Newbie in the California Desert

[PoolDoc]

It's possible the pool needed to be dumped. It's equally possible that you've just been 'pool-stored'.

When you get your K2006, test your pool . . . and then test the pH, alk, and calcium hardness of your fill water. Report those values.

There's a guide to using muriatic acid in my blue signature block.

[Mushki]

So my kit was delivered today but it was all trashed inside. Powder everywhere so I had to send it back.
Should I be trying to get my stabilizer levels up?

[PoolDoc]

If you haven't already sent it back, test the CYA levels first.

But in general:

=> If you have CYA < 20 ppm, you'll lose all your chlorine in a single day of sun -- regardless of your pool's chlorine level.
=> If you have CYA > 100 ppm, it will take several days for chlorine to drop noticeably -- unless you have algae or high swimmer load.