[not_a_spa_tech]

Hey folks,
What is the difference between "shock it" pool shock and spa shock. Spa shock is about 8 to 10 dollars per pound while pool shock is 4 dollars per pound and 1 pound of pool shock will do 8,000 gallons of water? Can this be used for a spa?

[quantumchromodynamics]

Shocking is something you do to your water. It is not a product. Shocking is adding enough chlorine to your water to oxidize bather wastes and combined chlorine.

The products sold as "shock" are just some type of chlorine source compound.

"Shock-it" will usually be calcium hypochlorite. It can be used, but I don't recommend it. It does not dissolve well and can cause problems due to undissolved granules. It can also cause cloudiness. It also adds calcium, which is fine if you need calcium, but bad if you already have enough.

"Spa shock" will usually be lithium hypochlorite. Lithium hypochlorite dissolves fairly well. Its primary problem is its unnecessary cost.

"Spa shock" can also be dichlor. Dichlor adds cyanuric acid at the rate of 9 ppm for every 10 ppm of chlorine added. This is fine initially, because you want some cyanuric acid in the water (about 20 to 40 ppm), however, excessive use will quickly add too much cyanuric acid and cause problems.

You best source of chlorine for routine chlorination, or shocking, is regular, unscented 6.00 % Clorox bleach, which is sodium hypochlorite.

Potassium monopersulfate is also a good choice for some people for shocking a hot tub.

What are the actual ingredients of the so-called "shock"?

[not_a_spa_tech]

These are the ingredients in "super shock n swim" made by HTH.

ACTIVE INGREDIENT:
CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62.4%
OTHER INGREDIENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.6%
TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100%
Available Chlorine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60%