New pool questions,

[mtinston]

Ben, Thanks for the advice. I will definitely get the test kit. The pool is a white plaster over gunnite. The pool company hired a local store to come out and do the initial chemical testing/opening (yes I know that means I paid for it). I am a Costco member, I'll check to see what they have there - I have a couple of weeks worth of BioGuard supplies (Silk sticks - trichlor, Maintain ph +/-, Burnout shock, and inhibit algaecide). The will also come out to close the pool in a about a month or six weeks. I will need to purchase some additional chemicals before then and I'm pretty sure the store will be a lot more expensive than Costco. But, I'm also not sure what the difference between trichlor and dichlor is in terms of which is more desirable for use in the pool.

[PoolDoc]

Don't use the Inhibit algaecide -- it's not really chlorine compatible. Use it to clean a slimy sidewalk or something.

[CarlD]

Hi Mike!
Ben's not being facetious: Don't use that algaecide.

As you learn about the B-B-B system you'll find it's INSANELY easy to do your pool maintenance and very, very inexpensive. B-B-B stands nominally for Bleach, Borax and Baking Soda, three of the six ingredients you'll need for your pool. The other 3 are:
Muriatic acid or Dry Acid (either),
Cyanuric Acid, aka Stabilizer, and
Calcium powder or flakes (you can use Cal-hypo to chlorinate when your calcium is low as it adds calcium)

What makes it all work, and easy to do, is, of course, Ben's long term recommendation for Taylor K-2006/K-2006C test kits.
The other thing you will need is to be persistent and consistent. If you test your water for chlorine and pH every day, adjusting immediately, and once a week run the full set of tests in the K-2006, you'll find you're spending 2-5 minutes a day on pool chemistry and once a week 15 minutes. Plus, of course, any vacuuming and brushing you need.

You'll also find that name brand products are usually nothing but over-priced ordinary products. For example, "pH Plus" retails for $6 for 2lbs--and a 3.5lb box of Arm&Hammer Washing Soda (in the yellow box, not orange, not baking soda) is $2.99 as my local supermarket. Both are Sodium Carbonate: The same darn thing only 3 1/2 times more expensive!

Alkalinity raisers at pool stores are Baking Soda--same thing, same price difference!

But we generally recommend Borax instead of Washing Soda--at the supermarket they cost about the same. You can use either without a problem but I won't go into why, generally, Borax is a better option.

It's not hard, but knowledge will save you scads of money! Happy Reading!

[consoleman]

i have read the BBB link on pooldocs link. I couldn't get the overall picture of the total number of chemicals needed. CarlD, you just saved me a tons of searching! Thanks

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BTW, I just ordered the K2006C just now. I also found a store that has red stripe beer in stock. Ill be sitting in a warm pool with a cold beer on a hot day in November in no time !