Getting ready to open 40k gal pool AKA "the Swamp"

[KJohnston]

I am adding more water right now. I have removed all of the floating debris but I can't see the bottom. I'm sure it's nasty, should I just blindly dig around down there before I turn it on? Should I dump a bunch of bleach in and manually stir to clear a bit and possibly see the bottom before turning on? Everything is so slimy, I don't know why it's so bad this year!

[Watermom]

Try and just net out what you can first. When you get out as much as you can, go ahead and turn on equipment and add bleach.

[KJohnston]

Ok, I'll get out as much as I can then turn on and test, UPS shows I will get it by end of the day tomorrow. Then you'll tell me how much bleach, right? I am going to buy a lot today so I'll be ready!

[Watermom]

Yes, someone here can help you get started especially after you can get some good water testing numbers. Take some pictures now so you'll have the before and after. You won't believe what bleach will do!

[KJohnston]

After doing a lot of reading here I'm worried about how much bleach I will need to clean my swamp and all of that dirt and stuff going through the filter. I'm afraid we'll be cleaning the filter every 30 minutes! My husband says lets drain it and start over. Which would be more cost effective? Are we in an area where draining is a possibility? And of course, I just filled it full today! Have not turned it on yet, I am still waiting for the test kit. Can you tell I have read too much and scared myself? Should I just wait to decide anything until I can test? I am just thinking about last season and how I couldn't keep chlorine in the pool and what if the cya has turned to ammonia, the what ifs are getting to me!

[KJohnston]

Alright, I cleaned out as much as I could without being able to see. I turned everything on and discovered that my pressure gauge is busted, so I will get one tomorrow. I tested the water and heres what I got:
TC: 0
pH: more than 8, color was a very bright pink/fuschia
TA: 70
CH: 230
CYA: 0, black dot never disappeared, the water was just a tiny bit cloudy

So, I am going to add 12 gal. of 10% bleach, then I will check it in 4-6 hours? add more if its below what? 30 ppm is what I will go by until I hear from you but maybe I don't need it so high since I have no CYA? Well, I'll try to keep it at 30 for now only because its a bad looking swamp out there. The frogs are wondering whats going on. Should I plan on cleaning the filters tomorrow or get the gauge first so I can see the psi? I know they will be bad!

[KJohnston]

4 hours later test shows
FC: 21
CC: 1.5
I will add 4 more jugs of 10% bleach now, it will probably go down quick when the sun comes up since it went down a lot in the dark! But I am going to bed and will check it when I get up. Should I get some dichlor to use instead of bleach to raise my CYA? My bleach is 128 oz jugs. In the dark with a flash light shining in the pool, I can tell the water has changed already. Its not so dark green! I can't wait to see it later today! Just let me know what ppm I want to hold the chlorine. Thank you!!