How Much Shock Do You Need in a 5000-Gallon Pool?

Shocking a pool can clear cloudy water in your pool.

Shocking a swimming pool is something that is part of your everyday pool maintenance responsibilities. Pool owners shock a pool twice per year and thereafter whenever they feel the chore is necessary. Shocking a pool may be beneficial to your pool water if it's cloudy and if the beginning forms of algae are present.

Types of Shock

Shock comes in two forms. Liquid shock is premixed and ready to use immediately. It's formulated to not stain the vinyl pool liners on above ground pools. The other type of shock is granulated and must be mixed and dissolved in water prior to adding it to the pool water or you run the risk of bleaching your pool liner. BaquaShock is another item that is used as shock. However the BaquaShock is nonchlorinated and must be used in conjunction with a Baquacil filtration system that does not use chlorine.

Pool Size

A 5,000 gallon capacity pool is small and is most likely an above ground pool. Some common pool sizes that hold round 5,000 gallons are a 12 x 18-foot oval-shaped pool, which has a capacity of 5,090 gallons at a depth of 4 feet and a 15-foot round pool which holds 5,300 gallons.

Amount of Shock

Shock is sold in one-gallon sizes for liquid shock and small bags for granulated. Most doses of pool shock treat up to 5,000 gallons of pool water. Therefore for a pool with a capacity of 5,000 gallons, all you would need to use each time you would like to shock the pool is 1 gallon of liquid shock.

When to Shock

Shock the pool when it's opened for the season and before you close it. Add the shock directly to the surface of the water, and wait 12 hours before allowing anyone to go swimming. Run the filter for 24 hours after the shock is added. Shock can also be added after heavy usage, which can make the pool cloudy. If the liner appears to look black or green around the pool surface, algae growth could be present. Shock the pool immediately.

References

• Swim University: How To Shock Your Pool

Resources

• The Pool Calculator