If you have a saltwater pool and can you shock a pool after adding salt?

Usually, saltwater pools do not need chlorine shock because saltwater pools are self-cleaning pools that convert salt into chlorine.

But if you want to take your saltwater pool to the next level and wanted to make salt water pool crystal clear then you can shock a pool after adding salt.

In this article, we will discuss how to add salt perfectly to your pool and how you can shock a pool after adding salt.

There are things that you need to keep in mind, otherwise, you can ruin your pool and waste thousands of dollars.

First, we will cover some common questions pool owners have and we will answer their questions first then we can discuss step-by-step processes and methods.

So let’s get started.

Table Of Contents

Can you use chlorine shock for saltwater pools?

Yes, most saltwater pool owners want to keep their saltwater crystal clear so they use chlorine shock treatment for their pools.

Although saltwater pools do not require any chlorine shock treatment but if you want to make saltwater pool crystal clear then you have to chlorine shock your saltwater pool.

Can you shock a pool after adding salt?

Yes, you can shock your pool after adding salt into your saltwater pool because shocking the saltwater pool once a week can keep the saltwater pool safe and crystal clear.

Most owners who have saltwater pools always shock their pool after adding salt.

how long after adding salt can I shock my pool?

Once you added salt to your pool then you need to run the pool filter for at least 6 to 8 hours, after that test the balance of all chemicals in your pool water.

After 24 hours, you can shock your pool with chlorine shock treatment.

This means you need to wait at least 24 hours before you shock your pool after adding salt because salt needs to be properly absorbed into your pool water.

Can I swim 12 hours after a shocking saltwater pool?

Once you shocked your saltwater pool, you should always wait for at least 24 hours before you swim into your saltwater pool.

Because it’s recommended to wait for 24 hours after shocking your saltwater pool

Should I add salt before or after shocking pool?

If you want to add salt to your pool then you should always add salt before the shock treatment.

Because before you shock your pool, you need to maintain the balance of salt in your saltwater pool.

Once you add the recommended amount of salt then you can run the filter pump for 8 hours and then shock your pool after 24 hours.

Should I shock pool before adding salt?

If the salt levels of your pool are not balanced then you should always add salt before you do shock treatment.

So shock your pool after adding salt into your pool.

How Often Should I Shock My Salt Water Pool?

Shocking your saltwater pool once a week is the best to keep your pool water crystal-clear, safe, and free from algae growth.

So always do chlorine shock treatment once a week for your saltwater pool.

What kind of shock for saltwater pool?

You can use dichlor or liquid chlorine to shock your saltwater pool.

And do not use cal-hypo shock for your saltwater pool because it can raise the calcium hardness of your pool.

And usually, saltwater pools are self-cleaning so shock is not typically needed to sanitize the water.

Also Read: Can You Shock Pool After Adding Baking Soda?

How to Shock A Pool After Adding Salt?

Now it’s time to see the important section of this article.

Once you tested the salt levels in the water then you can add salt to your pool water then start shocking your pool.

Here are some proven steps to shock your saltwater pool.

Check Salt Water Levels

Before you add salt to your pool water, you should always check the salt water levels in your saltwater pool then you can determine how much salt you need.

You need to check the salinity of your pool water using a salt test strip.

You can take a look at the pool salt table and check the salt levels of your saltwater pool.

Once you checked the salt water levels then you can determine how much salt your pool needs.

Also Read:: Can You Shock Pool After Adding Calcium?

Add Salt

Now turn off the salt chlorine generator of your pool before you add salt.

But make sure you leave the pump on for faster dissolution.

Now add salt to your pool.

Usually, you can find pool salt bags from 40 pounds to 80 pounds but you need at least 3 bags for the single treatment.

Once you added salt to your pool water then use a brush to dissolve the salt faster.

Now continue running the pool filter until the salt completely dissolved into your water.

It can take up to 24 hours for salt to completely dissolve into your pool water.

Balance the Pool Chemicals

Before you shock your pool after adding salt, it’s important that you should balance all the pool chemicals before doing a shock treatment.

The pH levels of your pool water should be from 7.2 to 7.6, and the alkalinity of the pool water should be 120 to 180 ppm.

The total hardness of your pool water should be 120 to 425 ppm and the calcium hardness of your pool should be 180 to 220.

If you find any imbalance of these chemicals then you should balance these chemicals first.

Calculate the Dosage and Shock your Pool

After balancing the pool chemicals then you can calculate the dosage of chlorine to shock your pool.

As I said before Liquid chlorine shock is best for saltwater pools so you will need 2.5 gallons (12.5 Litre) of 12% liquid chlorine bleach for 10,000 gallons of water.

So if your pool has 20,000 gallons of water then you will need 5 gallons of liquid chlorine bleach.

Now once you calculated the dosage, add the recommended amount of liquid chlorine to your pool.

The shock will take 3 days and keep the pump of your pool running.

Once you add chlorine to your saltwater pool, you should test the water again after 8 to 12 hours and balance the chemicals.