The most critical thing is to add chlorine. Right now, PLAIN 8.25% bleach is the easiest thing for you to use. Go to Walmart and purchase
+ 12 gallons of 8.25% bleach (Walmart store brand is better than Clorox, since you'll have to hunt through the scented / spiced / flavored / thickened / foaming bleaches, to find the PLAIN bleach!)
+ An OTO / phenol red drops test kit (yellow / red drops)
When you get home add TWO gallons of bleach. After that, add 1 gallon EVERY evening, till you have another plan.
The reason for doing this is that, if your pool turns green, it will take 10x to 100x as much chlorine to clean up, as it would have to prevent algae in the first place!
Test your chlorine & pH the following AM, and again the following PM, BEFORE adding more chlorine. Report the results here.
================================================== =============
OK, the instructions above will get you through a week or so . . . but it's going to take more than that. Here's what else you need to do:
1. Purchase a Taylor K2006 testkit from Amazon (test kit page linked in my blue signature block)
2. If you have access to a Sams Club, purchase (2) of their 24 bag boxes of dichlor shock. (Their price is great, the dichlor is un-diluted which is very hard to find now, and the bags will keep till next season, better than an opened bucket.) Dichlor adds BOTH chlorine AND stabilizer, and if your pool is freshly filled, you need both.
3. Tell us what plans you have for winter -- keep it open, cover and close, what?
4. Stay AWAY from pool store testing and chemical advice: it's designed to sell chemicals you don't need, rather than solving your water problems simply and directly. Don't burn bridges through, by telling them you are following our advice. You WILL need access to parts, etc.
Bookmarks