The use of Lithium Shock

[goldslinger]

Hello,

I have an inground 18 x 36 vinyl pool; 24,000 gallon. I use Lithium shock (3 lbs.) weekly and it works great. However it is very expensive, as You all know.

So why do I use it? I was told by tghe pool company store that One needs to use a different chlorine compound than what You would use for the slow release pucks to help release the bound up chlorine; or something to that affect.

I wouldn't mind going cheaper, but I don't want to use the cheap Calcium Hypochlorite found at Wal-Mart, etc. as We have hard enough water here as it is.

Any suggestions to a granular chlorine shocker for once a week treatment or after heavy use, thunderstorms, etc.?

Much appreciated.

Gary

[aylad]

Why not just use unscented bleach?

[goldslinger]

Thanks, Aylad.

Could You tell or direct Me to approximately how much I will need? Or do I need to wait for My test kit I ordered from this site (via Amazon) so I know what My CA levels are?

[aylad]

Each 3 quarts + 1 cup of 6% bleach will raise your FC by roughly 2 ppm, each 2 gallons will raise it by 5 ppm. To see what your levels need to be, you need to know the CYA level....once you know that, then you can use the link in my sig for the "best guess chlorine table" to see where to keep your chlorine levels.

Janet

[waterbear]

Hello,

I was told by tghe pool company store that One needs to use a different chlorine compound than what You would use for the slow release pucks to help release the bound up chlorine; or something to that affect.

THAT is not the reason. You have been what is referred to around here as "Pool Stored". FWIW, it does not matter WHAT form of chlorine you put in the water. It will form hypochlorous acid, hypochlorite ions, and chlorinated isocyanurates (if there is any stabilzier present from ANY source). All that you are doing is adding a "booster dose" of chlorine to either oxidize organics or kill algae. The reason that unstabilized chlorine is commonly used for shocking is that it does not raise stabilizer levels. As you noted calcium hypochlorite does raise calcium. However, both sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine or bleach) and lithium hypochlorite have no negatives effects on your water and are basically pH neutral on use. As you noted lithium hypochlorite is very expensive (the most expensive form of chlorine there is).

[goldslinger]

Thanks, Guys!

So You use the liquid bleach for chlorination AND shock? You just make it a regimen of adding some every night and more as needed for shock?

I'm off to Sam's club for the 3 'B's ! !
I will continue to use My pucks until they are used up, then go to bleach for chlorination AND shock from now on. I will keep my Poly algaecide on hand.
Can't wait for the test kit. I really like the liquid testers and am using a cheap one right now; still better than ph strips that pander to the lazy, imo.

Thanks, again.

Gary

[waterbear]

Think of it this way. Shock is a verb, not a noun. It is something you DO to a pool, not a special chemical you add. It means bringing the chlorine level up to a high enough level to either destroy combined chlorine or kill algae. Also, it is NOT something that needs to be done weekly. It is something that needs to be done on an 'as needed' basis (when combined chlorine is over .5 ppm, after heavy rains, after heavier than normal pool use such as a party, etc.)

All shocking once a week does is help increase the pool store's "bottom line" (as does buying expen$ive lithium $hock!)

[Watermom]

You should probably post a current set of water testing results taken with a drops-based kit for us to take a look at. Depending on how long you have been using trichlor pucks, your CYA level could be high which would affect our advice for adequate chlorination levels.

[goldslinger]

Will do. What is the shelf life of bleach in Their closed bottles? I want to buy many but it will be hot where I store them.

Gary

[aylad]

I usually buy a couple of weeks' supply at a time and they do okay in my Louisiana garage...

Janet