shock to bleach comparison

[Renee C]

How does bleach compare to shock. Is 1 gallon of bleach the same a 1 lb of shock? or does it compare differently?

[sevver]

If I remember correctly yes it is the same.

[Renee C]

after adding bleach how long do you need to let your filter run?

Is it safe to swim after adding bleach? How long do you have to wait?
Thanks

[sevver]

You have to wait like less than one minute. Possibly even in the area of five seconds.

[CToon]

Hi Renee,

I know what you are asking about. It's sort of misleading of the makers calling it "shock" . Its really just the same stuff you can buy in 25lb container , most of the time its calcium hypochlorite.

Its better to think of "shock" as a verb . THe Act of raising CL levels to "shock" the pool. And good ol bleach does just fine at it

[duraleigh]

Renee/Sevver,

Calcium Hypochlorite is normally 65% - 68% available chlorine.....bleach is 6%. They absolutely do not equate.

[sevver]

As for raising the Cl levels, they are equal though right?

[JimSentry]

If I understand Duraleigh's post you need 6x the amount of bleach to equal the regular shock.

And I guess you would to have wait at least 24hrs before swimming in such a highly chlorinated pool.

Duraleigh or CToon please respond.

[sevver]

Yes, but the amounts vary, just because the concentrations are different does not mean that the small bag of shock added to the pool would not change the Cl levels the same amount as a gallon of bleach. Sorry, but this is what I thought, I know I read it here somewhere...

[duraleigh]

Sevver,

I misspoke. They are closer than I assumed. According to the info I have, 1lb of Cal Hypo will have about 25% more chlorine than 1 gallon of chlorine. I assumed (there's that word, again) the spread was far greater and I should not have been quite so adamant.