Pool is filled, now what do I do?

[CrazyKittyLady]

Finally got the pump plugged in yesterday afternoon. Last night I hung 4 lbs cyanuric acid (in 2 socks) over the side of the pool by the water return jet and I also poured in 2 gallons of bleach. This morning the numbers are Cl = >5 and the pH = 7.6. My total alkalinity is still very high 270ppm. No hardness (calcium?) detected (water didn't turn red at all with the drops just kind of light yellowish). Cyanuric acid level = 30ppm. Now what do I do? The Aqua Smarte Mizermax Pacs say to let the chlorine level go down below 1 before inserting the pac. It was below 1 until I added bleach, so should I wait until it is back down and put in the pac or should I keep adding bleach? I will be using those pacs as the chlorine source. Also, we are getting ready to leave for vacation and will be gone for 10 days. I was hoping to have the chemicals figured out before we leave so I don't come home to a pond. Should I leave the pump running while we are gone (I assume so). I was thinking that the pump would run 24/7 all summer, but I've read where folks turn it off sometimes. Any suggestions there would be great. The pump has a low and a high setting. I have it on high right now to circulate all the bleach, CYA, etc. Should I leave it on low while we are gone? There will be someone here part of the time if something HAS to be done while we are gone, but they won't be swimming, just looking after the house and the cats.

Thanks so much for getting this newbie started! When I tested the water this morning it was SO warm and the girls and I are just dying to take our first dip!!

Ashley

[PoolDoc]

To go on vacation, given your situation:

1. Insert your Aqua Smarte chlorine packs now -- don't wait for the chlorine to go down.
2. Lower the pH to 7.2 -- your high TA will cause it to rise slowly.
3. Purchase 15 gallons of plain 6% household bleach, and store it in a cool place accessible to your pool caretaker.
4. Run your pump on low for 1 day, to make sure everything works OK, then turn it to high, and leave it there till ready to go.
5. Before leaving, turn the pump to low, and the tablet feeder to a low setting.
6. Instruct your pool caretaker to add 1/2 gallon of bleach every EVENING -- NOT morning!
7. Instruct him/her to feel the pool surface under the water -- if it feels the slightest bit slimy, add a FULL GALLON more.

That's it.

[CrazyKittyLady]

Thank you for the vacation advice. I followed it and just returned home to a crystal clear pool that needs to be vacuumed. However, my house sitter didn't put in any bleach for the past 2 days and the Aqua Smarte pack ran out, so my chlorine reading is way down for the first time this week The Taylor K-2006 kit came while I was gone, so I ran the tests this afternoon and this is what I got:

FC=.6ppm
CC=0ppm
pH=8.0 (5 drops of R0005 brought the sample to 7.4)
TA=240ppm
Calcium=270ppm
CYA= <30ppm (I had to fill the tube all the way to the top to make the black dot disappear and there is no number up that far)

I am ready to get this pool balanced and swim! Any help would be greatly appreciated -- i.e.: what to worry about first? chlorine? pH?

Thanks,
Ashley

[Watermom]

Go ahead and get some bleach in there before the pool turns green. Then, you can add a little muriatic acid to drop the pH some.