Chemicals for a newly filled pool

[MattG]

I just had my pebble tec pool resurfaced and now filled. I have a cartridge filter and don't have a chlorinator. My pool is about 13,000 gallons. Trying to learn what chemicals I need to get the water right and reading all these posts but so confused. Part of it is due to the different acronyms used that I'm not familiar with (CYA, FC, etc,), how those tie into the specific chemicals and products to use, and lots of details left out by people that apparently know much more than I do about this. For example, exactly what product I buy and where to get it for raising/lowering alkalinity, etc. People talk about adding baking soda or bleach, I'm assuming as a way of doing it cheaper than buying the expensive pool store versions. I guess bleach is easy to buy but where do I get baking soda in large quantities and do I even need it? I've maintained my pool myself for 13 yr but have never needed anything other than chlorine (shock or tabs), acid, and soda ash. On occasion I also use an algae control and I like Leslie's "fresh and clear" to get that crystal clear look. Other than that, I haven't needed anything else and my pool has always looked great. Even when they test it they say everything is fine, but I'm guessing that will all change this year with the refill and I anticipate struggling wtih the water all year.

When people talk about adding CYA/stabilizer/conditioner (I think they are all the same), how do I know if I need this, do I need a more advanced test kit to know or is it easier to just have the store test it every time? Same thing for alkalinity. And I could be wrong but I think sometimes shock comes with a stabilizer/conditioner depending on what you buy but I'm not sure how to determine this. I just found an old, advanced test kit the former owner left me. Never used it but are the testing chemicals even still good to use 13 yr later?

I like the Clorox products Lowes sells. Not sure if they work as good as the pool stores, it's hard to compare even something as simple as shock because they use different "active ingredients". But their standard prices are about what Leslie's sale prices are, so you know you're always getting a good deal, and they seem to work when I've used them in the past. From the research I've gathered it seems like I need an alkalintiy increaser and conditioner/stabilizer. Then from there I need to mess with the pH and chlorine levels as I normally do. Am I on the right track? I might have screwed up by adding acid and shock right away before adjusting the alkalinity and CYA. However, I have both the pH and chlorine in almost the right levels already. From there, not sure what I need to do. 

I hate going to the pool store and their recommendations because they tend to oversell their products, both in which chemicals you need and the volume. In the past I've found I really needed 25-50% of what they recommend. I normally use a simple test kit for chlorine and ph, wondering if I should use the fancier old one or buy a new one if I will be struggling with my pool this year. I'm in Vegas so we have hard water. Therefore I don't think I need to start by adjusting the calcium hardness.

So I'm looking for some advice on what I should add, where I should get it, etc. I've seen suggestions of adding bleach and baking soda but not sure if I need that or where it's best to get it at much lower prices than the pool store sells. 

thanks in advance

[Travis Schonleber]

On 2/18/2018 at 8:00 AM, MattG said:

I just had my pebble tec pool resurfaced and now filled. I have a cartridge filter and don't have a chlorinator. My pool is about 13,000 gallons. Trying to learn what chemicals I need to get the water right and reading all these posts but so confused. Part of it is due to the different acronyms used that I'm not familiar with (CYA, FC, etc,), how those tie into the specific chemicals and products to use, and lots of details left out by people that apparently know much more than I do about this. For example, exactly what product I buy and where to get it for raising/lowering alkalinity, etc. People talk about adding baking soda or bleach, I'm assuming as a way of doing it cheaper than buying the expensive pool store versions. I guess bleach is easy to buy but where do I get baking soda in large quantities and do I even need it? I've maintained my pool myself for 13 yr but have never needed anything other than chlorine (shock or tabs), acid, and soda ash. On occasion I also use an algae control and I like Leslie's "fresh and clear" to get that crystal clear look. Other than that, I haven't needed anything else and my pool has always looked great. Even when they test it they say everything is fine, but I'm guessing that will all change this year with the refill and I anticipate struggling wtih the water all year.

When people talk about adding CYA/stabilizer/conditioner (I think they are all the same), how do I know if I need this, do I need a more advanced test kit to know or is it easier to just have the store test it every time? Same thing for alkalinity. And I could be wrong but I think sometimes shock comes with a stabilizer/conditioner depending on what you buy but I'm not sure how to determine this. I just found an old, advanced test kit the former owner left me. Never used it but are the testing chemicals even still good to use 13 yr later?

I like the Clorox products Lowes sells. Not sure if they work as good as the pool stores, it's hard to compare even something as simple as shock because they use different "active ingredients". But their standard prices are about what Leslie's sale prices are, so you know you're always getting a good deal, and they seem to work when I've used them in the past. From the research I've gathered it seems like I need an alkalintiy increaser and conditioner/stabilizer. Then from there I need to mess with the pH and chlorine levels as I normally do. Am I on the right track? I might have screwed up by adding acid and shock right away before adjusting the alkalinity and CYA. However, I have both the pH and chlorine in almost the right levels already. From there, not sure what I need to do. 

I hate going to the pool store and their recommendations because they tend to oversell their products, both in which chemicals you need and the volume. In the past I've found I really needed 25-50% of what they recommend. I normally use a simple test kit for chlorine and ph, wondering if I should use the fancier old one or buy a new one if I will be struggling with my pool this year. I'm in Vegas so we have hard water. Therefore I don't think I need to start by adjusting the calcium hardness.

So I'm looking for some advice on what I should add, where I should get it, etc. I've seen suggestions of adding bleach and baking soda but not sure if I need that or where it's best to get it at much lower prices than the pool store sells. 

thanks in advance

To make it easier and understandable go to your App Store and download the free Orenda App. 

When you open the App you have the Langlier saturation index. 

Enter the gallonage top right, test or have your fill water tested and add the readings into the left column by toggling left or right. 

Under desired levels on the right enter desired levels. 

Look at the bottom and you see either red or green numbers. 

The goal is to get to as close to 0.0 as possible. Press get dosage and the next page tells you exactly to the ounce what to add to your new fresh pool water. 

It’s free to use and very simple. 

Edited August 1, 2018 by Travis Schonleber
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