First Time Opening A Pool

Welcome to TFP! It's great you have a good test kit. Now let's try to get your water fixed as follows:
1. Lower the pH to about 7.2 with muriatic acid
2. Using liquid chlorine, increase the FC to 10. Test it again in 10 minutes. If it held between 5-10, go to the next step. If not, add more chlorine to get the FC to 10 and repeat this process until you see the FC holding.
3. Now that FC is holding, you can add stabilizer for a CYA goal of 30. Use the sock method.
4. With a sock soaking stabilizer, now you can increase the FC to "12" which is you SLAM FC level as noted on our FC/CYA Levels. Do your best to maintain that FC of 12.

At this point, follow the SLAM Process carefully and you should do well. If you have any other questions let us know.

Also see ---------> Pool Care Basics

In case you need these ....

Adding CYA:
To increase CYA via granular stabilizer, place the required amount as calculated by the Poolmath calculator into a white sock and place in the poolside skimmer basket. For those concerned about suction flow to the pump, suspending the sock near a return jet or from a floating device will also suffice. Best never to allow undissolved granules to rest directly against the pool surface. After soaking for about 20-30 minutes, squeeze the sock often to help it dissipate. Once dissolved, consider your CYA adjusted to that programmed (target) level. CYA test readings should show a rise in 24-48 hours, however some pools may experience a longer delay to fully register. Best to confirm final CYA in about 5-7 days before adding any more stabilizer/conditioner.

CYA Testing:
Proper lighting is critical for the CYA test, so you want to test for CYA outside on a bright sunny day. Use the mixing bottle to gently mix the required amounts of pool water and R-0013 reagent, let sit for 30 seconds, then gently mix again. Recommend standing outside with your back to the sun and the view tube in the shade of your body at waist level. Then, begin squirting the mixed solution into the skinny tube. Watch the black dot until it completely disappears. Once it disappears, record the CYA reading. To help the eyes and prevent staring at the dot, some people find it better to pour & view in stages. Pour some solution into the viewing tube, look away, then look back again for the dot. Repeat as necessary until you feel the dot is gone. After the first CYA test, you can pour the mixed solution from the skinny view tube back to the mixing bottle, gently shake, and do the same test a second, third, or fourth time to instill consistency in your technique, become more comfortable with the testing, and validate your own CYA reading. Finally, if you still doubt your own reading, have a friend do the test with you and compare results.