Water Chemistry

Reading:  80-120.  Alkalinity stabilizes the PH.  This should be the first adjustment to the water.

Reading:  7.2 - 7.8.  Low PH can cause corrosion.  High PH can cause scaling.

Reading:  2.0 - 5.0.  Yes, you need to get a reading on both Chlorines.  When you smell chlorine or the water irritates your skin and eyes, it does not necessarily mean that the chlorine level is too high; but it does mean that your free and total chlorine levels are out of balance.  Add a tablet dissolving chlorinator to your pool equipment to maintain a balanced level of chlorine throughout the day.  Or for the larger pools, consider a salt generator for the same purpose.

Reading:  30 - 50.  This will stabilize the chlorine levels.

Reading:  200 - 400.  Low levels can damage the plaster and equipment.

Reading:  0.  Phosphates are food for algae.