Proper chemical treatment is key to keeping a clean, clear pool. You may wonder when you can add a clarifier after shocking your pool to maintain crystal-clear water. While shock and clarifier are essential to maintaining a healthy pool, it’s important to know the best timing between the two chemicals. In this article, we’ll go over how long you should wait to add a clarifier after shocking your pool and how your robot pool cleaner, pool vacuum, and other pool maintenance tools can assist in ensuring your pool is sparkling and inviting.
What Does Pool Shock Do and How Does It Work?
Pool shock is a potent substance used to quickly increase the chlorine concentration in your pool, destroying organic pollutants such as algae, bacteria, and oils. Shocking the pool also disinfects the water by removing harmful parasites that can produce dirty water, also known as green water. Its routine is typically used periodically after heavy pool use, after rainstorms, or following algae blooms to keep the pool water clean and safe for swimming.
What is a clarifier, and why is it used?
Clarifier- Chemical used to clear up cloudy pool water. It does this by binding those tiny particles, which are too small for your filter to grab, into bigger clumps that the pool’s filtration system can remove. Clarifier works excellent for clearing up flecks of particles caused by algae, oils, or even debris that your robot pool cleaner (or skimmer) couldn’t suck up.
How Long After Shocking Should You Wait to Add Clarifier?
The importance of waiting after shocking your pool before adding a clarifier. Generally, you should wait 24 hours after shocking your pool before adding a clarifier. Here’s why:
Stabilization of Chlorine Level: Following the shock, the chlorine levels in your pool will be pretty high. Before adding a clarifier, it is critical to wait for these levels to settle back into a routine and keep a safe range. If they still are too high, the clarifier might not do the job.
Chemical Reactions: When the pool is shocked, a high concentration of chlorine forms in the water. Adding a clarifier too early can overwhelm the clarifier’s effectiveness in breaking down active ingredients before they have a chance to work because there are high amounts of chlorine in the pool.
Filtration Duration: Following the pool shock, you’ll want to turn on your filter to let it circulate the water. This aids in distributing the chlorine throughout the pool and breaking down contaminants. After the chlorine has done its job and the pool’s filtration has cleared out some debris, you can add a clarifier to help fine-tune the clarity of the water.
How Can Your Robotic Pool Cleaner Assist You?
In the meantime, your robot pool cleaner can be a big helper while waiting for the chlorine to stabilize. The cleaning robot will remove debris on the pool floor and walls, including dead insects, small leaves, and other organic debris, so everything can continue to run correctly, even if you use a cleaning robot like the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Pro. Certain pool cleaning robots are designed to collect even the tiniest particles, stopping them from interfering with the clarifier after it’s added.
You can use a pool vacuum robot or vacuum cleaner to get rid of bigger debris. The clarifier will work better with the smaller debris if added afterward. Running your robotic pool cleaner while waiting allows your pool to stay clean and ready for the clarifier when it is safe to use chlorine again.
Continue reading to learn more about what to do when chlorine levels are above the safe limit after 24 hours.
It might take a little longer if your chlorine levels are still high after 24 hours. Here are a few steps that might help speed things up:
Utilize a Pool Booster Pump: A pool booster pump circulates the water more effectively, dissipating the chlorine quicker, so the longer you run the pump, the better.
Test the pH Levels: High pH levels can also stop chlorine from evaporating quickly. Check that your pool’s pH sits within the recommended range (7.4–7.6) for optimal chlorine dissipation.
As an alternative to waiting, if you need to lower the levels quickly, use a chlorine neutralizer to do so faster so you can add a clarifier sooner.
Further Tips for Maintaining Your Pool Post-Shock
After waiting for the chlorine to dissipate, after adding the clarifier, and after starting your swimming pool robot cleaner, consider these tips for ensuring the long-term cleanliness of your pool as well as crystal clear water:
Skim it Regularly: A skimmer removes debris that can disrupt the pool’s chemistry. Before running your robot pool, ensure your surface is free of leaves, dirt, or debris.
Vacuum for Algae: If you see algae formation post the shock, use a pool vacuum for algae to prevent that from interfering with the clarifier. The algae can cloud the water; getting it out will help the clarifier work better.
Run the Filter: To circulate water in your pool, you must regularly run the filtration system. A clean filter is critical for ensuring that the clarifier operates appropriately.
Acid Wash If Needed: If your pool has excessive algae growth or mineral staining, you might consider acid washing it. This can assist with stain removal and prepare the pool for chemical treatment.
Conclusion
The Pool Care Starter guide indicates that you should not add a clarifier until at least 24 hours after shocking the pool. This gives chlorine levels time to stabilize and allows the clarifier to function effectively. During this waiting period, tools like a robot pool cleaner, pool vacuum, and skimmer can help keep a clean pool. Once chlorine levels are safe, the clarifier will work to bring back your pool’s clarity.
Using the Beatbot AquaSense 2 and Maytronics pool cleaner when invoking this method can help you obtain the right balance of pool chemicals.
