibly unnecessary expense. you're going to have to do it anyway to see if you're done shocking.
pool-school/overnight_fc_test
if you've been following the chart you should never get algae (assuming good circulation, filtration and brushing).
pool-school/chlorine_cya_chart_shock

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

We've had a lot of rain and it seems to be getting a green tint.....could be my imagination though. The balance of the pool has been real good and haven't shocked the pool since we opened it 3 months ago. So I figured I'd try it for the first time.

I agree with Reebok, do an overnight loss test first, to determine if you even NEED to shock.

A properly chlorinated pool rarely needs shocking - even 3 months in...The only reason I've shocked my pool in 2 years is to go on extended vacations and to winterize.

 

[kenny]

Thanks for the recommendations. I just tested FC and it's at 5.5 and my CC is at 1.0 (just had my niece and 3 of her friends swimming for the week). I don't think the pool looks very green but with the CC, I shocked it tonight.

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

Wise decision.