need advice on what do to first

[sherraechas]

Hi...I have a 5,000 gal. alberca pool. I use chlorine to sanitize. Here are my first readings from the
"pool" store. What to do first????
free chlorine 0
total chlorine 0
ph 7.8
TA 270
Cyanuric Acid 5
Phosphates 400

I like what I am reading on this forum, and am very excited about being responsible for my own pool without the badgering of pool store employees to buy yet another chemical to help 'fix" my pool! Thanks in advance!

[aylad]

Put some chlorine in the pool before it goes green!! Seriously, you need to be keeping 1-3 ppm (I would keep it more like 3-6 ppm for wiggle room) in the pool all the time. Don't worry about the phosphates, the TA or the pH for right now. Get some chlorine in there!!

How are you testing your water, and what type of chlorine do you use? Also, we can help you a lot better without "wasting" posts trying to get needed info if you'll take a few seconds and fill out this chart about your pool.

Pool Chart Entry Form (http://goo.gl/cNPUO)
Pool Chart Results (http://goo.gl/PXaLu)

Welcome to the forum!!

[sherraechas]

How many gallons liquid should I put in it? I am having filter problems and trying to get them resolved today...How many tabs should I keep in my floater?

[AnnaK]

1 gallon of 6% regular unscented bleach adds 6 ppm free chlorine to 10,000 gallons of water. Half a gallon will do the same for your 5,000 gallons. The tabs in the floater will keep adding chlorine, which is good, and will add stabilizer (CYA) which you need to keep the sun from destroying the chlorine.

[sherraechas]

Are the HTH pool water testing kits not accurate?? Thanks.

[Watermom]

The HTH 6-Way kit is, but it just doesn't test too high ----- only to 5ppm. Good as a starter kit, though, while you wait on the delivery of a Taylor K-2006! (We don't like the test strips, though.)

[PoolDoc]

membership upgraded. -ben