New pool owner

[Jaybird]

Hi! We bought a house with an above ground 18x33 pool. It was recently filled with fresh water but not treated for a month (once we bought the house we were able to treat the pool)
I just got my test kit.
I've been checking TA, PH, and calcium hardness. Right now TA 70
PH 7.2 and CH 120.
Is that all I need to be checking daily?
The water is finally not green, the frogs are no longer in the pool, but we are adding bleach every day. Just wondering if we're on the right track!
Thanks!

 

[Jezza]

Welcome to TFP.

The most important thing to test for is FC. At first it is a good idea to start with daily testing to determine your FC loss as it is a consumable.

Your pH should be tested at least weekly and you can test the others once a month or so as they shouldn't change too much.

Try reading through these for more ABC-of-pool-water-chemistry

Basic-pool-care-schedule

 

[Jaybird]

Great! Thanks. I checked FC. I added 41 drops (filled to 25ml) of R-0871 before it turned clear. Our pool guy said divide that number in half so we're at 20+. He said to be bw 15-20 to kill algae. I'm not sure how that translates in the kit book instructions...."ideal range 2.0-4.0."

 

[Jezza]

I'm assuming you've got the K-2006 - in which case ignore the recommended levels in the kit booklet. It is different than what we recommend.

If you've got algae you need to follow the SLAM procedure. Note that this is about maintaining a measured but high level of chlorine for your CYA level. It's not a one time shock.

 

[Ecoke]

What test kit are you using? If you're using a 25 ml sample for chlorine test then you usually multiply by .2. The .5 multiplier (or dividing by 1/2) is for the 10 ml sample size test.

In your example 41 drops X .2 = 8.2 chlorine level...not 20.

hope this helps!

 

[Ecoke]

Shame on me for not adding...Post your complete set of test results so the helpful folks here can better assist you.

List it like this:

FC
CC
PH
TA
CH
CYA

Thanks!