How to Prepare for Being Prepared

I have a 24' x 12' x 4x oval AG pool.

I just ordered a K-1000 and a K-2006 testing kit, as all I had was testing strips. The landlord is coming to replace the pool liner this weekend and I am trying to get ready to be ready! I am going to try the home remedy this year...last year, I went with a Pool Supply Store and man oh man was it expensive, so this year I am gong to try baking soda and bleach. But there is where I am stuck after reading all your tips on the main website. I made some general notes...but now I am stuck. What beyond 1/2 gallon of store brand bleach every night until my Taylor kit arrives in a week or two? (Thankfully, I think the liner will have to wait until next weekend due to forecasted rain this weekend.) By the way I live on the beautiful Gulf Coast in Mobile, Alabama.

And this completes my "introductory" post! ;)

The 'BBB' method is more symbolic then literal. It's true we recommend a lot of bleach and borax. Baking soda? Not so much: people usually don't need more "total alkalinity". But if you look at my "Super Simple" recipe for Intex type pools, you'll see that it's a dichlor + borax method. When we refer to the "BBB method", we just mean using the best way we can find to care for your pool, without regard to brands, pool industry hype, or 'new & cool' pool stuff.

In your case, because I don't yet know how much CYA (chlorine stabilizer) you have in your pool, I'm recommending bleach. You can get it pretty much anywhere, and it won't add stabilizer. IF we find your stabilizer is low and IF you have access to a Sams Club, I'll probably recommend that you buy some of their dichlor, which is well-priced and not diluted or blended, unlike what's sold at Walmart.

So yes, for now, add bleach daily.

You can go to Walmart and get a cheapo OTO/phenol red kit (the K1000 is slightly better version), and use it to test pH and chlorine now. That wouldn't be a bad idea if you think it's going to take a week to get any of the ordered kits.

I guess I left out that I am starting with fresh, clean, new water and brand new liner in the pool, so there is nothing right now. We are forecasted for 3-4 inches of rain this weekend so liner likely wont be installed until next weekend, so I have more time to prepare.

I am going to go ahead and purchase the dichlor through amazon, going to try to find the link to go from this website so you earn some money from the purchase.

Thank you for your response!

The links you need are all in this thread:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php/17055

The best place to get dichlor, if you have access is to buy the PoolBrand products at Sams Club. Amazon is 2nd choice, but better than buying locally, since almost all dichlor is now blended with 'mystery' chemicals, some of which can cause real problems with your pool.

Just wanted to welcome you to the Pool Forum and say thanks for the subscription!

Turns out, I have a cracked housing on my pump. SO now I need advice on how to maintain the water without the pump for about a week or so! (All that beautiful fresh water and gorgeous new liner about to turn green is what I fear!)

I have the following on hand...thanks to your website:
Kem-Tek 103 Poll All in One Chlorinating Granules
Kem-Tek 107 Chlorine Tablets, 3"
Bleach, Concentrated
Mule Team Borax
K-2006 Testing Kit

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wilsol4

Turns out, I have a cracked housing on my pump. SO now I need advice on how to maintain the water without the pump for about a week or so! (All that beautiful fresh water and gorgeous new liner about to turn green is what I fear!)

I have the following on hand...thanks to your website:
Kem-Tek 103 Poll All in One Chlorinating Granules
Kem-Tek 107 Chlorine Tablets, 3"
Bleach, Concentrated
Mule Team Borax
K-2006 Testing Kit

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I went through the same thing last year when my pump died. You need to maintain chlorine at the appropriate level by adding bleach (spread it around if you can and/or stir up the water best you can). Even doing that I was afraid I might get algae so I also added a quart of Polyquat (60%) just in case my chlorine fluctuated more than expected (I use a SWCG so chlorine levels are usually pretty stable when running normally).

In my case I added 121 oz of 8% chlorine each day which kept it at about 6-7ppm (my stabilizer runs 70-80) and had no issues over the week or so my pump was out of service.