Maintaining the pool can feel like a balancing act with chemical solutions, especially when using clarifiers and shock. As a pool owner, you want the water in your pool to stay clean, safe, and inviting. However, knowing when to apply clarifiers and shock is critical to reaching optimal results.
In this article, we will discuss one frequently asked question from pool owners: Should you add a clarifier before or after? We’ll also look into services your robot pool cleaner, like your new Beatbot AquaSense Pro, can take over to keep your pool crystal clear and to stay clean.
What Are Clarifiers and Shocking Agents?
Before getting into the timing, let’s break down both chemicals:
Clarifier: A pool clarifier assists with making the cloudy water clear by putting small particles together, allowing your pool filter or vacuum cleaner for the pool to clean it up quickly. It works well in pools not heavily infested with bacteria or algae but might have fine particles swimming around.
Shock: Pool shock is a high-chlorine treatment used to eliminate contaminants like bacteria, algae, and organic debris. It aids in killing unwanted organisms and raises chlorine levels rapidly for pool transmission.
Now that we understand each product's function let’s discuss the big kahuna: the proper order of application.
Before or After Shock Clarifier: The Best Order
Timing is everything when it comes to adding clarifier and shock. Here's the correct order:
Add Shock First
Tip: Always add shock to your pool before the clarifier. Shock treatments kill bacteria, algae, and other contaminants in the water. Adding shock first means that the water is thoroughly sanitized before you work on clearing it up.
Sanitize First: Shock removes pathogens, organic waste, and algae that could interfere with the clarifier's effective use.
Avoid Chemical Reactions: Shock is generally high chlorine, which, if used at the same time, can inhibit the clarifier’s ability to bind particles.
Tip: After adding shock, run the pool filter for a few hours to distribute the chlorine and sanitize the water. Your pool cleaning robot, the Beatbot AquaSense, for instance, can act alongside to vacuum larger debris while the chemicals do their work.
Wait Before Adding Clarifier
Once you open the pool and shock it, you’ll need to wait at least 24 hours—or until the chlorine levels drop back into normal range—before adding the clarifier. If you add the clarifier while chlorine levels are still high, it will trigger a chemical imbalance and decrease the effectiveness of both products.
Tip: Your robotic pool cleaner should work during this waiting time, keeping debris at bay. It would help if you had a robot pool vacuum or pool vacuum robot like Beatbot iSkim Ultra that will help you keep the pool clean as the chemicals work their magic.
Add Clarifier After Shock
After the chlorine levels have stabilized, you can add the clarifier. The clarifier will then bind together the microscopic particles still floating around in your water, making it easier for your pool vacuum robot or filter to pick them up.
Set the pool filter to run for another few hours after adding the clarifier. If sufficiently coagulated, it can help the swimming pool robot cleaner pick up the debris.
Why Timing Matters？
The order of these chemicals is crucial because shock kills bacteria and breaks down organic contaminants by raising chlorine levels dramatically. Putting the clarifier in before the shock can make it ineffective because the high chlorine levels empty the clarifier's potency, leaving your pool cloudy with debris.
You want to allow the clarifier to do its job, which is why adding shock first and letting the chlorine subside knock your levels down. That drives more transparent water and improved sanitation overall.
How a Robot Pool Cleaner Helps in the Process？
After waiting for the chemicals to do their thing, having a pool-cleaning robot ready is a great plan. Here’s why:
Cleaning with Robot Pool Cleaner: This is done to catch all large Debris and dirt after shocking and before the clarifier is added. This will help your clarifier target fine particles that can make water cloudy.
Better Filtration: Most robotic pool cleaners, including the Beatbot AquaSense, pair up with your pool’s filtration system to remove more debris, which helps your clarifier clear your pool water faster.
Time-saving: With your pool vacuum robot, you won't have to manually vacuum your pool after adding chemicals. With the robot doing the heavy lifting, you can sit back and enjoy a clean pool.
Conclusion
So, to recap, always add shock first when adding clarifier and shock to your pool and wait until the chlorine levels are back to normal before adding clarifier. Following this order will help you ensure that each chemical works its magic for the best molecule distribution throughout your pool.
A convenient robot pool cleaner, such as the Beatbot AquaSense Pro, will help maintain a clean and clear pool between chemical treatments, saving you time and stress. Follow the right pool care, and your pool will be ready for a swim in no time!