Pool Newbie | Please Help w/ balancing water

[ScottyJ2]

I have an oddball shaped salt-water pool (see attachment) that was finished in Sept 2020 (so I really haven't had a real chance to swim in it) and am currently experiencing a pretty significant dirt and algae issue. I thought the dirt and algae was sand, but the guy who installed my pool says its algae (sinking algae). Plus, the color of my pool just isn't nearly as clear as I think it should be - especially when I compare it to pictures of TFP members' pools.

This is my first pool and I don't know a thing about pool maintenance or chemistry. I anticipate this website will be a godsend to me and I will undoubtedly become a Supporter. I've read a number of posts and articles from the site, but anticipate the best help is just to ask for it.

First, a few things:
1) I need to buy a pool kit still. And will do so. It appears the TF Test Kits are popular with a lot of veterans on the sit so I had planned on going with one from there. I have a salt water pool. Will the TF-100 kit be sufficient? I saw another test kit on the site (TF-Pro) and it says that it's "..with SWG." Do I need something with "SWG" instead?
2) Until I purchase a new test kit, I have one my pool installer left with me. It "measures" pH, chlorine, & bromine. According to this kit (see the other attachment), my readings are:
a) pH: 8.2+
b) chlorine: 0.2 or lower
c) bromine: 0.4 or lower
d) salt level: 2400-2600ppm (my Hayward app reads it as 2600ppm. A salt water meter I purchased had it reading at 2380ppm).
i) Based on that info, I also know I desperately need to add salt. My pool installer though is kindly coming by the house tomorrow/Monday to try to vacuum the algae out. So I was going to wait to add salt until he does that because I think he's going to "waste" a lot of the water as he's vacuuming.
3) My city water is EXTREMELY hard. We have a water softener for the house, but the water that usually goes in the pool isn't softened (it's just from an exterior tap). Prior to putting the softener in, my water tested at 30 gpg----no, that's not a misprint. It's in fact 30 gpg.

I understand that you might not be able to offer any help until I invest in a better test kit. So maybe we should start there?
Which specific TF kit should I buy and what Optional Items, if any, should I add on? I also don't mind spending the money on the Pro package if that's what I need.

 

[kellyfair]

Definitely grab the test kit ASAP. They ship pretty quickly so you’ll have it in hand soon. The Speedstir really does make testing much easier, and I would recommend the salt kit because it will give you a more accurate salt reading.

Until it arrives, use the Pool Math app to calculate how much chlorine to add daily to give you 3 or 4 ppm.

Don‘t let the pool guy add anything other than chlorine. Your ph is high, according to test kit the builder left you. Who is the manufacturer of the kit?

 

[an1vrsy]

Yes... Order the TF-100 Pro Salt stat. Add the speed stir, but the kit “pro” may already include stirrer.

When doing the pH test with the comparator hold a white card behind it. That will help with the colors.

 

[ScottyJ2]

Thanks to the both of you for replying.
I bought the TF-Pro Salt with Smart Stir for pools with SWG test kit.

kellyfair - the pool kit the builder left is a “Pool Style 3-way Test Kit.” I’ll use the Pool Math calculator to get help on how much chlorine to add until the new kit arrives.

an1vrsy - ah yes, that white card behind the test makes sense! Thanks for the tidbit!

 

[kellyfair]

Good plan! Do post your full test results once your kit arrives.

Who won the cornhole game?

 

[ScottyJ2]

Will do! Do I add chlorine by adding salt and letting the generator produce it or do I add liquid chlorine? If liquid chlorine, what brand and where to buy?

So what’s the point of the SWG? To just keep it around 3200 ppm so it produces enough chlorine that I don’t have to add liquid chlorine?

LoL - I took ‘em in cornhole and bocce

 

[kellyfair]

You’ll use liquid chlorine during your SLAM (read about SLAM in link in my signature) and the salt water chlorine generator after your SLAM is over,

You can buy chlorine at pool store, Home Depot, Walmart... you name it. Be wary of buying grocery store bleach. It typically has additives you don’t want in your pool.

 

[ScottyJ2]

Thanks kellyfair! You've been very helpful!

Will keep you posted on my results and water tests once I get the kit in the mail!