Help with starting new pool

[Watermom]

Can't comment on their test. You listed no results and secondly, pool stores often give bogus results. You've got a K2006 kit; do your own tests that you know you can trust.

Your alk is low so you could raise it but instead of buying their pricey stuff, you can just use plain 'ole baking soda for that.

A vinyl pool NEVER needs calcium but that is one of the things pool stores always seem to want to sell you.

I have no idea about those gray tablets but I wouldn't use them in my pool!

I also wouldn't trust what the pool store told me was in something. Just because they "told" me that the bottles have no copper in them wouldn't work for me. I would want to read the bottle myself.

Bottom line --- pool stores want to make money. They will try and sell you any and everything. Can you say ka-ching$$$!

[rdefino]

How come Vinyl pools do need calcium. Does it have to do with the gunite finish?

[PoolDoc]

Water is 'hungry' for calcium, to a point, and will 'rob' it from the plaster and walls of a concrete pool. But in vinyl and FG pools . . . there's nothing to rob.