Pool shock calculator

Shock level depends on your stabilizer (CYA). This works out the target for your CYA and the amount of product to get there.

Units

Why CYA sets the shock level

Cyanuric acid binds most of the chlorine in the water, so the same ppm of free chlorine is far weaker at CYA 80 than at CYA 30. The shock level that reliably kills algae is about 40% of your CYA reading, with a floor of 10 ppm. That is what the calculator targets.

Which product

Liquid chlorine adds nothing but chlorine and a little salt. Cal-hypo also raises calcium hardness, which matters in plaster pools with hard fill water. Dichlor and trichlor add CYA with every dose, so shocking with them keeps pushing your shock level higher. For a green pool, buy liquid.

How to shock

Do it at dusk so sunlight doesn't burn the chlorine off. Pour slowly in front of a return with the pump running, and leave the pump on overnight. Green or cloudy water usually needs the dose repeated each evening until free chlorine holds overnight with less than 1 ppm loss. For routine top-ups, use the chlorine dosing calculator.

Dose tables by pool size

Written-out amounts for every product: 5,000 gallons, 10,000 gallons, 12,000 gallons, 15,000 gallons, 18,000 gallons, 20,000 gallons, 25,000 gallons, 30,000 gallons.