What Are the Differences Between Pool Shock and Regular Pool Chlorine

Pool shock offers a stronger, faster disinfecting effect with higher sanitizer levels, ideal for tackling stubborn contaminants, while regular chlorine provides a gradual, long-term disinfection approach.

Comparing Types of Pool Shock Treatments

Characteristics of Cal-Hypo, Dichlor, and MPS Shocks

The three types of pool shock treatments are Cal-Hypo, Dichlor, and MPS. Each has its own unique characteristics and uses for specific situations:

• Cal-Hypo (Calcium Hypochlorite): Fast-acting and high available chlorine content is typically between 55% and 65%. Useful in quickly raising chlorine levels and killing bacteria with equal speed.
• Dichlor (Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate): Granular in form with low available chlorine, about 44% to 55% and dissolves slowly. This type of shock is useful in maintaining chlorine levels and providing a long-lasting effect.
• MPS (Manganese, Phosphate, and Sulfate): Also, granular, this non-chlorine shock does not produce combined chlorine and does not affect pH levels. Useful in swimming pools where many dogs swim, highly sensitive people, and spas. It also works in swimming pools with filters requiring no use of chlorine.
  

Deciding Between Chlorine and Non-Chlorine Shock

The most important factor in choosing whether to use chlorine shock or the non-chlorine shock treatment is the requirements of the pool for which to treat. Following are some possibilities also to consider:

• Chlorine Shock: The best choice for zapping bacteria in the pool and for working with organic contaminants. It provides powerful, long-lasting maintenance.
• Non-Chlorine Shock: Will not irritate swimmers’ eyes or skin and will not contribute to the formation of combined chlorine. Does not burn-off using up the available free chlorine in the pool. Most selected when chlorine is not used or when bather load is high.

Situations Calling for Pool Shock

First and most important, you should order and use pool shock for these situations:

• Algae outbreak. One way to tackle the bloom in algae population is to increase the pool shock dose to lethal levels.
• Heavy rainfall. Pools have regular groundwater filling them, but the additional water from rainfall may irritate the balance in your pool’s water. Pool shock can help you normalize the balance.

Daily Maintenance with Chlorine

Chlorine is vital for the pool, so you should use it daily within the specified range of quantity:

• Test chlorine levels. For positive sanitization, you must keep your water with the range 1-3 ppm. Check it every few days.
• Automatic chlorinators. If you don’t want to keep checking your pool’s water, consider introducing automatic chlorinators to maintain the levels safe and keep adjusting them manually.

Liquid Chlorine vs. Granular Shock: Making the Right Choice

When it comes to choosing liquid or regular treatments, remember that:

• Liquid Chlorine is more comfortable, and it allows you to make immediate impact. You may wish to use a liquid form to control and maintain the chlorine levels.
• Granular Shocks have high potency and are only recommended for specific situations. Use them only in the case of heavy usage or an algae problem.

Granular Shock: High Potency for Specific Scenarios

Granular shock treatments are considered more potent, meaning that you have to use them in specific scenarios:

• Super Chlorination: You may provide your pool with a high dose of chlorine in a way that is known as super chlorination using granular shock.
• Turnaround Time: Due to the high potency is the recommended way to reduce the contamination level of your pool or general pollution level to an acceptable point in a short time frame.