New Pool Owner!

[Cindi]

Hi from Western North Carolina,
I am a new pool owner. I have a Blue Hawaiian Fiberglass Pool (12,000 gallons), Jandy AquaPure EI Pool Salt Chlorine Generator and a Sand Filter (forget the brand). I want to keep my costs down so am trying to educate myself so I can do the upkeep rather than hire someone. Everything is new to me so I'm a sponge for any and all information and advice. The water is too cold to swim now but I enjoy looking at the pool for now.

Cindi

[Watermom]

Hi Cindi and welcome to the Pool Forum! Now it is time to do your homework. Read through a lot of the posts on the forum, especially the stickied threads at the top of some of the sub-forums. Also read at our sister website www.poolsolutions.com. Then, come back with here with any questions you have.

Also, order yourself a good test kit. We recommend the Taylor K-2006 or 2006C that you can get through the Amazon link in my signature below. Only order if the seller is Amato Industries as some other sellers have sent the K-2005 kit instead which you do not want.

Hope you enjoy the forum!

[PoolDoc]

Hi Cindi;

A new pool tends to be daunting, at first. But it gets easier, and we can help make it just plain easy. A couple of things will help you get started.

1. If possible, have your builder or installer open it for you, and show you how to operate all the equipment. Take notes and/or video.

2. Get the testkits you need. You'll need an OTO/phenol red kit for daily testing, like the K-1000. You'll need a K-2006, NOT a K-2005, with DPD-FAS testing for periodic use. And, it's helpful, but not essential, to have the Aqua-Chek salt strips.


Taylor K-1000 or equivalent (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002NSRD5C/poolbooks)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CHy5nWRiLzg/T3tGd9C7ycI/AAAAAAAACE0/3fc0paVdJ6Q/s800/Taylor-K1000-trimmed.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002NSRD5C/poolbooks)



Taylor K-2006 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002IXIIG/poolbooks) -- OR -- Taylor K-2006-C (3x as many tests for about 50% more) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002IXIJ0/poolbooks)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DmeMdxjqByQ/T4TZVM0TKCI/AAAAAAAACQY/-sF0k_LFfPE/s288/K_2006A.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002IXIIG/poolbooks) -- https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-elQyQTPK4uo/T4TZU9uZedI/AAAAAAAACQU/T_XuN0T5ypA/s288/K_2006C.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002IXIJ0/poolbooks)



Aqua-Chek Titrator strips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002OLP1L6/poolbooks)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Pq_R1DIY04o/T4TbUiEOm5I/AAAAAAAACRE/nWx-28XjM1c/s288/Aqua-Chek%2520561140A_SALT_TITRATORS.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002OLP1L6/poolbooks)

It's important to note that you can get a local OTO get that will be almost as good as the K-1000, but with the other kits, you'll need to get EXACTLY the kit shown, and you can usually only find them online. The links go to Amazon, but you can buy elsewhere if you prefer. Just be careful to get precisely what's shown here.