Pool Opening Chemicals Needed?

[handy1]

I've been a convert to this forum for a number of years and am an advocate for the BBB method. However, each year in the past I've still gone to the pool store to get "start up" chemicals. I would love to NOT do that this year (we actually just opened our pool today - I know, it's late, but what can I say!)

What chemicals are typically necessary to have on hand to start up when you open the pool? Thanks for your help!

[BigDave]

Bleach, K-2006. Test your water to see what it needs.

[aylad]

We recommend Borax to raise pH, muriatic acid to lower it, baking soda to raise alk, muriatic acid and correct technique to lower it, cal-hypo as chlorination source if you need to raise calcium, stabilizer, dichlor, or trichlor if you need to raise CYA levels. You can get it all (except maybe the muriatic, the dichlor, and the trichlor) at WalMart or your local grocery store.

Like Dave said, test your water, get a set of results, and go from there before you go shopping!