Trying to open pool

[Bekka]

I have a round 24 foot diameter AG pool with approximately 13,500 gallons of water filled. Vinyl liner and no heater. Opened my pool this past weekend; it was surprisingly clear; no leaves or vegetation visible. Topped the water off and took sample in for numbers. Normal pool place I use was not open so a manual test was done at another source. I was advised all I needed to do was shock the pool. Upon putting in 2 bags worth of super shock & oxidizer, the pool was a little cloudy for a few hours. Got in to the freezing cold water to vacuum off the bottom and sides for extra insurance. Twenty four hours later the water was very clear. Three days later, which is today, water still nice and clear, I took a water sample down to the pool place I normally use for a full reading. Print out of the test results in:
Free Chlorine 1.1 ppm
Total Chlorine 1.5 ppm
Comb Chlorine 0.4 ppm
ph 7.1
Hardness 90 ppm [recommended range 200-400]
Alkalinity [w/stabilizer correction] 51 ppm [recommended 100 - 150]
Cyanuric acid 65 ppm
Copper 0
Iron 0

Pool company recommended I add more ingredients, of course, in the following order -- 15 pounds 3 oz of Sodium Bicarbonate to raise alkalinity [to add a third at a time and run 8 hours in between]; 22 pounds 15 oz Calcium Chloride to increase hardness [awkk, is this necessary? Run 7 pounds at a time and run for 6 hours before adding more]; and to add non-chlorine shock at 13 oz. to bring down the Combined chlorine. Wow, that's a lot of run time, and I was so hoping to get in my pool tomorrow. I think I have read here, that calcium is not necessary in a vinyl AG with no heater??? Is this correct. So maybe I can cut out that step. But if necessary I will add it.
Does all of the above sound reasonable???
Bekka

[Watermom]

You do need to raise your alk. We suggest 80-125. You can just buy baking soda at the Walmart. It is cheap and is all you need to raise alk. You are also correct that you do NOT need to add the calcium in a vinyl pool. Instead of using super shock, why not just use plain, unscented bleach for your chlorine? It is all that many of us use and it will not cloud your water. I also have a 24 ft AG and typically I just add about 2 quarts of 6% bleach each evening and I never have cloudy water issues. Also, with a cya reading of 65, you need to be keeping your chlorine higher or you are going to have a green pool in no time. See the "best guess" chart at the top of the chlorine forum for the correlation between cya and needed chlorine levels. One other thing -- your ph is a little low. Add a cup or two of 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle at Walmart) to the skimmer while the pump is running, breaking up any clumps. Wait a few hours to let it circulate, then retest and redose until your ph is between 7.4-7.6. Hope this helps.

PS - I hope you didn't already buy all that stuff from the pool store! If you did, take it back.

[Bekka]

Thanks Watermom ; ) No I didn't buy this stuff yet. I was waiting to hear about the more cost effective means of dealing with the test results. I don't have the ultra pool test kit yet. Hopefully, I can spring for one in the upcoming months. I can do a pH reading with my pH meter, but all other tests have to be taken to the pool shop for the test results for now. I appreciate your advice.
Bekka

[RavenNS]

I don't know if your walmart sells bulk items, but try looking around at some bulk suplliers for the baking soda
I was able to get a 35KG bag of food grade baking soda from my hottub store for about $40 after taxes!

[Bekka]

I'm learning a lot of chemistry here LOL, Let me see if I have this straight:
Baking Soda [Sodium Bicarbonate] to raise Total Alkalinity not pH per say
Borax [Sodium Borate] to raise pH only; on the side doesn't borax act as a water softener as well?
Chlorine Bleach [sodium. hypochlorite] to raise Chlorine and FC without raising CYA
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda [Sodium Carbonate aka pH Up & Washing Soda] to raise pH & TA
Is this correct????
Bekka