Should I Add Algaecide After Shocking?

Can I Put Algaecide In After Shocking? If you want to prevent algae from popping up in your pool, you may be wondering if you should add algaecide after shocking the pool. When it really comes down to it, keeping the pool clean isn’t just about owning the perfect robotic pool cleaner. Whether you are using a pool vacuum robot or a pool cleaner, the right type of treatment can make a difference when it comes to avoiding or treating the causes of algae.

In our guide, we are going to address everything you need to know about whether or not you need to use algaecide after shocking your pool, and how it impacts the efficiency of your pool robotic pool cleaner, like Beatbot.

What Does It Mean to Shock Your Pool?

Shocking your pool is the act of introducing a large dose of chlorine or non-chlorine shock to kill bacteria, algae and other organic contaminants. The goal here, is to get your pool water safe. But “shocking” doesn’t always kill off all of them, especially when it comes to algae species that are particularly stubborn, like mustard or black algae. This is where algaecide can be useful.

Can You Put Algaecide in After Shock?

The short answer is yes, you can add algaecide after shocking, and we even recommend it in some cases, however, it depends on the product and whether the pool is green or clear. Here’s why:

Algaecide: Use If You Want To Prevent Algae From Forming In the Future

Shocking your pool will kill algae already in the water, but it won’t kill the algae spores in the pool if the pool isn’t clean. Algaecide can be added to the pool after shocking to inhibit the formation of new algae, and this can be particularly useful if you’ve been experiencing recurring problems with algae in your pool.

Timing Matters

You should wait a little before using algaecide. After you have shock treated, you should wait until your chlorine levels go down and return to a normal threshold (which should be around 1-3 ppm). Once your levels are within range, you can add algaecide to assist in the fight against algae and to help keep your pool water clear.

Do Pool Robots Pick Up Algae?

If you have a pool robot cleaner (something like the Beatbot AquaSense 2 or Maytronics pool cleaner), you may be asking yourself, “How well will my robot pool cleaner pick up algae once I shock the pool?”

The quick answer is yes, but — as we are coming to expect in this increasingly fraught election year — yes, but with some serious caveats. Your robot pool could certainly assist in algae collection, especially if you robot the pool after the pool water chemistry is balanced. Although, the pool vacuum for algae will be doing its best to suck that algae up, especially if it’s still floating or at the bottom, the robot may not be able to get it all. This is another reason why algaecide must be included for long term algae control.

What Algaecide Does For Your Pool Cleaner

It is also important to add algaecide, which will assist in preventing algae from blooming again in the future. This makes for a cleaner surface for your pool vacuum robot and means it has less algae keep-up to do. For best results, do this:

Shock your swimming pool – destroy bacteria and kill existing algae.

Let the chlorine dissipate – you want your pool to be safe for your pool cleaner.

Put algaecide in the pool – This stops new algae from forming and keeps the pool clear.

Run your robot pool cleaner – Let it grab whatever debris is left behind and give your pool the final sparkle!

Conclusion

Finally, yes shocking your pool is necessary to kill the algae and bacteria – but after the waters are clear, adding this algaecide to the water will help prevent repeating the process. It’s a smart move if you want to make sure your pool water stays clear, especially if you depend on a robot pool cleaner such as the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra. When you do it right, you’ll have less work to do and your pool cleaning robot has to do to keep the water cleaner and clearer.