If you are a saltwater pool owner, you might be wondering if it’s still necessary to shock your saltwater pool. The answer to this question is “yes.” Ride along with me in this article as I explain to you why it’s important to shock your saltwater pool and how often you should do it.
Why should you shock your saltwater pool?
Algae removal.
If you want algae in your pool eliminated effectively, chlorine is your best bet. When you shock your pool, you raise the chlorine level to a point where algae can’t grow. So regardless of whether you own a saltwater pool or not, shocking is important for the removal of algae.
So when you see any algae bloom, know that it is time to shock your pool.
To remove chloramines
Chloramines are a combined form of chlorine. They are formed when chlorine combines with the various organic materials found in the pool. This is what is responsible for the “chlorine” smell.
Shocking helps to break up these chloramines and release more free chlorine to sanitize the pool.
To eliminate other contaminants.
Other organic matter, apart from algae, can be present in your pool. By elevating your chlorine levels, you are making the pool uninhabitable for them too. This could include bacteria, fecal matter, and the like. Shocking is a procedure that your pool must undergo whether it is a saltwater pool or not
How often should you shock your pool?
Under normal circumstances, you should shock your pool once a week. However, it is recommended that you shock your pool after every heavy
How do you shock a saltwater pool?
Test your pool’s water. It is important that you test your pool. The pool’s pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels are important. If the pH is too low, it can prevent the chlorine from acting as effectively as it should. Excess calcium in the water can cause the depositing of crystals. In addition, metals like iron and copper can cause permanent staining in the pool.
You can use test strips to carry out this process.
Balance your pool’s chemistry. After running these tests, the next step is to balance your pool’s chemistry by adjusting the chemicals.
Calculate the dose. You need to reach “breakpoint” chlorination in order to kill algae and break up chloramines in the right way. This point is where the chlorine concentration reached 30 ppm. For granular shock, you have to add about 3 lbs. to every 10000 gallons, while for liquid shock, you add 5 gallons to every 10000 gallons of pool water.
Add the shock: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when adding the shock. For granular or powdered shock, it is best to pre-dissolve it in a bucket. Then you can go ahead and pour the solution gradually into the pool. This is to ensure no undissolved particles remain on the pool’s surface. Before pouring in, note that it’s important to have your pool pump running. This will ensure proper circulation of the shock throughout the pool water.
Lower the salt cell production: While the shocking is still ongoing, you can turn down your salt cell production. This is because the chlorine levels in your pool will still be very high. So there is no need to run your salt cell simultaneously.
Can I use My Salt Cell to Shock the Pool?
It is common for a lot of salt cell systems to have a “shock” or “super chlorinate” button. However, it isn’t advisable for you to use that in place of conventional shocking. It can place such a demand on your salt cell and cause it to have a shorter life span.
Salt systems with this feature are not still able to shock your pool up to “breaking point” levels. Most can chlorinate your pool up to 5-7 ppm. And they do this slowly, so you might not be able to get the results as efficiently as you expect, which is killing algae and pathogens.
Why is my saltwater pool not producing chlorine?
Check the power
The first thing to do is make sure the salt chlorinator’s control box is getting power. Verify that a GFI outlet is being used and that the test button has not been tripped. There are lights on the control panel that show that electricity is being supplied to the system.
Water flow
For the saltwater chlorinator to work right, it needs a steady supply of fresh water. A dirty skimmer basket, a clogged filter, or a clogged pump strainer could all cause less chlorine to be made.
Salt concentrations
To check the salt concentration in your pool, use a kit that may be purchased from a pool supply store. If you want to know how much salt to put in your chlorinator and what size pool you have, you may do that by consulting the manual. If a saltwater chlorinator is used without enough salt, it could damage the electrodes. Have a pool service provider analyze the water and give you their expert opinion on the optimal salt level, as well as the pH, calcium, and alkalinity levels.
Calcium concentrations
Too much calcium can result in scaling on the electrodes of the salt cell. Both high calcium content and high pH/alkalinity contribute to the formation of scale deposits. When scale builds up on a chlorinator cell, it needs to be cleaned to restore its effectiveness and avoid costly repairs.
If you’re still concerned about the saltwater chlorinator’s performance, you might want to weigh the expense of replacing it with the price of the necessary repairs. In order to find and treat the issue before it causes more harm, a professional pool care firm should be consulted. They can use their equipment to identify problems with the pool’s water and administer the necessary maintenance to keep it sparkling clean.
Can you put too much shock in a saltwater pool?
It is a pretty tough one to actually overshock your pool. Even if you shock your pool on consecutive days, as long as you are not planning on diving into the pool, you have literally no problem. If for anything, it will be useful in destroying all the algae and any other organic matter.
When you shock your pool and the chlorine levels get really high, all you have to do is wait till the levels are back to normal (1-3 ppm) before going into the pool.
Why is my pH always high in my saltwater pool?
Both saltwater and chlorine pools use chlorine to keep the water clean, but saltwater pools get their chlorine in a way that keeps raising the pH level of the water. With chlorinated pools, this is never an issue. The electrolysis process for making chlorine makes byproducts that tend to have a high pH. This is why most saltwater pools have high pH values.
Pools with chlorine have pH levels that are easier to deal with because chlorine is added directly to the water. As a byproduct of the electrolysis process in a saltwater pool, sodium hydroxide is made. As a result, the pH of saltwater pools tends to rise steadily due to the presence of this byproduct, which often has a pH greater than 13.0.
The alkalinity of your pool could be too high, which is another possible but less likely reason for the increase in pH. In spite of the fact that alkalinity is supposed to function as a buffer, excessive alkalinity can actually cause pH levels to rise as well.
How Do You Lower PH In a Saltwater Pool?
First, You Need to Do a Water Test
As a first step, you should do a water test to determine the initial total alkalinity and pH levels. A pH meter can be used to get this reading.
Determine the capacity of the pool
The volume or capacity of the pool must be determined before adding any acid. The gallon is the appropriate unit for this measurement. In order to determine the pool’s volume, you must take accurate measurements of its length, depth, and breadth. The pool size can be determined with the use of a volume calculator.
Determine How Much Acid You Will Need
Determining how much muriatic acid to add to the water is the third stage. Sodium bisulfate can damage pool surfaces and coatings, so you might want to use muriatic acid instead. In a pool with a 10,000 gallon capacity, adding 10 ounces of 15% muriatic acid can lower the pH by 0.1. To lower the pH by 0.1, you’ll need 5 ounces of 31%-strength muriatic acid.
Put Some Acid in Your Pool
Now is the time to add acid to your pool. Use safety glasses and gloves to avoid injury.
Locate a return jet in the pool’s deeper end and stand near it.
You should stretch your arms as far as possible over the water while holding a measuring cup and the muriatic acid.
It’s best to put the acid in the cup first, then add it to the water.
Until a sufficient amount of acid has been added to the water, repeat the steps above.
