How often do you shock "poll"

[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.

[poolrx]

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.

No problem, glad I am not the only one with too many things on their mind.

Joe