Need help with chlorine. I'm a newby

[stormbean]

Watermom... A big thanks. Added some bleach this morning and will do so again this evening. I am going to take a risk at sounding REALLY stupid but here is goes... How do I get a stabalizer reading? I have a test kit that tests for Bromine, Chlorine, Ph & alkalidity. What else (other than Trichlor can I use to add stabilizer)

[CarlD]

It's not a stupid question. It's a good question. OTO test kits test for chlorine/bromine (you have no bromine, that's for people who use bromine instead of chlorine) and pH.
There are basically 3 ways to test for Stabilizer, AKA, "CYA" for Cyanuric Acid"
1) Take a sample to a pool store.
2) Some of the more expensive strips by Hach and LaMotte have a CYA test pad, but aren't very accurate.
3) Get a CYA test. Most pool stores don't sell them but some do. Better still, go to Watermom's Sig and click on the link to test kits. Order the Taylor K-2006 or K-2006c test kit from Amato (it helps support PF a little). That has the CYA test. The classic CYA test is the "Black Dot" test: You pour treated pool water into a vial with a black dot at the bottom. The chem makes the pool water cloudy. When the black dot cannot be seen from the top of the vial, it will show a CYA level on the side of the vial.

Carl

[aylad]

What else (other than Trichlor can I use to add stabilizer)

You can also add stabilizer via dichlor (granulated chlorine is usually either cal-hypo or dichlor, and is usually what people refer to as "shock"--if you use the dichlor, be very aware of your pH because it is very acidic like trichlor it) or you can just add stabilizer by itself--it's usually labeled conditioner, balancer, or stabilizer--but if you'll look at the label, the active ingredient should be cyanuric or isocyanuric acid.