Quote Originally Posted by howbout
These are from March 18 from yes....the pool store analysis :
chlorine was 0 - I have obviously fixed that
ph was 7.8 - that too is now in the normal range according to my test kit
Acid Demand 1
Total Alkalinity 80 ppm
Calcium Hardness 325 ppm
Stabilizer 50 ppm

This is all they tested for. We had seen the water "foaming" and were told to next time ask for a TDS test. I am not sure we will be going back there next time so...the ranges they gave for the above were all fine for what we need (according to their analysis) except the pH was then high and of course there was no chlorine...

So any suggestions at this point? The pool is testing fine for both chlorine and pH now (my own test kit) but that is all I CAN test for. The water is crystal clear...
Acid Demand and TDS are useless tests just to impress you. Foaming could be the start of algae--shocking with bleach should fix it. If not, something else is causing it and Ben or one of the other moderators can help better than I can.

Total alkalinity is a bit low--the lowest end of acceptable--and if you lowered your pH it's gone even lower because T/A moves with pH. Add a pound of Arm&Hammer baking soda to fix it. I like it to be between 100 and 125. In a vinyl pool, you can go as high as 180 without worry.

CYA is at the maximum level that I like--50ppm. I would only chlorinate with bleach or liquid chlorine from now on. Your only other choice is Cal-Hypo--but your calcium is 325ppm, which is fine. Buy you don't necessarily want it too much higher, and Cal-Hypo will raise it. Stick to bleach.

So your CYA is high (but OK), your TA is low (probably too low)--and you have some foaming. You'll need to raise TA, shock your pool, then keep your regular chlorine level at a minimum of, say, 5ppm (I'll check that). and you should be OK.