Trying to open pool

[Watermom]

You do need to raise your alk. We suggest 80-125. You can just buy baking soda at the Walmart. It is cheap and is all you need to raise alk. You are also correct that you do NOT need to add the calcium in a vinyl pool. Instead of using super shock, why not just use plain, unscented bleach for your chlorine? It is all that many of us use and it will not cloud your water. I also have a 24 ft AG and typically I just add about 2 quarts of 6% bleach each evening and I never have cloudy water issues. Also, with a cya reading of 65, you need to be keeping your chlorine higher or you are going to have a green pool in no time. See the "best guess" chart at the top of the chlorine forum for the correlation between cya and needed chlorine levels. One other thing -- your ph is a little low. Add a cup or two of 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle at Walmart) to the skimmer while the pump is running, breaking up any clumps. Wait a few hours to let it circulate, then retest and redose until your ph is between 7.4-7.6. Hope this helps.

PS - I hope you didn't already buy all that stuff from the pool store! If you did, take it back.

[Bekka]

Thanks Watermom ; ) No I didn't buy this stuff yet. I was waiting to hear about the more cost effective means of dealing with the test results. I don't have the ultra pool test kit yet. Hopefully, I can spring for one in the upcoming months. I can do a pH reading with my pH meter, but all other tests have to be taken to the pool shop for the test results for now. I appreciate your advice.
Bekka

[RavenNS]

I don't know if your walmart sells bulk items, but try looking around at some bulk suplliers for the baking soda
I was able to get a 35KG bag of food grade baking soda from my hottub store for about $40 after taxes!

[Bekka]

I'm learning a lot of chemistry here LOL, Let me see if I have this straight:
Baking Soda [Sodium Bicarbonate] to raise Total Alkalinity not pH per say
Borax [Sodium Borate] to raise pH only; on the side doesn't borax act as a water softener as well?
Chlorine Bleach [sodium. hypochlorite] to raise Chlorine and FC without raising CYA
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda [Sodium Carbonate aka pH Up & Washing Soda] to raise pH & TA
Is this correct????
Bekka