What chemicals do I need to add to a freshly filled pool?

Chemicals Needed for Pool Start Ups
  1. Stain & Scale Preventer.
  2. Granular Shock Chlorine.
  3. Chlorine Tablets.
  4. pH Increaser and/or pH Decreaser.
  5. Alkalinity and/or Calcium Increaser.
  6. Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer)
  7. Algaecide and Clarifiers if needed.
  8. Complete Test Kit or Test Strips.

Do you need to treat a new pool?

In order for your pool to be clean and free of bacteria, algae, and other damaging substances, its important that your pool gets the proper water treatment. When it comes to pool water treatment for new pool water, you have to test the water to make sure its suitable for your pool.

Should you shock a pool with new water?

Opening & Closing: When opening your pool, it’s recommended that you shock it after balancing the other chemicals. This will oxidize the particles, eliminate bacteria, and clarify the water. When it’s time to close your pool, shocking will help fight off contaminants over the long winter months.

How do you start a pool for the first time?

How much chlorine do I put in my new pool?

The ideal chlorine combination of your pool is between 1 and 3 parts per million (ppm). In order to eliminate pathogenic viruses, you’ll want to make sure your chlorine concentration doesn’t fall below 1 ppm.

How much liquid chlorine do I add to my pool for the first time?

12.5% Liquid Chlorine Pool Shock – Normal Dosage: 1 gallon of shock per 10,000 gallons of water. Shock Dosage: 2 gallons of shock per 10,000 gallons of water.

How do you shock a new pool?

How do I shock my pool?
  1. Check that the pH levels in your pool are balanced.
  2. Prepare shock ahead of time in a 5-gallon bucket of pool water and stir.
  3. Ensure the pool pump is running. Pour the mixture from the bucket into the water around the edges of the pool.
  4. Let the pump run for about 6 hours or more and test the water.

How long does liquid chlorine last in a pool?

For example, dry pool chlorine will not expire for a long time, while liquid pool chlorine will expire quickly. If you have any pool chemicals in liquid form, they will only last up to two months before they begin to become ineffective.

When should I add chlorine to my pool?

How long after adding chlorine Can you swim?

about 4 hours
Depending on how much you have added and the size of your pool, it is generally safe to wait about 4 hours after adding liquid chlorine or until levels reach 5 ppm or lower.

Do you have to add chlorine to pool everyday?

A: During the swimming season, you should check the chlorine level at least twice per week. The ideal chlorine level should be between 1 and 3 ppm. If the level is below 1 ppm, you should add more chlorine.

Which pool chlorine is best?

Sodium hypochlorite is best for pools with high calcium hardness and has around 10% to 12% Chlorine. Sodium hypochlorite is very effective fighting against microorganisms and removing stains. Calcium hypochlorite is the most popular type with around 65% Chlorine.

Is liquid chlorine better than shock?

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. … Chlorine is the most cost-effective way to sanitize your pool. It has been the product of choice for almost 100 years.

Why will my pool not hold chlorine?

Chlorine lock can occur when there is too much cyanuric acid (also referred to as conditioner or stabilizer) in the water. This occurs when too much stabilizer is added to the water or when the swimming pool isn’t being partially drained and refilled periodically. … if they don’t you likely have chlorine lock.

Why is my pool not registering chlorine?

If you test your pool water and can’t get a chlorine level reading at all it may be due to a very high chlorine demand. … Contamination, low pH or low chlorine stabiliser levels could cause this situation. The water might appear cloudy, the pool walls be slimy or the pool may look relatively OK.

How do I keep the free chlorine in my pool?

What eats up chlorine in a pool?

One of the causes of a high chlorine demand is an excessive buildup of algae and phosphates. … The chlorine in your pool acts the same way. Keep in mind, organic materials like algae, leaves, sunscreen, lotions, pee, poop, and etc., consume chlorine.

Will baking soda lower chlorine level in pool?

Chlorine works most efficiently in water with a neutral pH level between 7.4-7.6. If the pool is too alkaline, or more than a pH of 8.0, the efficiency is less than 20 percent. … To raise your pH levels, it can be as simple as adding seven to nine pounds of baking soda to your pool water.

What does baking soda do for a pool?

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.

Does algae eat up chlorine in pool?

Algae create a chlorine demand in the water for itself, consuming chlorine that should be working on other contaminants. As it expels carbon dioxide, the pH level of pool water can rise.

Can low pH cause chlorine lock?

Chlorine lock can happen when there is too much cyanuric acid in the pool water. An unbalanced pH can also a cause of chlorine lock.

How much shock do you need to break a chlorine lock?

Your best chance is to triple shock it with calcium hypochlorite. To triple shock, add 3 pounds of shock per 10,000 gallons of water. You’ll need to know your pool’s volume to do this correctly, which you can determine with a pool calculator.