This page is full of questions that we have collected over the years and how we would answer them.
We are constantly updating this list so if you don’t see your question here, please contact us with your question and we’ll get back to you right away.
A: Shock is chlorine but comes in a granular form. Shock treatments can be applied as needed or in a dose large enough to kill algae and eliminate chloramines in the water. The more you check and balance your chemicals the less shock you will need.
A: In the state of Nebraska the requirements for pools is between 2.0-10 Baby pools between 3-10. For all recommended chemical levels, download our Quick Chemical Reference Guide (PDF).
A: There could be a number of reasons…
- Chemicals are out of balance
- Low chlorine or high pH
- Lack of filtration (time to check skimmer baskets, pump basket, and backwash)
- Presence of phosphates or high total dissolved solids
For more information, download our Troubleshooting Guide (PDF).
A: The smell usually indicates a chloramine buildup and lets you know it is time to shock. If the chlorine smell is very strong it is possible the chlorine is not breaking down bacteria as it is designed to do.
A: Clorox® has a negligible amount of free chlorine and causes a buildup of total dissolved solids. If you are interested in using a liquid form of chlorine; sodium hypochlorite is an acceptable and more concentrated form of “liquid chlorine.” Our recommendation is to keep the Clorox® in the cleaning closet and out of the pool shed for now! If you are interested in learning more about liquid chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) for your pool please contact our office.
A: Often this is caused by low sanitizer levels and/or poor water chemistry. The green could be algae or metals in your water. At the first sight of cloudiness or color change check your chemical levels immediately! Check our troubleshooting guide for more information and solutions.
For more information, download our Troubleshooting Guide (PDF).
There are many types of algae with multiple treatment options please call our office for our recommendations.