Anyone here ever have an above ground pool? Chemical confusion!

Chlorine and stabilizer maybe ph adjust and algeacide

Chlorine and shock.

bleach,borax for ph,baking soda for alk.

3" tablets and maybe a few gallons of shock.

Bicarbonate if the alkalinity goes below 60. Especially if you have a heater.

Keep the chlorine between 3 and 5. Vacuum weekly. Add shock as soon as it's looking white.

Empty baskets, backwash twice a week if there is pollen.

Thank you for the replies!

I adjusted for alkalinity first by using baking soda. Now it's too high I guess.

Will soda ash bring it down?

But what really confused me, is that I shocked the pool at night and when I checked the chlorine levels the next morning, there was NO chlorine in the pool. Wth?

Guy at the pool supply store said that I needed Cyanauric something (conditioner) bc the sunlight ate up all the chlorine. But I added the chlorine at night after dark, and checked early morning. So, how can it be that?

Do I need to worry about Calcium hardness?

I thought that the alkalinity affected the PH, and I am really confused how to keep both in line when one affects the other.

Which adjustment should I worry about first?

I have a 24’ above ground. I add 1 gallon of 10% bleach and a couple handfuls of baking soda everyt Thursday . Sometimes if we have a big dirty rain, I will have to do it sooner. When I first open the pool up in the spring I have to add about half a jug of stabilizer and the other half about mid season.

Look into the BBB method. Bleach, baking soda, and borax. It works and it's the cheapest way to do it, but it's a neverending hassle. Lowest possible maintenance requires saltwater or mineral system. Pricey, but you'll spend that (plus countless headaches) on chemicals anyway.

Also. The guy at the pool store said that shock and chlorine were the same thing. I said that I had read that Shock is a concentrated dose of chlorine, but he said that was untrue. That it was simply a crushed up tablet.

He is the manager, so I want to think he knows his stuff. but it contradicts EVERYTHING I have read.

Last Edited by Fortunabeargirl on 06/24/2021 08:33 AM

Cyanauric acid is what he told you that you needed. That is stabilizer. You can have enough chlorine in the pool but there not be enough “ free chlorine” available. In that case you will need the cyanauric acid ( stabilizer) to up your free chlorine levels.

What is a stabilizer? You don't worry about alkalinity or ph then?

Is the bleach instead of the chlorine? That seems a lot cheaper...

Thank you, I will look into that. I like cheap, as long as it's effective.

I see. Thank you!

The secret to pool maintenance that no one will tell you is borax. For a small above ground pool maybe just a box or two. You will still need the other chemicals but not as much. Look up borax for swimming pools to find the exact amount depending on how much water you have.

Trust me with years experience at this with inground pool and above now, ALKALINITY HAS TO BE IN RANGE OR NOTHING ELSE WILL MAINTAIN!!! Then, adjust the ph; Then your chlorine and shock-(get shock for spa or above ground pool in u can find it) will work the way it should! Do this in this order and you’ll have luck!

Thank you, I will!

That's what I came here for ... the secrets the pool guys won't tell me. Lol

Oh, and the people who work at the water testing place are there to sell you as much expensive crap as you are willing to buy. It's best to do the research on your own... And use the bbb method.

Ah ... thanks! I was lost trying to figure out what to do first.

pool shock

I sensed that. You should have seen the list of the things I "need." Hundreds of dollars!

I thought to myself, "Nope, not until I check GLP." Lol

As usual, y'all didnt disappoint. :)

If it has a basic filter upgrade to a sand filter

I have one. Yay!! I got something right!

Last Edited by Fortunabeargirl on 06/24/2021 08:48 AM

Alkalinity simply means a pH > 7. Higher pH is more alkaline. Acidity is pH < 7.

So they are basically the same.

Last Edited by Gabriel~ on 06/24/2021 08:50 AM

add a chlorine puck or liquid chlorine about once a week. You determine the need for it with your test kit.

the stabilizer prevents the sun from eating up the chlorine too fast. It's like a preservative.

after a week of rain, you may need PH down as rain is acidic.

vacuum clean weekly. Debris breaks down into bio stuff.

the faygs at the pool store will sell you 55 things you dont need.

get your water tested after opening, mid summer and before close.


there is absolutely nothing hard about this so don't over think.

chlorine and ph is ALL you need to worry about.

also, if you fertilize the lawn, be careful not to get any in the water.

You have a pool but cant afford chemicals, Id recommend just taking it down then.

So, I adjust the alkalinity and the ph will follow suit?

Minimum adjust ph and add chlorine, adjust alkalinity. Ideal add stabilizer and algaecide.

Ph should be in the range of 7.2-7.6 (air bubbles can normalize ph)
Minimum chlorine keep at 1-3ppm (granules seem to be easy to find, or liquid)
Chlorine stabilizer 30-50ppm (don't over do it)
alkalinity 80-120ppm (baking soda can be used to increase)

Thanks for the advice.

I was only able to find the 1" chlorine tablets. I guess if I use three, that is the same as if I used a 3" tablet.

Do you put the tablet in your skimmer or in one of those floaty things?

Yes.

Increasing alkalinity means you are raising the pH. Decreasing it is lowering the pH.

Adding alkaline chemicals like sodium bicarbonate will increase the pH, and thus alkalinity.

Last Edited by Gabriel~ on 06/24/2021 08:56 AM

Who said I couldn't afford the chemicals?

I'm just very careful with my money.

I'd recommend you get a life.

Thank you for the ranges!

Last Edited by Fortunabeargirl on 06/24/2021 08:57 AM