Starter Bundle Guide
Just got a pool? This is your step-by-step guide to the Water TechniX Starter Bundle. What's in the box, what each chemical does, and exactly what to do first. Welcome to pool ownership. It's simpler than it looks.
📋 What's in the box
Your bundle contains 7 items. Everything you need for balanced, clear, swim-safe water. Plus free test strips with your first order.
Stops algae before it starts. One weekly maintenance dose is all you need.
7-in-1 strips. Test chlorine, pH, alkalinity, stabiliser, and hardness in seconds.
Pool Basics 101
The four things every pool owner should understand. Master these and you'll never feel lost.
🧪 A. Water balance: the key readings that matter
Your pool has three key readings you care about every week: chlorine (sanitises and kills bacteria), pH (comfort and chlorine efficiency), and alkalinity (stability, it stops pH from swinging). Test weekly with your free strips. Dose from your bundle as needed. Everything else, like calcium and stabiliser, you check monthly.
| Parameter | Target Range | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Free Chlorine | 1.0 to 3.0 ppm | Primary sanitiser. Kills bacteria and viruses. |
| Combined Chlorine | Less than 0.2 ppm | Spent chlorine. High levels cause that "chlorine smell" and eye irritation. If it's above 0.5 ppm, shock the pool. |
| pH | 7.2 to 7.6 | Comfort, chlorine efficiency, and equipment protection. Too high means chlorine stops working. Too low means corrosive water. |
| Total Alkalinity | 80 to 120 ppm | Stabilises pH. Think of it as pH's shock absorber. |
| Calcium Hardness | Fibreglass: 150 to 250 ppm Concrete: 200 to 400 ppm |
Prevents corrosion and scaling. Too low means water becomes aggressive and leaches calcium from surfaces. Too high means scale buildup. |
| Cyanuric Acid (Stabiliser) | 30 to 50 ppm | Protects chlorine from UV degradation. Too high reduces chlorine effectiveness. |
💧 B. Water clarity: why it goes cloudy
Cloudy water usually means one of two things: chemistry is off (fix with the bundle) or the filter isn't catching fine particles (fix with clarifier). Your bundle's Clarifier 1L handles the second one in a single dose. If you can't see the bottom, address chemistry first, then use clarifier. Run your pump for at least 8 hours a day. Stagnant water goes cloudy fast.
✓ Included in your bundle: 1L of Clarifier for cloudy water rescue
🔧 C. Filter and equipment care
Your pump circulates water through your filter. If the pump is off, chemicals sit still and nothing works. If the filter is dirty, water can't circulate properly. Rinse your filter cartridge with a hose once a month. Replace when it looks damaged (usually 12 to 18 months). For a deeper clean, use a filter cleaner every few months.
🧹 D. Cleaning tools
Chemicals handle the water. Tools handle the physical cleaning. A leaf net skims the surface, a pool brush scrubs the walls, and a vacuum handles the floor. Brush walls weekly to prevent algae attachment. Algae can't grow on surfaces that are regularly brushed. The all-in-one Handover Kit (sold separately) has everything you need in one bundle.
Before you add anything, you need to know what your water needs. Your free test strips tell you exactly that. Grab one strip and follow these steps:
Dip the strip
Submerge the strip in your pool water (about elbow-deep) for a few seconds. Pull it out. Don't shake off the water.
Wait 15 seconds
Hold the strip horizontal. The pads will change colour. Don't let the pads touch each other.
Compare to the chart
Hold the strip against the colour chart on the bottle. Match the pad colours to the closest shade. Write down your readings for chlorine, pH, alkalinity, stabiliser (CYA), and hardness.
Your target numbers at a glance:
| Reading | Target Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free Chlorine | 1.0 to 3.0 ppm | Primary sanitiser. Test weekly and top up as needed. |
| Combined Chlorine | Less than 0.2 ppm | If it creeps above 0.5 ppm, the pool needs shocking (oxi shock or chlorine shock). |
| pH | 7.2 to 7.6 | High pH means chlorine becomes much less effective. Low pH means corrosive water. |
| Total Alkalinity | 80 to 120 ppm | The buffer that stabilises pH. Fix this before adjusting pH. |
| Calcium Hardness | 150 to 250 ppm (fibreglass) 200 to 400 ppm (concrete) |
Too low means water eats your pool surface. Too high means scale on everything. |
| Stabiliser (CYA) | 30 to 50 ppm | Protects chlorine from sun. Too much reduces chlorine effectiveness. Test monthly. |
Balance comes before sanitation. If your pH and alkalinity are wrong, your chlorine won't work properly. Fix these four things in this exact order:
How to apply: Pre-dissolve in a bucket of pool water. Pour around the pool edge with the pump running. Never throw granules directly into the pool.
How to apply: Pre-dissolve in a bucket. Pour around the edge with the pump running. Go slow. It's easier to add more than to fix an overshoot. Always dilute where recommended and circulate thoroughly.
⚠️ This chemical gets hot when mixed with water. Use a stirrer or paddle. Never mix with bare hands. Pre-dissolve in a bucket first.
Do not backwash for 48 hours after adding stabiliser. It dissolves slowly over several days. Don't add more until you've retested. Stabiliser doesn't dissipate.
Now that your water is balanced, add chlorine to kill bacteria and keep the water safe. Your bundle contains stabilised chlorine (Dichlor granules), which has UV protection built in. Every pool needs a sanitiser. This is your primary defence against bacteria and viruses.
How to apply: Pre-dissolve in a bucket of pool water. Pour slowly around the pool edge with the pump running. Add in the evening so chlorine works overnight without UV loss. Never throw granules directly into the pool. They can settle and bleach the surface.
The final step in your setup. Clarifier keeps your water crystal clear by helping your filter catch fine particles. Algaecide stops algae before it can take hold. Both are simple weekly additions.
If water is severely cloudy and you can't see the bottom, you may need floc (sold separately) instead of clarifier. Clarifier is for maintenance. Floc is for severe cloudiness.
💡 Prevention is far easier than cure. A weekly algaecide dose is your cheapest insurance against a green pool. If your pool does go green, algaecide alone won't fix it. You'll need a chlorine shock treatment and brushing.
Once your water is set up, maintenance is simple and predictable. Here's what to do every week and every month to keep your pool clean, clear, and swim-ready.
📅 Weekly Checklist
- Test chlorine (target: 1.0 to 3.0 ppm)
- Test pH (target: 7.2 to 7.6)
- Test alkalinity (target: 80 to 120 ppm)
- Empty skimmer basket
- Empty pump basket
- Check chlorinator operation (if salt pool)
- Brush walls and floor
- Vacuum or run cleaner
- Inspect equipment for leaks
- Add algaecide maintenance dose
📆 Monthly Checklist
- Clean filter (rinse cartridge or backwash)
- Inspect chlorinator cell for scale
- Test stabiliser (CYA), target: 30 to 50 ppm
- Test calcium hardness
- Check salt or mineral level (if applicable)
- Inspect O-rings and equipment seals
- Deep clean filter with filter cleaner (every 3 months)
🧤 Always wear gloves and eye protection when handling pool chemicals. Even mild chemicals can irritate skin and eyes.
⚗️ Never mix chemicals. Add each chemical separately to the pool, at least 30 minutes apart with the pump running. Mixing chemicals, especially chlorine and acid, produces toxic gas.
💧 Always add chemicals to water, never water to chemicals. This is especially critical with acid products. Adding water to concentrated chemicals can cause violent reactions. Always dilute where recommended and circulate thoroughly.
📦 Store chemicals separately. Keep chlorine products away from acid products. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Keep out of reach of children. Keep lids tightly sealed.
🌊 Pre-dissolve granular chemicals in a bucket of pool water before adding to the pool. Never throw granules directly into the pool. They can settle on the surface and cause damage. Never add salt directly into the skimmer.
⏱️ Add chemicals with the pump running to ensure rapid dilution and distribution. Run the pump for at least 2 hours after adding most chemicals.
📝 Test before you treat. Always test your water before adding any chemical. Guessing leads to over-dosing, unbalanced water, and wasted product.
📞 Emergency: Poisons Information 13 11 26. If chemicals contact eyes, rinse thoroughly for 15 minutes and seek medical attention.
🧪 New Pool Owner FAQs
Not at all. This guide walks you through exactly what to do. Most first-timers finish the setup in about 15 minutes. Your bundle comes with step-by-step instructions emailed on delivery. And if you get stuck, our support team is a phone call away at 1300 511 901. While water chemistry can seem daunting at first, it's not overly complex. Once you've done it a few times, it becomes second nature.
For an average 40,000 to 60,000 litre pool used regularly, this bundle covers you for approximately 2 months of balanced water. Larger pools or heavier use will go through it faster. Smaller pools will get even more mileage. The chlorine and algaecide are typically the first items to run out. Reorder those as needed. Stabiliser and calcium last much longer as they don't need frequent topping up.
1. Alkalinity Up first. It's your foundation and stabilises pH. 2. pH Down if needed. 3. Calcium Up if needed. 4. Stabiliser if needed. 5. Chlorine last. Sanitation comes after balance. Then 6. Clarifier and Algaecide as weekly maintenance. Always wait at least 30 minutes between each chemical with the pump running. Test before you add anything. Don't guess.
Used correctly, no. This bundle is formulated for all pool types and surfaces including concrete, fibreglass, vinyl, saltwater, and chlorine pools. The key is to always pre-dissolve granular chemicals in a bucket of water before adding them to the pool. Never throw granules directly onto the pool surface. This can cause localised bleaching or staining. Follow the dosage instructions and you'll be fine. All products are Australian made and safe when used as directed.
For most balancing chemicals (alkalinity, pH, calcium), wait 2 to 4 hours with the pump running. For chlorine, wait until the level is 1.0 to 3.0 ppm. Test before swimming. For clarifier and algaecide, check the product label (most allow swimming shortly after). As a rule of thumb: if you've just added chlorine, wait 4 hours and test before getting in. When in doubt, test first.
A green pool means algae has taken hold. Algaecide alone won't fix an active algae bloom. You'll need to shock the pool with a high dose of chlorine. Brush the walls and floor vigorously (this breaks up the algae so chlorine can reach it), shock the pool with chlorine, run the pump continuously for 24 to 48 hours, and the green will clear. Prevention with weekly algaecide is far easier than the cure. If algae problems persist, check your phosphate levels. Phosphates are algae food and may need a phosphate remover.
Yes, with one important note. Salt pools produce their own chlorine, so you may not need the stabilised chlorine in this bundle for daily sanitation. However, the balancing chemicals (alkalinity up, pH down, calcium up, stabiliser, clarifier, and algaecide) are all compatible and essential for salt pools. The stabilised chlorine is still useful as a backup or for shock treatments. Important: Do not use calcium hypochlorite (cal-hypo) in a salt pool. It will damage the salt cell. Liquid chlorine is the only option if you need unstabilised chlorine. If you have a magnesium or mineral pool, the same advice applies. These chemicals are all compatible.
📱 1300 511 901 | ✉️ support@mrpoolman.com.au
💬 Live chat. Average reply under 2 hours
🧪 Ready to get started?
The Water TechniX Starter Bundle has everything you need. Free shipping, 30-day money back, no subscription.
© Mr Pool Man. New Pool Owner Starter Bundle Guide. Always read product labels and test water before adding chemicals. Store chemicals safely out of reach of children.