Quote Originally Posted by smaloney62 View Post
I have not added any Chlorine yet, my pool supply store recommended getting my TA & PH in check before I add anything else.
Wrong, wrong, wrong! Your pool is likely to turn green first. And THEN, they will be able to sell you chemicals by the wheelbarrow!

Do NOT listen to them!

1. Forget about TA for now.
2. Your pH is fine, for now.
3. A 30' AG pool is as much as 21,000 gallons. Each gallon of bleach adds about 3 ppm FC (free chlorine) to your pool. Add 4 gallons (or (5) 96oz jugs) ASAP.
4. See if you can get the HTH 6-way kit at your Walmart (check availability)
5. Otherwise, get a cheap OTO / phenol red kit.
6. If you do NOT get a 6-way, get your pool store to check your CYA level -- but IGNORE their dumb chemical advice!!
7. Read the muriatic page linked in my signature.
8. Then, use muriatic acid to hold your pH below 7.4. Do NOT worry about TA; it will take care of itself IF you do the other stuff.
9. You do NOT need added calcium hardness: if your pool store tells to add some, IGNORE THEM.
10. Tell us what your pool water LOOKS and SMELLS like.
11. Use the link in my signature to get to YOUR signature setting: put your pool info there: gallons, type, make / model of pump / filter, other equipment.