help with ph and chlorine issue

[BigDave]

...I have not ever added di-chlor or stabilizer...

You'll probably find that you use less chlorine and maintain more stable FC level if you get some stabilizer in your pool.

I think dichlor would be a good choice for you as it will also lower your pH while it chlorinates and adds stabilizer. A quarter pound (4oz) will add almost as much FC to your pool as 4 Cups of bleach; that would be a good dose size.

Each pound of dichlor should add about 12ppm CYA to your pool. No need to test for CYA until you've added about three pounds.

Please review Ben's Best Guess Chart; it provides Free Chlorine target ranges for varrying CYA ranges. Never let the FC fall below the minimum for your CYA.

If you've used less than a pound of dichlor then you should be in the first target band(0-10). When you've used about a pound of dichlor, start targeting the second band(10-20) and when you're into your third pound, move to the third band(30-50).

Switch back to chlorinating with bleach once you've reached your CYA target.

Be sure to keep an eye on pH as dichlor will cause it to fall (add Borax when it gets to 7.0).

Note: Dichlor is widely being sold with other chemicals mixed in. Be careful to avoid buying dichlor that is not 99% sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione. We know that unadulterated dichlor is available at Sams Club in a 24lb pack of 1# bags of 100% dichlor shock, from Amazon: Kem-Tek Dichlor 22 lbs, and I've purchased 99% dichlor at my local Leslies in 1lb packs of Chlor-Brite. If you do go to a pool store, don't let them talk you into anything else (except maybe floaty toys).

Be aware, we have seen chlorinating pool chemicals sold at Walmart, Kmart, Costco, and many other local stores that are diluted blends, sometimes with copper and other products with bad side-effects.