I opened Tuesday afternoon. Added 14lbs. Cal Hypo and nothing else. Waited. Today, Friday, tested and cleaned the pool.

FC:8.5
CC:0
PH:7.2
Alk:60
CYA: (under) 30

Pool opened nearly (deceptively) blue but I still had plenty of milky white dead algae to vacuum up after the nuclear shock and awe campiagn. I added a pound of DE to my sand filter through one of my skimmers. While the filter pressure rose quickly to over 22lbs as I vacuumed, I got to vac about 1/5 of the pool. Backwashed and repeated with another lb. DE each time for about 6 or 7 times. You could tell when the gummy dead algae was gunking things up because the vac head lost suction. I vacuumed every inch (sloped walls, side walls...) with max vac head pressure and what I couldn't get to I brushed.

I am writing this post for people that might be skeptical of BBB. We had a warm winter here in Jersey. No snow. Bad for both pools and XC Skiing (2 of my favorite things!). Yeah, I have some adjusting to do, but a few days after opening and one vac job (albeit a very long one) later, just one vacuuming, this hole in the ground is perfectly swimmable. AND, I vaccuumed the whole pool
without it getting cloudy AT ALL because of the DE. It is sparkling clear. I need some baking soda and CYA, albeit, my CYA has tested near zero and magically climbed a week or so after opening to a real number? This has been consistent. My natural PH tends to be around 7.8/7.9 but my ALK has been dropping steadily and predictably over the past 2 summers. So, baking soda and CYA? And minor adjustments...

Last year my chemical cost was $110.00 TOTAL and I'm a 36,000 gallon pool. It will be a bit higher this year, but I have complete control of my pool and I know the why behind every decision, addition or adjustment. I can't even figure out why y'all do this, it is pool liberation and justice for all but to any new lurker, this is real chemistry. And it really works. I have absolutely no connection to Pool Solutions, Ben or any mod. Nothing. I am still awed by the efficacy of BBB. Well over 30 years of pool responsibility and last few have been the easiest and best ever.

I almost feel bad for not posting more, but hey I am a social worker, and y'all are accomplishing our dream. To put ourselves out of business! Thanks to you all, from the very depths of my deep seated control issues... And for newbies, this ain't no joke.

Paul