The use of Lithium Shock

[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

[goldslinger]

Thanks for that.

Well, My water was crystal clear yesterday but I apparantly didn't stay on top of it. This afternoon, I noticed yellow algae and whitish water. I tested the FC, and it was I would guess .7

Well that explains it.

I went to My grocery store and bought 6 x 1.4gallon of 6% bleach; generic (3.15 a bottle). I added 2 of them tonight. WOW, I tested 1 hour later and it's off the chart! It cost me 6.30 plus tax for this treatment, where as 3 bags of lithium would have cost me over 32 bucks.

Off the chart of my cheap tester means over 3ppm.

Man, I can't wait for the good tester to get here, so I can see where my CYA levels are !

I never put pencil to anything. I always assumed the liquid bleach was very weak, diluted. I guess that I thought the granulated chlorine was some kind of super chlorinator; packing a lot more whollop with it's explosive action. Well, tonight totally negated that myth.

With everything I am reading here, I might be able to afford to keep this thing awhile longer.

Thanks so much to everyone for Your help and expertise !

I guess now I need to vacuum, as there is visible dirt and algae; I probably should have done that first, but it was gettting dark on Me and the neighbors were swimming and didn't want to bother them (in my own pool, haha).

I guess vacuuming released the algae so that it is in suspension and killed easier by the shock?

Gary Gipson

[Watermom]

Any time you bush the pool, it helps the chlorine be able to better get at the algae. Vacuuming is basically brushing the pool.

BTW -- Until your good kit arrives you can force your other kit to read higher by using a dilution method described below. It isn't super accurate, but better than nothing.

Testing Without a Good Kit

[goldslinger]

I brushed the pool and added another 3.5 gallons to it last Night. It seems to be clearing some; the water is cloudy (white) with what I brushed off. I brushed off a real fine powdery silt (Farming community) with the yellowish algae growing on top of it. I think I am going to have to let it settle and vacuum to waste (a good name for it); I hate doing that, but the sand filter refuses to catch it. It kinda accumulates over 3 or 4 weeks and I just ignore it until there is enough to warrant vacuuming to waste.

My testing kit should be here Today from Amazon. I will know alot more to post after I learn to use it. I really would like to see the whole picture I've been missing. Glad I found this forum.

Bought 9 1.4gallons of 6% from Sam's Club for 2.49 each; not bad. It is clorox brand, but unscented, and is not the 'no splash' goop.

I am very interested in seeing what My CYA level is and an accurate PH reading for a change.

I would like to post specs about My pool, but even after subscribing to this forum, I am still blocked by everything. I paid via PAYPAL.

Gary