Pool is filled, now what do I do?

[PoolDoc]

To go on vacation, given your situation:

1. Insert your Aqua Smarte chlorine packs now -- don't wait for the chlorine to go down.
2. Lower the pH to 7.2 -- your high TA will cause it to rise slowly.
3. Purchase 15 gallons of plain 6% household bleach, and store it in a cool place accessible to your pool caretaker.
4. Run your pump on low for 1 day, to make sure everything works OK, then turn it to high, and leave it there till ready to go.
5. Before leaving, turn the pump to low, and the tablet feeder to a low setting.
6. Instruct your pool caretaker to add 1/2 gallon of bleach every EVENING -- NOT morning!
7. Instruct him/her to feel the pool surface under the water -- if it feels the slightest bit slimy, add a FULL GALLON more.

That's it.

[CrazyKittyLady]

Thank you for the vacation advice. I followed it and just returned home to a crystal clear pool that needs to be vacuumed. However, my house sitter didn't put in any bleach for the past 2 days and the Aqua Smarte pack ran out, so my chlorine reading is way down for the first time this week The Taylor K-2006 kit came while I was gone, so I ran the tests this afternoon and this is what I got:

FC=.6ppm
CC=0ppm
pH=8.0 (5 drops of R0005 brought the sample to 7.4)
TA=240ppm
Calcium=270ppm
CYA= <30ppm (I had to fill the tube all the way to the top to make the black dot disappear and there is no number up that far)

I am ready to get this pool balanced and swim! Any help would be greatly appreciated -- i.e.: what to worry about first? chlorine? pH?

Thanks,
Ashley

[Watermom]

Go ahead and get some bleach in there before the pool turns green. Then, you can add a little muriatic acid to drop the pH some.