First time testing water....can this be right???

[Leehicks79]

The brand new pool finished filling up Monday night. Finally got electric out to the pump last night. It has an automatic chlorinator/mineral pack that uses trichlor tabs. In the couple days the pump wasn't running, the sides and bottom were beginning to get slick and greenish. So when the pump started up, I added 2 gallons of bleach last night. I tested the water this morning and this is what I came up with:

FC 3.2
CC 0
TA 250ppm
pH 7.6

What is up with the TA? My Taylor kit says the ideal range is 80-120, but the charts only go up to lowering it by 100ppm by adding 2 gal muriatic acid. This seems extreme, so I wanted to check in before doing anything!

Thanks!

Lee

[Leehicks79]

Forgot the CYA....the solution was not cloudy at all, so the black dot never "went away". Does that mean no CYA or too much? Haven't added any stabilizers (that I know of, other than the trichlor tabs).... Sorry, brand new at this, but I have been trying to read up on here!

[PoolDoc]

It sounds like dichlor would be the best product for you, right now: it lowers the pH, adds stabilizer AND chlorinates. Later, you won't need those things, and it will be a poor choice, but right now, it may be the best. Links below.

Regarding high TA . . . it is NOT an urgent issue, unless you have a heater or are having some scaling. But here's a page that explains more:
http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/lowering-swimming-pool-alkalinity-step-by-step.html

Also, read the muriatic acid page linked in my signature, and then use MA to keep your pH below 7.6.

Finally, since you didn't report calcium levels, I'm guessing you may not have a recommended kit. Links for those below, too.

Good luck!

Ben


24 lbs PoolBrand bagged shock (http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=108822) @ Sams Club
Kem-Tek Dichlor 22 lbs (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0030BEHZA/poolbooks) @ Amazon


+ Here are links to the kits we recommend:

HTH 6-Way Test Kit (http://www.walmart.com/ip/HTH-6-Way-Test-Kit/17043668) @ Walmart
Taylor K2006A (3/4 oz bottles) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002IXIIG/poolbooks) @ Amazon
Taylor K2006C (2 oz bottles) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002IXIJ0/poolbooks) @ Amazon