Table of Contents
Chemicals Checklist: Everything You Need to Open Your Pool A good test kit or test strips for checking your pool’s pH, calcium hardness, total alkalinity, and chlorine levels. Chlorine granules or tablets. Shock treatment. Increaser/decreaser chemicals for alkalinity, calcium, and pH. Algaecide. Stain treatment.
What chemicals do I need to start my pool?
Chemicals Needed for Pool Start Ups Stain & Scale Preventer. Granular Shock Chlorine. Chlorine Tablets. pH Increaser and/or pH Decreaser. Alkalinity and/or Calcium Increaser. Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer) Algaecide and Clarifiers if needed. Complete Test Kit or Test Strips.
How much shock Do I need to open my pool?
To shock your pool, use 2 pounds of shock for every 10,000 gallons of water, which should raise your chlorine levels to 10.0 ppm. Depending on your pool, you can use either Leslie’s Power Powder Plus or Leslie’s Chlor Brite.
How do you start a pool for the first time?
Step 1 – Clear off the water, debris and anything else from the pool cover. Step 2 – Remove the pool cover. Step 3 – Pull the winter plugs and accessories out. Step 4 – Top up the water in your pool. Step 5 – Reinstall the pool ladder. Step 6 – Prepare the pool filtration system. Step 7 – Power your filtration system up.
What chemicals do I need for an above ground pool?
Pool Chemicals 101 For Above Ground Pools Chlorine. We all know this is the most important chemical for pool care. Calcium. Calcium chloride is a hardener, which helps reduce stains- especially on vinyl above-ground pools. Cyanuric Acid. This chemical helps keep chlorine stable. Algaecide. Alkaline. Shock. In Review.
Do I need to shock my pool when I first fill it?
At first you’ll add chlorine in what’s called “shock” levels – an extra heavy dose to start your pool off. A shock dose coupled with extra circulation will ensure that all the water gets treated properly in the beginning. Now it’s time to keep the water hardness in check, otherwise known as alkalinity.
Do I use shock or algaecide first?
Algaecide should be used after each shock treatment, so it has a better chance to support your chlorine as it works its magic. Be sure to shock your pool first, then when the chlorine levels of your pool return to normal, add the correct amount of algaecide to several places around your pool while your pump is running.
Is liquid chlorine the same as shock?
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.
Can you use bleach to shock a pool?
To shock a pool with Clorox or bleach, you will need to use ½ gallon of bleach per 10,000 gallons of water to raise the level of chlorine to 5 ppm. To raise the chlorine level for just 2.5 ppm, it is recommended to use as much as ¼ gallon of bleach per 10,000 gallons of water.
How much chlorine do I add to my pool when I open it?
For pool startup, it’s best to double shock your pool, meaning that you add two pounds of chlorine shock for every 10,000 gallons of water. After shocking a pool, aim to have chlorine at 10 ppm. After this routine, your pool should be good to go.
How much shock do you need for an above ground pool?
But How Much Do I Need? As with any cleaning chemical, the amount of pool shock you use depends on the volume of your pool. Generally, the magic number is one pound per 10,000 gallons. This is especially easy to measure out when you buy pool shock conveniently packaged in one pound bags.
Can I just throw chlorine tablets in my pool?
NEVER just throw them into your pool water. This will cause them to dissolve on the floor and it can damage and create a permanent bleach stain to your liner or concrete.
Why is my pool green when I just filled it?
Your first instinct when you fill your pool with new water, is to shock it. But that shock then oxidizes the metals, that chemical reaction then causes the green hue in your water. This is common with refills that used well water or even water that hasn’t been shocked but instead contains a high level of metals.
What happens if you put too much algaecide in your pool?
The presence of too much algaecide can lead to a foamy pool water. Air pockets within the filter system can cause bubbles on the pool surface as well. The bubbles and foam resulting from too much algaecide will be much smaller in size.
What pool chemicals should not be mixed?
Incompatible Pool Chemicals Calcium Hardness Increaser & Sodium Bicarbonate. Water Clarifier & Sequestering Agents. Chlorine & Calcium Hypochlorite. Pool Shock with Presence of Metals in Pool. Pool Shock & Enzyme Products. Chlorine & Muriatic Acid.
Can I over shock my pool?
You cannot overshock a swimming pool or add too much. Adding too much shock or overshocking your pool will kill off algae. The negative of adding too much shock is it will upset the chemical balance of your pool. It’s likely to do that regardless of if you overshocked the pool or not.
How long does chlorine last in pool water?
Tap water chlorine dissipates almost fully in a day, but pool chlorine takes about 4 1/2 days. (Rough orders aro too many variables.) There are compounds which are considerably slowed by catalysts that make keeping a swimming pool level stable.
How soon after shocking a pool can I swim?
After Shocking Your Pool It is safe to swim once your chlorine levels are around 5 ppm or after 24 hours.
What do you use to shock a pool?
Calcium Hypochlorite: Also referred to as cal hypo, this chemical is one of the least costly and most convenient ways to shock your pool. It’s usually sold in granular form.
