Opening Pool Chemistry Checklist

Start by cleaning and circulating water to a full pool level, then test and adjust in this order: debris removal → circulation → alkalinity → pH → sanitizer/CYA → shock only if needed for clarity or algae.

Checklist

• Remove cover; skim; vacuum to waste if heavy sediment
• Fill to normal level; start pump and filter
• Brush walls and floor; clean baskets
• Balance pH (target 7.2–7.6)
• Adjust alkalinity (80–120 ppm typical)
• Add chlorine to reach 1–3 ppm FC (or label range)
• Address CYA if outdoor pool and low
• Shock if water is cloudy, green, or CC is high

Step-by-step sections

Day 1: Mechanical cleanup beats chemistry—get water moving and filtered. Day 2–3: Fine-tune balance; don’t stack every chemical in hour one unless label allows.

If you see green water, use green pool chlorine guidance alongside filtration.

Common mistakes

• Dumping shock before knowing volume or current FC
• Ignoring CYA context on outdoor pools
• Short-circuiting filter run time during cleanup

Calculators

Pool volume · Chlorine · pH · Shock