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[amyjtaylor]

The chlorine tablets I have are Aqua Chem 3" chlorinating tabs.Do I also need the granules to go along with these?And do I only use the borax and baking soda when I need it for my ph level?Other than that just bleach every week or so for shock,and about every 2 weeks for algaecide?Sorry so many questions just trying to get it all right.

[PoolDoc]

You can use bleach to 'shock' and the tabs in a floater.

BUT . . . check the label: those tabs may have copper. If so, you run a small risk of blue stains on your pool, and a larger risk of turning blond hair in family green.

[aylad]

The chlorine tablets I have are Aqua Chem 3" chlorinating tabs.Do I also need the granules to go along with these?And do I only use the borax and baking soda when I need it for my ph level?Other than that just bleach every week or so for shock,and about every 2 weeks for algaecide?Sorry so many questions just trying to get it all right.

You don't necessarily need the granules if you have the tabs, unless you need to return the tabs (see Pooldoc's warning about copper). You only use borax when you need to raise pH (which will probably happen if you use tabs, since they tend to drive pH down), and use baking soda if you need to raise your TA. You don't even really need to shock every week unless you just want to--if you keep your chlorine levels where they need to be in relation to your CYA level (see the best guess chlorine chart linked in my sig for more info about that), then you will hardly ever need to shock, and you won't need any algaecide. (I don't know what kind of algaecide you have, but if it's not polyquat 60 I wouldn't put it in my pool at all ) Chlorine is really the best, and only, algaecide that you should need.