New here, just opened pool for first time.

[mapleleaf]

Just opened pool for first time. Bought a house with above ground in place. So far I have only put shock in following the previous owners instructions. Been running the filter and backwashing it for a couple days. The water is blue now, but cloudy. The pH level is reading high, free chlorine is low and everything else is reading in normal range.

What should I do next?

Thank you.

[Watermom]

Hi and welcome to the Pool Forum. We'll need more information to be able to help. First off, we need actual current water testing results instead of just high, low or normal. What kind of kit did you use? Test strips don't count. The only kit we truly recommend is the Taylor K-2006 or 2006C which you can get through the test-kit page in my signature below. But, it is only available online so you need something to use in the meantime. Get a cheap OTO (yellow drops) / phenol test kit, or if available at YOUR Walmart (check availability (http://www.walmart.com/ip/HTH-6-Way-Test-Kit/17043668)), get the HTH 6-way DROPS test kit, which is compatible with the Taylor K2006. Test the pool as soon and you can, and post the results. If you get the 6-way kit, ALSO test the water you FILL the pool with, especially if it's a well, and post THOSE results as well. (The HTH is the best available kit you're likely to find locally, but it's not the K-2006. It can only provide rough measurements chlorine levels above 5 ppm, and it measures "TOTAL" hardness, rather than "CALCIUM" hardness, which is not ideal.)

It's much easier to answer your questions, when we know something about your pool. We often 'waste' the first few posts back and forth collecting information. So, please complete our new Pool Chart form -- it takes about 30 seconds, but will save much more than that.
Pool Chart Entry Form (http://goo.gl/cNPUO)
Pool Chart Results (http://goo.gl/PXaLu)

[mapleleaf]

Thanks, will do. It's funny, I was going to buy the test kit with drops from a local pool chain and they told me the strips were better (not just easier), but better.

[Watermom]

Thanks, will do. It's funny, I was going to buy the test kit with drops from a local pool chain and they told me the strips were better (not just easier), but better.

Yeah, the same pool stores that tell you that vinyl pools need calcium and that everybody's pool needs phosphate removers and to add 10X the recommended dose of a clarifier like I just read that somebody in another post we've been helping with was told to do!! YIKES!