What are the chemicals I need?

[waterbear]

Soda ash is sodium carbonate, you can find it in the grocery store as 'washing soda' or 'sal soda' usually in the laundry aisle

[albertgarrido]

Okay...I think I'm getting this...see if my analysis is correct.
Total Alk can be raised by Baking Soda or Soda Ash. However, Soda Ash will tend to raise Ph somewhat equally where Baking Soda will only raise pH slightly as Total Alk goes up. So depending in situation (low pH and low Tot Alk lets say, I can use some Soda Ash) I'd use one or the other.

pH can be raised by Borax. So if Total Alk is fine, but pH is low, I probaly want to use Borax.

HOWEVER, I also need to be aware that bleach ALSO increases ph, so these all have to be in balance.

I think what I have learned from all this, is that any chemical I add, I should add in small amounts, wait a while (4 hours or more-except for CYA which could take a few days!) for them to properly distrubute throughout pool. Then, take readings again, add more of what ever is needed, and do the process again, till I have everything in balance, remembering all along that depending on the Chlorine I use, (although it looks like I'm leaning towards bleach....not liking what I'm reading about Trichol pucks), will affect pH.


Does that pretty much cover it?

Chemicals
Bleach (for chlorine)
Borax to raise pH directly
Muriatic Acid=Dry Acid to lower pH
Baking Soda=Sodium Bicarbonate=Total Alkalinity Raiser (to raise Total Alkalinity - will also raise PH a bit)
Soda Ash=sodium carbonate='washing soda'=sal soda' raises both pH and Total Alk equally
CYA/Stabilizer/Conditioner to establish the correct CYA level
Polyquat 60%--the ONLY algaecide you should use, on occasion

[CarlD]

You are on your way!

However, while Tri-chlor pucks and Di-Chlor powder will lower your pH noticeably when you chlorinate with them, Bleach will not raise pH noticeably.

While Bleach is a high-pH item, you can generally act as if it's neutral when adding it to your water. Borax is FAR more effective at raising pH.

So you should be testing your water all the time anyway, so you can stay ahead of changes in pH that you don't like.

[waterbear]

Okay...I think I'm getting this...see if my analysis is correct.
T

Chemicals
Bleach (for chlorine)
Borax to raise pH directly
Muriatic Acid=Dry Acid to lower pH
Both will lower pH but they are not the same...Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) is less expensive, dry acid (sodium bisulfate--creates sulfuric acid when dissolved --oversimplified explanation) is easier to handle but it does put sulfates into the water.
Baking Soda=Sodium Bicarbonate=Total Alkalinity Raiser (to raise Total Alkalinity - will also raise PH a bit)
Soda Ash=sodium carbonate='washing soda'=sal soda' raises both pH and Total Alk equally
CYA/Stabilizer/Conditioner to establish the correct CYA level
Polyquat 60%--the ONLY algaecide you should use, on occasion

You got the chemistry down!

[albertgarrido]

By the way....I got a D+ in Chemistry class in highschool!
This is probably the most I ever understood the whole subjuect!

I guess now I have an incentive to understand it.....reduce pool costs! :-)

thank you all!