I have a small pool for the kids, rated at 3600 gallons (12 ft round and it's nighttime and I can't remember the heighth... 36" I think or maybe 32"). I know this is a kiddie pool compared to everyone elses, but it's big enough that I can't afford to drain it and refill it every other day

I've read a lot here but I still can't get a grasp on things.

It's been up about 3 weeks now. The water is starting to get a little cloudy. I'm in a SMALL town and have nothing near me but a Walmart so I have been using this powdered shock they have every few days.

I have a test kit I got from WM too, so this is what I know thus far.

The test tube that's used to measure CL measures from .6 to 5.0. The solution turns the water yellow and has a color chart for each graudation of number. The yellow is off the chart, very dark yellow. If I had to guess at a number due to the graudations, I'm guess 10+. I also have some test strips that show a little darker purple that what's on the bottle and it maxes out at 10.

The PH in the liquid test kit barely registers a color and it starts at 6.8. The test strip shows about 6.8, maybe 7.0.

The alkalinity I believe is about 150 ppm (give or take 10 ppm or so). It was test where I kept putting a drop in the water until it turned clear and the drops were not consistent. Then you multiple the drops by 10. But it was pretty close to 15 drops. (no test strip for this).

The water hardness test showed nothing. A violet color was supposed to have appeared with the first solution but the water remained perfectly clear. I still added several drops of the second solution and still no change.

The stabilizer test showed 50 ppm.



So there is a difference between chlorine and free clorine? If so, I do not know how to test for FCL. The test strips say they test FCL and the solution kit I have says it tests for CL. In either case as stated above they both show a number slightly greater than 10.

I hate to ask for hand holding on this, but I just can't get my mind around this. We just got this pool cause they were on closeout since pool season, according to the retailers, was over about a month ago. But I suppose we won't have much more time for the kids to play in it (3 young kids, 8 and under), but anything you can suggest would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, it does have a filter that came with it. It's an Intex pool. I THINK it's a 500gph pump?