What's the BEST POOL SHOCK for Your Pool?

Swim University makes pool and hot tub care easy for millions of homeowners. Each year, we continue to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. We know taking care of a swimming pool or spa can be difficult. And it’s hard to find a trusted source of information. This is the reason we created Swim University.

What is pool shock and what does it mean to “shock” a pool? "Shocking” is the process of adding a powerful, concentrated dose of chlorine or oxidizer to your pool water. But there are lots of types of shock on the market. So here’s everything you need to know about finding and using the right shock in your pool.

⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to the Right Pool Shock
01:06 - What Does Shock Do to a Pool?
01:46 - What Are the Different Types of Pool Shock?
02:19 - What's the Best Type of Shock for Your Pool?
02:45 - #1. Cal-Hypo Shock
03:34 - #2. Dichlor Shock
04:15 - #3. Non-Chlorine Shock or Oxidizer
04:45 - What Kind of Shock is Best for Algae?
05:12 - What Kind of Shock is Best for Saltwater Pools?
05:54 - What Kind of Shock is Best for Smaller Pools?
06:22 - When Should You Add Shock?

[stephenl]

Pool shock is what I add when i have no idea what’s wrong with the pool

[zczxjlg]

Going back 37 years, the only SHOCK I used was DiChlor, and the only Hot Water Treatment for Spa Pools, other than Bromine in Australia.
It was back then 65% chlorin, had a good pH of 6.5, and was effective to 28° Celsius.
I find it it still an effective Sanitiser today, yes it's Stabilised, but given certain environment conditions, it is truly a Wonderful treatment.

[bigal]

Salt pool is the best! Salt, phosphate free, Leslie’s clear, three ingredients and at times calcium etc. can’t remember last time I brushed the pool. Easiest thing ever to take care of!

[raypatalano]

excellent job on these videos - thank you!

[stevebugg]

Well done. I like the way you simplify the issues.

[StephRenee]

Idk our first year with pool. And from day one we finally was told kids were in our pool every night. Our pool has been a mess we couldn't figure out what was going on. Cloudy and green and slim all over. I was getting in every day and scrubbing and my hubby was shocking and taking to pool place. And I have stayed up last 2 nights to catch these kids. Not good living right next to a playground. We found out the 3 kids down street were in it. We found mud all kver where they must had been in and out. We have a locked ladder they were jumping over and in. I got my bb gun ready for now. 🤣 we are new to this pool thing. Hoping my hubby will watch and learn as well. Because I want a nice clear pool..

[ShamekaHausa]

Use quadchlor - it has all the advantages of calhypo, trichlor and dichlor. Can be used on pools as little as 50, 000 gallons.

[ajacowart]

Your videos are the best!! Thank you thank you

[victoriaknowles]

I just add a few cups of liquid pool Chlorine everyday. I haven’t had to use shock. I use a Taylor K 2006 kit. I haven’t had any issues. And it saves me a ton of money.

[preyforcougars]

Question: why differentiate non-chlorine pool shock from chlorine as an “oxidizer” if chlorine *is also an oxidizer* ? Isn’t that literally how chlorine works is by oxidizing contaminants?

Or am I missing something? (Not trying to be rude, genuinely curious)

[AMPMReviews]

Why don't they make unstablized tablets? I found that using trichlor tabs always works but the CYA levels are always going up so maybe there is a better way to have slow release without the CYA additive?

[spikeybabies]

If I have a problematic pool that always gets algae:

Obviously this is assuming you’re a pool guy/gal whose adding a gallon, or moreOf chlorine to the pool on your weekly service visit.

1) usually it’s time to clean the filter
2) put a pool Rx plus in the pump after cleaning the filter (this is why having a sand filter with vitro clean is truly the way to go)
3) raise Borates to 50 PPM (balance PH and alkalinity immediately after adding)

If this still hasn’t worked

4) check phosphates and add some phosphate remover

This has been pretty effective so far..

If the pool is still getting really bad algae it should become salt pool and if the pool
Is covered it should have an ORP system.

Remember to also check Total
Dissolved solids obviously if it’s above 2, 700 - 3, 000PPM you have to drain the pool a minimum of halfway down. Remember if you’re using a Lamotte tracer to check TDS and Salt level you need to subtract the salt level from the TDS reading to have an accurate TDS reading.

If you’re still reading this right now and you want a job I have a full route ready for you on the peninsula Bay Area california. Reply to this. And we can talk more.

[traceylynn]

If I have to add a lot of well water which can be heavy in iron & minerals after opening my pool, is there something I should add to counteract the metals in the well water?

[rjn]

I have a Nature2 Fusion chlorine and mineral (Ag and Cu) system. The system uses trichlor tablets. If I want to shock the pool can I use sodium hypochlorite. I have read that mixing two types of chlorine can cause an explosion, for example trichlor and cal hypo, which is the calcium version of sodium hypochlorite. If I can't add the sodium hypochlorite do I just wait until all of the trichlor tablets are completely dissolved and then shock the pool? I learned the hard way not to remove the tablets as once they are wet, they produce dangerous chlorine gas even if you think you have totally dried out the tablets. The chlorine gas leaks out of the sealed plastic container so it cannot be stored inside.

[rnnallison]

I have a bestway steel pro max 10ft by 30inch pool that holds about 1236 gallons in it i shocked it on the 8th with cal hypo shock and we are supposed to get about 4hr rain storm today should i test my waters after the strom if my ppm is 5 or above can i leave the shock out and shock it on the 15th which would be about a week or should i just let the shock out until my free chlorine drops low i also have a floater with a 3inch tablet in it so far my water levels are great im just trying to figure out when to use the shock

[kenblaies]

I have a in ground saltwater pool in Ohio. What kind of chlorine should I add and when? Opening in May

[martirobertson]

We have an Coleman/Bestway 12' x 26' oval above ground pool which is about 7, 500 gallons. Is it ok to use Cal-Hypo shock in our pool, even though it's normally for 10, 000 gallons?

[marksullivan]

If you maintain proper chlorine levels you never have to shock. Liquid chlorine all year long baby…2-4Ppm at all times and you’ll never have to “shock”

[corazontaylor]

Hello, from the Philippines here, just want to asked do I need to put dry acid and when to used it.
Many thanks

[yazlinne]

I just bought an above ground pool a month ago and it has been the most confusing process trying to keep it clean. I’m not a chemist at