your advice needed for test results

My pool is 20X40 inground, vinyl. I'm guessing at volume - 30,000.
Test results from Pool Store:
TA 50
pH 6.6
CYA 50
TC 1.3
FC 1.3
Total Hardness 50

I know, I know - pH.
I have been adding BORAX thru skimmer to raise it.
My question is about the TA. I know it should be 80-125. I have the Baking Soda ready. When should and how should I add it? Before or after pH is raised, what level pH?
Next question is about chlorine. I have the jugs of bleach ready. When, how, and how much to add? Should I buy the shock instead?

Thank you for your advice in advance.
The pool store wanted to sell me 80 lbs!!! of "stuff".
If not for this forum, I would have bought it all.

Since you need to raise BOTH pH and total alkalinity I would suggest you raise the pH with Sodium Carbonate (ph increaser, washing soda from the grocery store) until the pH is where it is supposed to be or until the TA is in the proper range since it will do both at once. With your posted numbers it will most likely get you pH up before it gets the TA to the desired range. Then make further increases to TA with baking soda and finally make any final adjustments to your pH with either acid or borax.

With a cya of 50, you need to keep your chlorine between 3-6 all the time. Test each evening, and each time add enough bleach to get back to 6ppm. In a 30,000 gallon pool, each half gallon (2 qts.) will raise your cl by 1ppm. You can add the bleach slowly to the skimmer while your pump is running.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=365

Thank you .
What is "washing soda"? Is there a specific product name that I should look for in the grocery store?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DMand

Thank you .
What is "washing soda"? Is there a specific product name that I should look for in the grocery store?

---

You can find it at the grocery store as Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda in the laundry aisle. It is EXACTLY the same as pH increaser from the pool store...just cheaper! Just be cautious with it. It will raise your ph fairly fast and will also cause your TA to go up.

Washing soda worked great! Now pH and ALK are good.
Thanks for the help.