Just opened pool and trying to use BBB, am I doing it right?

[naturegirl]

The pool has been open for about a week. I inherited a TF-100 test kit and used it for the first time this morning. It's a 22,000 gal above ground pool.

FC= 0.5
CC=0
TA= 160
CH= 210
CYA 100

I've done nothing to it since we opened it other than run the filter a bit. It's about 60F right now but we'll put the heat on tonight and hope to be swimming in it tomorrow.

My thoughts are that I need to add some chlorine and that I don't need to bother with anything else right now. Am I right?

[Watermom]

Your CYA is WAY too high. And, it actually could be much higher than 100 since that is as high as test kits can differentiate. You have two choices.
1. Do a partial drain and refill and try and lower that cya to a more manageable level. (If it were my pool, this is what I would do. I'd drain about half and see how low that takes the cya. I like around 40 in my pool.)

OR

2. Live with the high cya and run higher than normal chlorine levels. (Take a look at the Best Guess Chlorine Chart in my signature.)

And, no more stabilized chlorine in your pool. No trichlor nor dichlor. Stick with bleach or liquid chlorine.

What is the pH level? You may also want to lower your alk some, but let's wait until you decide about option 1 or 2 above and also see what your pH reading is before we go there.

[naturegirl]

The pH is 7.5

Option 1 is not going to happen due to being on well water. I guess option 2 is it.

[Watermom]

The only thing is that we won't really know what your CYA level is. You can assume it is 100 but if the chlorine levels recommended in the chart don't keep algae at bay, you'll have to go even higher.

On another note, read in the following link about lowering alk.
http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/lowe...p-by-step.html

Let us know if you have any other questions.