"Grocery" shopping list for my pool.

[PoolDoc]

Complete our new Pool Chart form -- it takes about 30 seconds, but will save much more than that. And, we'll be able to help with your doses.

Pool Chart Entry Form
Pool Chart Results

Should I assume 0 ppm on everything out of the hose or is there likely a chance of something already there?

Absolutely. Tap water OFTEN has high TA or CH values.

But, don't obsess: it's a pool, not a concrete pit filled with numbers!

However, DO read the test kit page linked in my signature, and DO get a K2006. They are pretty important on all pools, but pretty essential on gunite pools, which require more careful management of alkalinity and calcium levels.

[Watermom]

You might find the bleach calculator in the following thread handy. (It is more than just a bleach calculator. If you click in the upper left-hand corner, it gives you some other calculators as well.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...18-bleach-calc

[waterbear]

You might find the bleach calculator in the following thread handy. (It is more than just a bleach calculator. If you click in the upper left-hand corner, it gives you some other calculators as well.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...18-bleach-calc

Do not use the borax calculatoin section. It contains an error. When you get the water balanced and are ready to add the borax just start a thread and we can walk you through it (pick up some LaMotte borate test strips first).

HOWEVER, it is more important to get your TA in line and get the rest of your water where it needs to be before even thinking about adding borate. IT is the LAST step in water balancing.

[OOsever]

I bought the Taylor K-2006C(Through your link to amazon ) last week just hadn't gotten around to opening it yet. Ran the test on CH (80ppm) and TA (350ppm). TA looks rediculously high, thought I possibly messed the test up somehow, but ran it again at the 10ml sample and got the same thing. The only way to lower it is lowering pH and aerating correct?

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Already filled out the pool chart form on 6/7/12

[PoolDoc]

The high TA is possible; public utility water is sometimes treated with a method called "lime softening" that can leave exit water with very high TA.

And yes, the only practical way to lower it is to lower the pH to just below 7.0 (or as low as your test kit allows) and then aerate.