Need advice about TA in new pool

[aylad]

The test strips have been known to be less than accurate--I would highly encourage you to get a drop-based kit. Most of us use the one Ben sells on this site--it will accurately test for most everything you'll ever need. As a starter, you can always go to WalMart and start with the $15 5-way kit.

If your stabilizer is around 50 ppm, then stop using the smart stix...you don't need CYA any higher than that. I would switch to exclusively bleach at this point, to keep the CYA from going any higher. What is your hardness level?

You can get plenty of guidance you need from here, but you need to post specific levels for TC, FC, pH, TA, and CYA-- "ok" doesn't give us enough to go on.

As far as algaecide goes, if you have a properly chlorinated pool, you don't need algaecide. It can actually create a lot more problems for you than it'll fix. I've never put algaecide in my pool, and if I were smart enough to figure out how to post a pic , I would show you that it's crystal clear all the time. Some of the other veterans (and I believe my 3 co-mods) put algaecide in theirs only at closing--and even then, the only thing recommended around this forum is Polyquat 60. For now, save the money on the algaecide, properly chlorinate your pool, and you won't have algae problems.



Janet