How often do you shock "poll"

[Watermom]

That is exactly what it is - 'pool store hype.' Gotta get those chemicals sold don't we? If you maintain appropriate chemistry, you will rarely need to shock. The only time I ever do is if I have had a LOT of swimmers or sometimes after a big rain that has blown a lot of debris in my pool.

[geordie]

I've shocked once this year since I have grackles and their natural instincts are to clean their nests of all nasty debris and dump it in my pool. yuck. Generally I'll shock after the kids have a pool party or a if a big storm dumps a lot of natural gunk. Guess I average about three or four times a 16 week season.

[CarlD]

"The grackle is a noble bird" -- Peter Roberts Rambling with Gambling in the 1960's

I get shocked when I mess incorrectly with electricity.

You shock to kill stuff growing or when you know there is a contaminant. Nothing growing, no need to shock.

[ShelleyAnn]

Geordie - I think you just answered a major question for me. A nest just hatched a few days ago in the neighbors tree and we've been BOMBARDED with...well, you know. I cleaned about 12 off the solar cover in one afternoon when we uncharastically had it on. When the babies hatched is when I noticed something noticably different with the water, but didn't know we were being attacked till we had the cover on in the day. I'm thinking about getting some of that sparkley tape and tossing it over the wires that run between our houses to see if I can alter their flight plan.

Shelley

[poolrx]

Hope its not inappropriate to ask this in this thread. I know you shock to get rid of CC and bather waste, but is it just "pool store hype" that you should shock every week? It really threw me for a loop to find how little you guys shock.

Thanks
John

Yes it is hype and revenue. I also shock very little only when I open and close the pool and if CC is over 0.5. I haven't had to shock in over a year(except open & close) but I do keep my chlorine around 5ppm.

[brent.roberts]

Poolrx
If you read much here you will see constant references to getting a good test kit. The strip test kits are not even on the radar when it comes to an ability to test free chlorine and total chlorine accurately enough to know if your combined chlorine is above or below 0.5

At that magic level, you need to hear the call to duty and shock it burn of the CC. To shock you pool properly, you need to be able to measure levels up in the 15 to 25 ppm of free chlorine. No test strip kit and very few drop based kits can do it either. You need an FAS/DPD type kit.

And you are referring to the real reason to test. Fecal matter is from my understanding the single most dangerous contaminant. You almost never hear about anyone ever having it. You could test it as if it were drinking water and get a coliform count. Most people get alarmed when the pool goes green with algae. It's not nice but it's not very dangerous in it's own right.

BUT

when algae can grow so can the dangerous bacteria.

and that's why we want accurate testing.

[poolrx]

Poolrx
If you read much here you will see constant references to getting a good test kit. The strip test kits are not even on the radar when it comes to an ability to test free chlorine and total chlorine accurately enough to know if your combined chlorine is above or below 0.5

At that magic level, you need to hear the call to duty and shock it burn of the CC. To shock you pool properly, you need to be able to measure levels up in the 15 to 25 ppm of free chlorine. No test strip kit and very few drop based kits can do it either. You need an FAS/DPD type kit.

And you are referring to the real reason to test. Fecal matter is from my understanding the single most dangerous contaminant. You almost never hear about anyone ever having it. You could test it as if it were drinking water and get a coliform count. Most people get alarmed when the pool goes green with algae. It's not nice but it's not very dangerous in it's own right.

BUT

when algae can grow so can the dangerous bacteria.

and that's why we want accurate testing.

I apologize b/c I really don't understand your answer and don't know how or if to respond I have been a member for several years now and have Ben's complete kit and know exactly what my fc and cc are. I don't post to often b/c folks such as Watermom and Carl has vast more experience than I.
You are correct in regards to the strips and not knowing cc. If this is what someone is using I would probably suggest shocking weekly but would more so recommend buying Ben's kit.

[brent.roberts]

I think maybe I was bouncing between threads to much when I wrote that and directed it to Poolrx. It does seem a little off to be a response to what you posted. Not bad info, just not connected. Sorry.

[mwsmith2]

is it just "pool store hype" that you should shock every week?

Well. It's hype. Sorta.

Most folks wouldn't know CC if it came up and bit 'em. Most of the (cheap) test kits only have the OTO test, which can't measure how much CC you've got. In the absence of good information (and most likely a desire to line their pockets) the pool stores tell you to shock weekly. Now, that's not entirely bad advice, because it would keep the CC down to a minimum...and since they don't know the conditions of your pool, it is erring on the side of caution. However, it's generally unecessary, and it's a great way to stop throwing away money. I too was amazed when I first became a pool owner and read this site how little shocking was actually needed. The bottom line is that without CC or some other outbreak/bio-accident shocking is simply not warranted.

A wise man once told me "where there's confusion, there's profit." Know your pool, don't be confused!

Michael