Hi Mama!

If we get angry with a story like yours, it is NEVER at the pool owner but at the pool store that sold them a bunch of expensive stuff.

BTW, don't let them talk you into buying any calcium increaser or phosphate removers. Also no algaecides (there's a good one but we'll get into that later) You don't need these things.

Here's what you can use that's cheaper:

To lower pH: Muriatic Acid, available at hardware stores.

To raise pH: 20 Mule Team Borax (great stuff)

To raise T/A: Total Alkalinity--Baking soda!

To raise pH and T/A together: Arm&Hammer Washing Soda (usually on the same shelf in the store as Borax).

To raise chlorine levels: Regular, ordinary bleach.

Funny thing, the pool store sells baking soda, washing soda and bleach, but it packages them as "Total Alkalinity Raiser", "pH Up!" and "Liquid Shock" and charges a fortune for them, though they are the same as the stuff I listed.

We call it the B-B-B method: Bleach, Borax and Baking Soda for pool care.

Welcome! We'll help you LOVE your pool! Don't worry that it's little--that just makes it easier to learn and fix problems.

And I always say: On a hot day, sitting in a floating lounge chair, with a cold drink, listening to your favorite music or a summer's baseball game, there's no difference between a 15' donut pool and a giant expensive in-ground! It's cool, relaxing and, with our help, clear and clean!