30,000 gallon pool: how much of each chemical
For a 30,000-gallon pool, about 31 fl oz of 12.5% liquid chlorine raises free chlorine by 1 ppm.
Always follow your product’s label directions. Pool and spa chlorine, bromine, shock and algaecides are EPA-registered pesticides: use products labeled for pool or spa use, and don’t swim or soak until levels are within the limit on your product’s label. If this page and a label disagree, the label wins.
| Product | +1 ppm FC | +2 ppm FC | +5 ppm FC | +10 ppm FC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pool liquid chlorine 12.5% | 31 fl oz908 mL | 61 fl oz1.82 L | 1.2 gal (154 fl oz)4.54 L | 2.4 gal (307 fl oz)9.08 L |
| Pool liquid chlorine 10% | 38 fl oz1.14 L | 77 fl oz2.27 L | 1.5 gal (192 fl oz)5.68 L | 3.0 gal (384 fl oz)11.36 L |
| Household bleach 6% | 62 fl oz1.83 L | 124 fl oz3.66 L | 2.4 gal (309 fl oz)9.14 L | 4.85 gal (618 fl oz)18.28 L |
| Household bleach 8.25% | 43 fl oz1.29 L | 87 fl oz2.57 L | 1.7 gal (217 fl oz)6.43 L | 3.4 gal (435 fl oz)12.86 L |
| Cal-hypo 65% | 6.2 oz175 g | 12.3 oz349 g | 1.95 lb874 g | 3.85 lb1.75 kg |
| Dichlor 56% | 7.2 oz203 g | 14.3 oz406 g | 2.25 lb1.01 kg | 4.45 lb2.03 kg |
| Trichlor 90% | 4.5 oz126 g | 8.9 oz252 g | 1.4 lb631 g | 2.8 lb1.26 kg |
Liquid chlorine percent is the trade percent on pool chlorine jugs; bleach percent is by weight. Cal-hypo adds calcium. Dichlor and trichlor add stabilizer (CYA). To shock, follow the directions on your product’s label.
| Product | Change | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Baking soda | TA +10 ppm | 4.2 lb1.91 kg |
| Muriatic acid 31.45% | TA −10 ppm | 76 fl oz2.27 L |
| Dry acid 93.2% | TA −10 ppm | 6.4 lb2.92 kg |
| Muriatic acid 31.45% | pH 7.8 → 7.5 (TA 100, CYA 40) | 28 fl oz853 mL |
| Dry acid 93.2% | pH 7.8 → 7.5 (TA 100, CYA 40) | 2.4 lb1.09 kg |
| Soda ash | pH 7.2 → 7.5 (TA 80, CYA 30) | 2.75 lb1.26 kg |
pH doses depend on your TA and CYA, so use the calculator for your numbers. Acid and pH-up amounts are rounded down.
| Product | Change | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stabilizer (CYA) | +10 ppm | 2.5 lb1.14 kg |
| Stabilizer (CYA) | 0 → 40 ppm (new fill) | 10.0 lb4.54 kg |
| Calcium chloride 77% | CH +10 ppm | 3.6 lb1.64 kg |
| Calcium chloride 77% | CH +50 ppm (one step) | 18.0 lb8.18 kg |
| Pool salt | 0 → 3,200 ppm (new fill) | 801 lb363.40 kg · 21 × 40 lb bags |
| Pool salt | +500 ppm | 125 lb56.78 kg |
On this page (9 sections)
With 10% chlorine, it takes 38 fl oz, and with 6% bleach, 62 fl oz. A classic 20 × 40 ft inground pool that runs from 3.5 to 6.5 ft deep holds about 29,900 gallons, so this sheet fits it closely.
Quick answer: chlorine for a 30,000 gallon pool (depends on product)
To raise free chlorine (FC) from 1 to 4 ppm, add about 92 fl oz of 12.5% liquid chlorine (just under three-quarters of a gallon), 115 fl oz of 10%, or 1.45 gallons of 6% bleach. With dry products, it is about 1.15 lb of 65% cal-hypo or 13.4 oz of 90% trichlor. Keep FC at 3–5 ppm when stabilizer (CYA) is at 40 ppm.
Handy rule for this size: one gallon of 12.5% chlorine adds about 4.2 ppm, and one gallon of 10% adds about 3.3 ppm. A daily loss of 1 ppm uses about 1.7 gallons of 12.5% a week; a loss of 2 ppm, about 3.4 gallons.
Dose table: chlorine by product for +1/+2/+5/+10 ppm
From +5 ppm up, every liquid row is measured in gallons: 1.2 gallons of 12.5% for +5 ppm, 2.4 gallons for +10 ppm. Dry products per 1 ppm are about 6.2 oz of cal-hypo, 7.2 oz of dichlor, and 4.5 oz of trichlor. If most of your chlorine comes from tablets, the chlorine tablet calculator shows how fast stabilizer builds up. For older jugs, use the liquid chlorine calculator.
Shock dose: triple the label's 10,000-gallon amount
How much shock to add is written on the product label, not in a table here. A 30,000-gallon pool is three times the usual "per 10,000 gallons" basis:
- Label says 1 gallon of liquid chlorine per 10,000 gallons: 3 gallons
- Label says 1 lb of cal-hypo per 10,000 gallons: 3 lb
- Label written per 5,000 gallons: 6 times the printed amount
Each pound of 65% cal-hypo adds only about 2.6 ppm of chlorine here, and about 1.8 ppm of calcium. Don't swim until chlorine is back at or below the label's swim limit (often 4 ppm). See how to shock a pool for timing and retests.
pH and alkalinity: acid and baking soda
When total alkalinity (TA) is 100 and CYA is 40, lowering pH from 7.8 to 7.5 takes about 28 fl oz of 31.45% muriatic acid or 2.4 lb of dry acid. TA 80 needs about 24 fl oz for the same change, and TA 120 about 33 fl oz.
- Lower TA by 10 ppm: about 76 fl oz of muriatic acid, a bit more than half a gallon.
- Raise TA by 10 ppm: about 4.2 lb of baking soda (baking soda in a pool).
- Raise pH 7.2 to 7.5 (TA 80, CYA 30): about 2.75 lb of soda ash.
Acid doses at this size are large, so pour them in a few passes along the deep end with the pump running. The muriatic acid calculator uses your TA and CYA.
Stabilizer, calcium, and salt
- Stabilizer: 2.5 lb per 10 ppm; 10 lb from 0 to 40 ppm; about 17.5 lb from 0 to 70 ppm for a salt pool. It dissolves slowly, so retest after several days before adding more. Use the stabilizer calculator.
- Calcium chloride (77%): 3.6 lb per 10 ppm; 18 lb for a +50 ppm step.
- Salt: about 801 lb from 0 to 3,200 ppm. Twenty 40 lb bags (800 lb) give about 3,195 ppm; the list rounds up to 21. Each bag adds about 160 ppm. See the pool salt calculator.
Pools that hold about 30,000 gallons
There are no above-ground models in our list near 30,000 gallons. Inground estimates from length × width × average depth × 7.48:
| Size | Depth, shallow → deep | Gallons |
|---|---|---|
| 20 × 40 ft | 3.5 → 6.5 ft | 29,922 |
| 18 × 40 ft | 3.5 → 7.5 ft | 29,623 |
| 18 × 36 ft | 3.5 → 8.5 ft | 29,084 |
| 20 × 40 ft | 3.5 → 6 ft | 28,426 |
The same 20 × 40 footprint holds about 34,400 gallons with an 8 ft deep end, so depth decides which sheet fits you. The 20 × 40 pool page compares depths.
Circulation also takes longer. At a flow of 50 gallons per minute, one full turnover of 30,000 gallons takes 10 hours, so a big dose takes a while to spread evenly. Pour it along the deep end with the pump running, and take your retest sample from the same spot each time. The pump run time calculator works it out for your pump.
Calculator preset to this volume
The calculator above is set to 30,000 gallons. Enter your pool's volume and today's test results. It lists the doses in order, in gallons and pounds. Neighboring sheets: 25,000 gallons and 40,000 gallons.
Safety. Never pour chlorine and acid at the same time or into the same spot. Wait at least 30 minutes between them, with the pump on. Rinse any splashes with plenty of water. Always follow the product label. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
FAQ
How much chlorine do I put in a 30,000 gallon pool?
About 31 fl oz of 12.5% liquid chlorine, 38 fl oz of 10%, or 62 fl oz of 6% bleach per 1 ppm. From FC 1 to 4, about 92 fl oz of 12.5%. See how much chlorine to add.
How much shock for a 30,000 gallon pool?
Three times the "per 10,000 gallons" amount on your shock label: 3 gallons where a liquid chlorine label says 1 gallon, and 3 lb where a cal-hypo label says 1 lb. Keep swimmers out until chlorine is back at or below the label's swim limit.
How much muriatic acid for a 30,000 gallon pool?
About 28 fl oz of 31.45% acid for pH 7.8 to 7.5 at TA 100 and CYA 40, and about 76 fl oz to lower TA by 10 ppm.
Sources
- Taylor Technologies, K-1005 instruction manual and treatment tables: PDF
- Hayward, How much salt to add: hayward.com
- Formulas and reference checks: methodology