Hello, New to Forum.

[mcbdz]

Yay, it's Friday so I can start getting the stuff I need.

Here is What I have so far on pool chem. OTO=2-4 lighter side. Phenol red= around 7.8. With my master saltwater kit it is reading 7.8 so at least appears to be coming down. I added 2 c bleach during the day yesterday and 2 c last night. Should go to Sam's later to pic up Dichlor. Spray cleaned filter and plan to order taylor lit and filters today.

Vacuumed yesterday Just the cheap vacuum that came with pool but got a lot out. I do have trees in my backyard and the bugs and litter I'm afraid will be a problem. At least the kids help out with netting when they swim. Will pic up some muriatic acid but, should I mess with lowing now or let it come down on it's own? seems like it is dropping slowly.

Thank you for being here and somewhere to turn so hopefully we'll have an enjoyable summer.

[Watermom]

We are glad to help! Your pH is ok at 7.8 for now. If it is coming down on its own, wait a bit before adding the muriatic acid.

[mcbdz]

Good morning.

Ok last night added 1lb of the PoolBrand Quick Dissolving shock. From Sam's club. reads active ingredients: Sodium Dichloro-s-Triazinetrione Hydrated....99%, Other Ingredients.....1%, Total.......100%, Active Chlorine.....55.5%. And put pool cover on since still having lots of rain. Also to help keep bugs and leaves out. Filter running 24hrs.

This mornings readings About 1 hr after cover removed but still overcast. OTO=5/10Dark yellow not orange. Phenol red 7.5 still and with my master kit pH= 7.8. Still waiting on Test kit and filters from Amazon. I think I need to test in a few hours again. Maybe the sun will come out.

Is this way too high to use pool?

I vacuum better in the pool.

[Watermom]

This may help you to decipher the OTO readings until your K2006 arrives: http://pool9.net/oto-chart/

It is fine to swim but if the chlorine is closer to 10 than 5 (since you have little CYA in there yet), I'd suggest wearing old swimsuits. Your pH is fine.

(I vacuum better when in the pool, too. Hard to reach over those high walls! )

[mcbdz]

Great, thanks watermom. I'm thinking it was closer to the 6 or 5. Checked again around 2pm and a little lighter. Noticed putting the cover on made such a major difference in the debris that i need to find a away to do that every night. Also need a good vacuum. What do ya'll suggest for the intex pools? Thanks for all the help by the way. :O)

[Watermom]

i can't help you with the recommendation for the Intex vacuum but hopefully someone will chime in who has a similar pool and an idea to share.

And, you are welcome!

[BigDave]

I used an inexpensive robotic cleaner (cost more than twice what the pool cost). It was great while it lasted. One failed after three seasons, I wrote it off as bad luck and bought another of the same - it only last two seasons. I'm now shopping for a different robot - a Father's Day robot.