Running VS pump on max?

Mike's (@Rancho Cost-a-Lotta) last post might have sounded like just words of encouragement, but they were actually a specific set of instructions. DO NOT be tempted to walk into a pool store and ask them what you need. They'll sell you everything they can talk you into, whether you need it or not. So, again:
1. Fire the pool guy.
2. Order your test kit right now. If you don't know which to buy, ask, we'll set you up. There's only a couple to choose from.
3. While you're waiting for it to arrive, go out each day and manually add some liquid chlorine (that's the only chemical you should buy at this point).
4. Tomorrow, fill in your signature with all the info you can gather about your pool and equipment. Something like mine would be great.
5. Once your test kit arrives, run all the tests and post the results in this thread.
6. Then wait a minute for the onslaught of valuable, accurate advice. Folks here will tell you exactly what to buy, and how to use it.

@Jimrahbe, how much chlorine should @Teris add each day while he's waiting for his kit?
1-4 done!

Test kit on its way. Thanks again!
 
And, if you're like most, don't panic when the test kit arrives. It can be a little intimidating at first - I know it scared me. But I promise, after a few times, you'll get the hang of it and it's a piece of cake.
I saw the photos when I ordered it. It's certainly intimidating. But then I thought of my pool guy who had zero clue what he was doing while collecting my $140/month. 😡 I'll figure out the chemicals. 😂
 
It's just like cooking. You read the recipe a few times. "Huh, what's a sauté pan?" You spill a little. "How much is a pinch?" You swear a little. Read the recipe one more time. It comes out OK. The second time, you make it from memory and it takes half the time and comes out great. And you think "Well, that was easy!"
 
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Leslie's should carry the 12.5% liquid chlorine, but they're pretty expensive in my area. Check your local pool stores for 12.5% HASA chlorine (and 31.45% muriatic acid) in refillable jugs. It's a better bargain.
 
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If you happen into a pool store, grab the one thing they offer that actually has good value: the little water test containers they hand out for free. I use one from Leslie's to collect my pool water and then perform my tests. The one I have has a squirt nozzle that makes metering out just the right amount really fast and easy (left of my kit):

test kit 1.jpg
 
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I see your Leslie's container and raise you the CYA mix squirter that is already in the box.

The small cut tip makes fine tuning the last few drops real easy.
Yah, but I'm too lazy for that. I don't want to wash out more than I have to. I can collect my pool water and squirt it into the test vials with just the Leslie's bottle. It's surprisingly precise, and only that and the test vials to rinse when done. Actually, I don't even do that. I leave the pool water in the Leslie's bottle. Then dump it into the pool just before the next test cycle. I rinse the Leslie's bottle in the pool once, then collect the sample. I rinse my test vials after use, with tap water. But the Leslie's bottle never gets anything in it except pool water.
 
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T,

If this were my pool, I would add about 60 oz of 10% liquid chlorine each day. This will increase your FC by about 3 ppm.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Jim, is this until I get my test kit and can report back on the results or does it need this much daily chlorine in perpetuity? Because I'll be going through chlorine pretty quickly. Thanks!
 
Just until you get your kit. The test results will be used to calculate how much chlorine you actually need. We're advising you to keep your chlorine level up in the meantime, so that your pool doesn't turn green with algae. Spring has sprung, and algae can take off in short order. If you think 60 a day is a lot, that's nothing compared to how much you'll be throwing in there to fight off an algae outbreak. It's cheap insurance by comparison...
 
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Just until you get your kit. The test results will be used to calculate how much chlorine you actually need. We're advising you to keep your chlorine level up in the meantime, so that your pool doesn't turn green with algae. Spring has sprung, and algae can take off in short order. If you think 60 a day is a lot, that's nothing compared to how much you'll be throwing in there to fight off an algae outbreak. It's cheap insurance by comparison...
Perfect, thanks! I don't see any algae right now, thankfully.
 
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Follow the directions on the kit. But one sentence at a time, like the post says.

Also, gather the bottles you need for each test and have them lined up, in order, with the caps open. It really helps to not break the concentration / science mojo
 
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The TA test !!!! OMG. Nothing throws off your mojo like fishing around for #00008. This it ? Nope that's 9. This one ? Nope that's 7. Ahhhhh it HAS to be this one. Nope, that's 7 again. :brickwall::brickwall::brickwall::brickwall:
 

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