CarlD, Thank you!

Actually, do I need a vaccum? I cover my pool up at around 3-ish every day and I scoop constantly....I mean....I'm sure I can get my McGyver (sp) of a husband to invent a vaccum....i'm sure he'll let me use the shop vac! ahahhahahaa!

I have the HTH pool and spa test kit already...is that not a good brand? (like I said...so totally new to pools...the last one we had was a DoughBoy and that was when I was like 9 years old...and all I cared about was swimming...daddy took care of the pool...now my husband is the daddy and I am the mommy...omg!) Please advise....

As for the pit bull....it was by far the funniest thing I have ever seen....he just grabbed a hold of the ring...bit and it started deflating...but because it was draining, he was not letting go....getting even more mad....and hanging on...while the water just poured over him....all the while...getting more mad...and really got angry and started SHAKING the pool which got him even MORE drenched...this went on until the pool was empty...about 6 o'clock...he didn't let go...not once! It was definitely a 4 thumbs up and a decent bag of popcorn worth!