what is the ideal range for alkalinity?

[PoolDoc]

With an Intex pool, 60 ppm is fine, as long as you aren't having trouble with your pH wandering around constantly.

It's more critical on concrete pools, or pools with gas or electric heaters -- but that doesn't apply to you.

Two of the fundamental rules we follow, for ideal pool care are:

(1) It's a pool, not a set of numbers.
(2) Don't fix what's not broken.

Lots of people spend lots of money and effort chasing test numbers. For obvious reasons, pool chemical companies encourage this. Most pool dealers go along, either to sell more chemicals, or simply because they are ignorant.

In a pool like yours, chlorine, pH and stabilizer levels are critical. Other levels probably aren't, unless there's something wrong with your fill water.

[PoolDoc]

By the way, you may want to take a look at our "Super Simple" recipe for Intex pools. If you filled your pool some time ago, it may not apply directly, but it will still have a lot of information relevant to your situation.