NJPools.club Community

**BREATHE!** I’m on night shift, so I’m up. First, don’t panic—you haven’t ruined anything yet. With Arizona’s hard water, you need to address calcium and pH immediately. Get a good test kit or strips NOW. You’ll likely need to add a sequestering agent to prevent scale from the hard water, and adjust pH with muriatic acid or soda ash based on your reading. Chlorine (liquid or tablets) is next, but balance pH first or the chlorine won’t work right. I keep a logbook by my pool—track everything!

**Agree with Pete on testing first!** But as a CrossFit junkie, I treat my pool like my body—optimize, don’t just react. For a fresh fill in that heat, you need **stabilizer (cyanuric acid)** ASAP to protect chlorine from UV burn-off. Also, with hard water, consider a **phosphate remover** to prevent algae food from building up. I use a digital tester for precision. And hydrate yourself while you’re at it—Arizona sun is no joke!

**Marathon runner here—pace yourself!** Pete’s right about testing, but don’t dump everything in at once. In this heat, chlorine demand is high, so start with **liquid chlorine** (it works fast) and add stabilizer separately. Hard water means watch your calcium hardness—keep it in range to avoid scaling. I’d recommend a **shock treatment** initially to nuke any contaminants, then maintain. And yeah, drink water—dehydration affects pool focus too!

**Skeptical mom voice:** Everyone’s overcomplicating this! New pool owner in panic mode doesn’t need a chemistry degree. **Call your pool builder or a local pro TODAY**—they often give free startup advice. In the meantime, yes, test pH and add chlorine (tablets in a floater are fine for now). But with kids/pets, avoid adding a bunch of chemicals blindly. Hard water? A sequestering agent is smart, but get guidance. Don’t let the internet scare you into over-treating!

**Pete again—quick update:** Kevin’s shock idea is solid for a fresh fill, but wait until pH is balanced (7.2-7.6) or it’s less effective. And SplashKing, phosphates matter, but they’re a secondary concern day one. OP, prioritize: 1) Test pH/alkalinity/hardness, 2) Adjust pH if needed, 3) Add sequestering agent for hard water, 4) Chlorine (liquid or tabs) and stabilizer. Do it in steps, retesting between. You’ve got this!

**Fine, Pete’s steps are practical.** But long-term, invest in a **saltwater system**—less chemical hassle in hard water areas. For now, if you use tabs, they add stabilizer slowly, which helps. And OP, avoid cheap test strips; get a Taylor kit for accuracy. Remember, a pool is like a workout: consistency beats intensity. Test daily at first, especially in that heat. You’re not ruining anything if you act methodically!