Thanks To All!! Clear Pool At Last

[chem geek]

You can use Muriatic Acid which is a liquid that you can pour slowly into your pool near a water return outlet so that will mix the acid quickly with your pool water to prevent damage to the plaster. I didn't know about the problems Evan (waterbear) mentioned about using dry acid, but it makes sense and fortunately Muriatic Acid is the best alternative. There isn't any other way to lower pH other than adding acid.

As for the test kit question, I'll leave that to waterbear since I am not familiar with the Walmart kit(s). If the test kit says it measures Total Hardness (which is Magnesium and Calcium) then that is not what is important to measure -- it is Calcium Hardness that you want to measure. Typically, Calcium is the larger component of hardness so if your total hardness was 400 then your calcium hardness might be 300, but you really need to do the right test to know for certain.

The Sodium Bisulfate is dry acid that waterbear is talking about so based on what he said, don't use that and instead get the Muriatic Acid which is a liquid that typically comes in a quart plastic bottle. [EDIT] I meant "gallon jugs" just like waterbear said below. It's getting late... [END-EDIT]

Are you kidding? We will never give up on you.

Richard