NJPools.club Community

Welcome to pool ownership! As a health enthusiast, I always prioritize balance. For your vinyl liner, **test your water first** with a reliable kit. If alkalinity is too low (below 80 ppm), adjust it with baking soda before adding chlorine. Unbalanced alkalinity can cause pH swings that damage liners and reduce chlorine effectiveness. Start with alkalinity, then pH, then chlorine—think of it as laying a foundation for healthy water!

Hey there! As someone who works remotely, I’ve had time to research this. **Alkalinity first, absolutely.** I learned this the hard way when I added chlorine first on my old pool—it made the pH erratic and the liner faded faster. Use sodium bicarbonate to raise alkalinity to 80-120 ppm, wait a few hours, then add chlorine. Vinyl liners are forgiving, but order matters for long-term care. Happy swimming!

Night shift worker here—I feel your overwhelm! When I filled my pool last year, I called a pro at 3 AM (they weren’t thrilled, haha). They said: **1) Test alkalinity/pH, 2) Adjust alkalinity if needed, 3) Balance pH, 4) Add chlorine.** Why? Low alkalinity makes pH bounce around, and chlorine won’t work right if pH is off. Take it slow; vinyl liners aren’t as fragile as people think, but consistency is key.

Tech gadget lover reporting! I automated my pool with a smart monitor, and data doesn’t lie. **Alkalinity before chlorine, every time.** Here’s why: alkalinity stabilizes pH (aim for 100-150 ppm for vinyl). If pH is unstable, chlorine dissipates faster—wasting money and risking algae. Use a digital tester, add alkalinity increaser, wait 4-6 hours, retest, then add chlorine. Pro tip: Liquid chlorine is gentler on vinyl than tablets. You’ve got this!