Brand New AG Pool Owner

[PoolDoc]

1. Take the Ionizer back, if you can. Copper can control algae, but at the cost of green hair and pool stains. We do NOT recommend ionizers.

2. For now, add 1/2 gallon of plain 8% bleach each EVENING. Do this every evening, till you have a complete pool plan, and are on track with it. You can add 1 box of borax, to raise your pH a bit.

3. It's possible to treat your pool 1x weekly, once you get some experience and 'get all your ducks in a row'. But that won't happen for at least a couple of months for most new pool owners.

4. Good on you for doing a metals bucket test -- are you filling with well water?

5. You need a K2006 testkit. Pool dealers engage in predatory chemical sales, aided by inaccurate testing and untrustworthy computer dosing (= sales) programs. See http://pool9.net/testkits/

6. Dichlor offers an easy way to add BOTH chlorine AND stabilizer, which you need after a fresh fill. It's also a super-cheap way, if you have access to a Sams Club. You have to be wary of most other local sources of dichlor, since it's become common to sell 'diluted dichlor' at 1/2 strength but full price. Links below.

Good luck!

PoolBrand granular dichlor 50lbs @ Sams Club => ~$2.20/lb (May 2014 in Chattanooga)
PoolBrand dichlor bagged shock 24lbs @ Sams Club => ~$2.50/lb (May 2014 in Chattanooga)

Kem-Tek dichlor 22 lbs @ Amazon => ~$3.50/lb (May 2014)
Kem-Tek dichlor 12 lbs @ Amazon => ~$4.10/lb (May 2014)
Kem-Tek dichlor 5 lbs @ Amazon => ~$5.00/lb (May 2014)
Kem-Tek dichlor 2 lbs @ Amazon => ~$9.00/lb (May 2014)

Keep in mind that Amazon products normally ship free; and that in many parts of the country, you will not have to pay sales tax. Shipping + tax can increase the cost from other suppliers by 15 - 40%, so compare delivered cost, not nominal price.