What pool chemicals do I need to buy

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pooldumb51

Member
Apr 28, 2025
9
San Antonio, Texas
Hi all, I'm a first-time pool owner and excited (and a little nervous!) to be taking over the maintenance. The pool had service today, and the water is currently clear. I've got the basics covered – a TFPro test kit, a Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme cleaner, a net, vacuum, and brush. I'm trying to get ahead of things and stock up on chemicals before I start testing the water next week. What chemicals do you all recommend having on hand for general maintenance and balancing? Any advice for a newbie would be greatly appreciated
Screenshot 2025-04-28 150409.png
 
Welcome!

Are you saltwater or manual chlorine? Can you post a full set of test results? If you use the PoolMath app you can share results with the forum and we will be able to see them by hovering over your name (hover over mine and you'll see).

Pool Care Basics
 
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pooldumb51 said:
I'm trying to get ahead of things and stock up on chemicals before I start testing the water next week. What chemicals do you all recommend having on hand for general maintenance and balancing? Any advice for a newbie would be greatly appreciated
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I would grab a few gallons of liquid chlorine (Walmart of Pinch a Penny) and a bottle of Muriatic Acid. Those will be your most common chemicals to add.

I also highly recommend testing well before next week. Why not test now?
 
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Are you sure your pool is clear? This is TFP clear:

How Clear is TFP Clear? Let's See (Pics Only Please).

How clear should my water be? A very common question. Here is mine on a calm morning where I could finally vacuum. Yes I know, I'm still manually vacuuming. It took me 7 years to finally get an SWG, I'm working on a robot. :) So now let's see your water clarity.
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

Why wait until next week to test? Please test and post results ASAP. (Note that the CYA test needs to be done in sunlight)

Pools, especially in season and in Texas, need DAILY doses of chlorine. Most people have salt water generators which adds the chlorine automatically.

Don’t assume because you had a pool service they were managing the pool appropriately. In fact, assume they were not.
 
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PoolGate said:
Welcome!

Are you saltwater or manual chlorine? Can you post a full set of test results? If you use the PoolMath app you can share results with the forum and we will be able to see them by hovering over your name (hover over mine and you'll see).

Pool Care Basics
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That's such an awesome feature with the pool math!! Thanks for telling me about that. It is a manual chlorine, I am waiting for my test kit to be delivered, I was trying to get ahead on the supplies so I can order some bench stock. But your probably right, I should wait for a test result and go from there, so I dont buy unnecessary items.
 
.ben said:
Are you sure your pool is clear? This is TFP clear:

How Clear is TFP Clear? Let's See (Pics Only Please).

How clear should my water be? A very common question. Here is mine on a calm morning where I could finally vacuum. Yes I know, I'm still manually vacuuming. It took me 7 years to finally get an SWG, I'm working on a robot. :) So now let's see your water clarity.
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

Why wait until next week to test? Please test and post results ASAP. (Note that the CYA test needs to be done in sunlight)

Pools, especially in season and in Texas, need DAILY doses of chlorine. Most people have salt water generators which adds the chlorine automatically.

Don’t assume because you had a pool service they were managing the pool appropriately. In fact, assume they were not.
Click to expand...
Ben, Thank you very much. Yes in fact it is nowhere near the TFP clear standard. This is the very reason I decided to take over the maintenance. I was not happy with the service and price, and realized If I want it to improve ill have to put forth the effort. As soon as I get my kit Ill run the test and post it here. I am just waiting for delivery.

I made a huge mistake, I just bought the house, and I looked at the pool and was like oh wow!! cool a nice pool. I didn't get it inspected. I have since learned that the pool is very old, the owners had the pool surface painted, and the filter is not designed to maintain the size of pool i have. My pool filter is a cartridge, and has a 50 sq ft filter.

I know that I have a lot of expenses coming up, The pool maintenance company recommended I get it resurfaced, and purchase a new filter.

I simply cannot afford those right now, and I couldn't decide which to prioritize. The surface, the filter, or complete demo. I have decided to make a small investment in the robot to help maintain the pool until I guess I see how bad it gets with the paint. It was bubbling and pealing, but I haven't seen any clouding.

I have researched that replastering is part of maintenance. If my pool survives the summer, I was going to save up and get a new pump and filter installed before next season. If I make it through that season. I was hoping to have enough money to replaster it for the following season.

If you were in my position, what would you do in that scenario?
 
Sounds like you are in a tough situation. Do you have a variable speed pump?

If this were my pool - 1st purchases I would make are VSP and Salt Water Generator. Both these items will pay for themselves.

I don't have experience with small cartridge filters. For reference I have a 525 sqft cartridge filter for my 17,500 gal pool. I clean my filters 2-3 times per year. Perhaps you can get by with the small filter but will need to clean it very often...

I'd also download pool math and add 3 PPM of liquid chlorine per day until my test kit arrives.
 

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If it were me, I would tackle the current problems of water chemistry, enjoy the pool, and start saving up $ for future problems.

A small filter just means you have to clean it more often. Annoying, but nothing I would rush out and replace. The old/painted plaster could be a bit more problematic but likely you can get a couple of years out of it with just cosmetic issues and by the time the plaster really starts failing hopefully you have saved enough $ to cover it.
 
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.ben said:
Sounds like you are in a tough situation. Do you have a variable speed pump?

If this were my pool - 1st purchases I would make are VSP and Salt Water Generator. Both these items will pay for themselves.

I don't have experience with small cartridge filters. For reference I have a 525 sqft cartridge filter for my 17,500 gal pool. I clean my filters 2-3 times per year. Perhaps you can get by with the small filter but will need to clean it very often...

I'd also download pool math and add 3 PPM of liquid chlorine per day until my test kit arrives.
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No, the pump I have is a single speed 1.5 hp. I have heard of the VSP, but not the Salt Water Generator. Ill have to do some research on that. Sounds like your cartridge is plenty big. Mine, according to the pool maintenance company is barely sufficient for an average size doughboy. So yes, I clean my filter nearly every day. I need to but the chlorine, thanks you.
 
JJ_Tex said:
If it were me, I would tackle the current problems of water chemistry, enjoy the pool, and start saving up $ for future problems.

A small filter just means you have to clean it more often. Annoying, but nothing I would rush out and replace. The old/painted plaster could be a bit more problematic but likely you can get a couple of years out of it with just cosmetic issues and by the time the plaster really starts failing hopefully you have saved enough $ to cover it.
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Thanks Tex, I think your right. This situation is what it is, and its too late to be proactive. At this point Ill just ride it out with the equipment it has, and as they fail Ill replace them. Appreciate it.
 
PoolGate said:
FYI: My neighbor's pool is 25 years old and still has the same plaster. Pitted a lot all over but you really can't see it at all.
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That's remarkable!!! I cant say how old my pool is. I know it was built in 69. It looks to me, like it was built in the 70s to mid 80s. But I cant say for certain, if it has ever been replastered. That's awesome for your neighbor !!
 
At this time of year, pollen and tree-debris are probably clogging your filter as much as anything.

Check your skimmer - probably has a basket. Get a pack of ladies knee-high stockings and stretch one over the skimmer basket. The debris will be caught by the stocking, and not get into the filter itself.

10-pairs of knee highs usually run about $5 - thats 20 'filter socks' for 25 cents each. Throw them away after day or two, or when they get full ;)
 
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SJPoe said:
At this time of year, pollen and tree-debris are probably clogging your filter as much as anything.

Check your skimmer - probably has a basket. Get a pack of ladies knee-high stockings and stretch one over the skimmer basket. The debris will be caught by the stocking, and not get into the filter itself.

10-pairs of knee highs usually run about $5 - thats 20 'filter socks' for 25 cents each. Throw them away after day or two, or when they get full ;)
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Awesome hack, I had skimmer socks on my mind, I will definitely do this!! Thank you.
 

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