New Owner - Need Help-- Please

[michladny]

Hi there...

THANKS for the start of good info--much appreciated.

As of right now my CRAPPY strips have me in perfect ranges so I believe I am close either way (beginner's luck I am sure)!!! When I started adding chemicals I went through a WHOLE bottle of PH+ and 2 bags of conditioner/stabilizer cause I added the chemicals according to the "pool" place directions on one of the boxes.

So let me get this straight---
1. PH can be increased by Baking soda? I know I read that the trichlor decreses the PH.... I use the tabs...is that NOT GOOD?
2. With what do you adjust alkalinity --- ?
3. The CYA is adjusted by the use of stabilizer and the constant use of the chlorine tablets? How does that get so high if the chlorine is used up from what you are putting in the pool? Pool places do not tell you that tablets will raise CYA (I know to sell chemicals) but if CYA shouldn't get too high then that is crappy of them!!!! I was informed that you only need to add the stabilizer once a season? How would you decrease the CYA?
The trichlor tablets I use I place two in the floater and that lasts a few days...(the pool pace said to add FOUR and replace when dissolved-that seems like an awful lot!!!!) I have had the pool filled and open for the past three weeks (only swimming last week and now we had some rain/storms)and my numbers have looked pretty good. I believe someone told me that HTH makes a chlorine tab with algecide in it (or do they all have that in there since it is chlorine)? I also saw the HTH tabs have copper so I shouldn't use them?
4. Wll I EVER feel confident about taking care of this POOL?????

This CYA confuses me sooo much.... If I use tablets (trichlor) I can add lots of stuff I do not need? If you test faithfully and all is well then why couldn't you continue to use the tablets? Why is bleach so much better? CYA too high does what?

I have been reading this site/forum for the past three hours taking notes !!!!!!

Michelle