When opening your pool, it’s crucial to use the right amount of shock to ensure all bacteria and debris are removed, and to maintain proper chemical balance for safe swimming.
Shocking Your Pool
Typically for granular shock, use one pound for every 10,000 to 13,500 gallons of pool water. Shocking after opening removes bacteria and debris in the water. Use enough shock to open your pool to elevate the chlorine levels to 6ppm. The algae can’t survive. Use a 50% to 95% calcium hypochlorite shock to spike the chlorine, then circulate the pump for eight hours. Follow with a pool clarifier to remove cloudiness.
Opening Your Pool
Depending on your pool, use either Leslie’s Power Powder Plus or Leslie’s Chlor Brite. Mid-March is fine to open after a milder winter, April is better after a colder season. If the water is cloudy or has algae, use more shock. Test before shocking and rebalance pH, calcium hardness levels, and total alkalinity. I recommend:
- pH: 7.2 to 7.6
- Calcium hardness: 200 to 250 ppm
- Total alkalinity: 80 to 120 ppm
Maintenance Tips
To maintain, backwash once a week or with maintenance. Put in salt after shocking. A salt pool turns salt into chlorine. Add 1lb saltwater shock for every 5,000 gallons. When opening, double shock. Shock needs 12 to 24 hours to kill algae. A DE filter can clear a pool in 1-3 days, while a sand filter may take 5-10 days.