What do I think you should do? Well, first that pool store isn't going to help you! You have been "Pool-Stored!" (and we all have been).

BTW, how many gallons is your pool and is it vinyl or concrete?

What we know is your CYA is SO high that unless you raise your chlorine levels very high you'll get algae. You CAN maintain a pool that way, but for newbies, it's MUCH easier to simply drain off half your water and refill---that will lower CYA to 50, which is more manageable.

Next: Do NOT use pucks or powdered chlorine unless it says "Cal-Hypo" or "Calcium Hypochlorite" (something like that--Calcium Chlorine is the key). The pucks are "Tri-Chlor" and the powder is "Di-Chlor". Both RAISE CYA (and yours is too high) and LOWER pH--and yours is too low. Cal-Hypo is OK because your calcium level is extremely low. If your pool is vinyl, that's not a problem. But if it's concrete or plaster you will need more calcium and the Cal-Hypo is ideal for adding it.


pH Up! is just a very expensive version of Arm&Hammer Washing Soda (in the yellow box in the detergent section). Same chemical. But it's not a good choice as it raises TA and yours is, at 120, high enough.

Instead, you should use 20 Mule Team Borax (may be on the shelf next to the Washing Soda!) and add THAT to raise your ph--your first goal.

All you need right now is Borax and lots of plain, unscented bleach and Cal-Hypo powder (if you have a concrete pool).

OK: to recap:

1) STOP with all the pool store stuff. They will empty your wallet and fill your ear with gibberish, but NOT fix your pool. Most of that stuff is garbage or expensive. You CAN list for us what you have and we can tell you what you can use--list ingredients as the names they stick on are less than useful.

2) get us your pool's size and liner type.

3) Dump half your water and refill. Sorry, but you gotta do this.

4) Increase your pH using ONLY 20 Mule Team Borax. Add 1/2 box to the skimmer, wait an hour, test pH, then add more.

5) When pH is good, you can start adding chlorine. I'd start by raising FC to 15ppm using bleach. 1 gallon of 6% bleach adds 6ppm to 10,000 gallons of water. Adjust accordingly to get your pool to 15ppm. That's ASSUMING you've drained and refilled and your CYA is now 50ppm. If it's higher, raise your FC to 20ppm.

6) Check pH and FC 3x a day and adjust as needed--beware: At higher FC levels your pH will look high...that's OK for now.

7) If you have a concrete pool, start adjusting your chlorine with the cal-hypo.

And report back test numbers. When your pool can hold the shock level and is clear, you can let chlorine drop down to maintenance levels: between 3 and 6ppm (again, if CYA is 50 or less, 5-10 if it's above 50).

Good luck!