Anxiously waiting

[newtopools]

I don't have my pool set up yet. I'm waiting to hear from the installer. It is a 33' by 52". Anyway, I have searched the forum and read everything I can. My ? is, What should I expect when I first get my pool up. I have ordered the Kit from this site and hope I recieve it on time. I'm assumming that I will need to add chlorine right away. As well as put some trichlor in. Also, I have never had a pool and am not sure what backwashing is. Any info for a pool dummy would be appreciated. I have a copy of the post on the basics of pool chemistry as well as an assortment of other imp. info that has been posted. Thanks Sharon

[JohnT]

I don't have my pool set up yet. I'm waiting to hear from the installer. It is a 33' by 52". Anyway, I have searched the forum and read everything I can. My ? is, What should I expect when I first get my pool up. I have ordered the Kit from this site and hope I recieve it on time. I'm assumming that I will need to add chlorine right away. As well as put some trichlor in. Also, I have never had a pool and am not sure what backwashing is. Any info for a pool dummy would be appreciated. I have a copy of the post on the basics of pool chemistry as well as an assortment of other imp. info that has been posted. Thanks Sharon

Trichlor is a form of chlorine, so you don't need both. Backwashing is running water backwards through the system to clean the filter media. It doesn't apply to all filters though.

Post some details about your filtration and your fill water source for better advice. A test of your fill water ahead of time would help plan for what kind of pH issues you might have so you could have the chemicals on hand.

If your installer gives you any advice just smile and ask here before following it. Don't let them add algaecide or stabilizer.

[newtopools]

Thanks for your reply. I have well water and I have read to have it tested. Could I trust the pool store results? Where else can you have water tested? The filter system is BaquaPure 2600 filtration. 7 way multi-port valve, 200 lb sand media,26" baquashield filter. leisure tab 14lb.pool breeze shock treat and super pool breeze copper algicide. Also a 2.5 dual speed pump. the low setting is 1/2 horse power. I have learnt alot, but withour putting it into practice yet I am gettting chemicals confused. It was suppose to come with a baquacil start up kit, but I said no and was able to get other fun things instead. I think I did the right thing. Sharon

[JohnT]

You can buy a kit for about 15 dollars at Walmart that will get you going, but you need to know what kind of metals you might have in your well water. I would take a sample in to a pool store for their results AND get your own. You will need to test chlorine and pH daily for a while. Ben's kit is great, but you won't be able to get one quickly enough to get you started.

Don't put the copper in the water. It works, but can cause problems. Most people think chlorine is the source of green hair, but it is the copper. It can also stain your liner.

Well water tends to be a little harder to get right, but it just takes patience. The key to pool maintenance is patience, and it's not found in a bucket at the pool store.

Most people who work in pool stores at the counter have never taken care of a pool. Virtually everybody here has taken care of at least one. I know where I go for advice.:)

A tablet chlorinator will be fine at first, but the tablets contain CYA (stabilizer) which can cause problems at higher levels.

[newtopools]

Thanks again. I am so excited about getting this pool. I'm just waiting to hear when. I've never noticed any iorn in my water. I had a fish tank that stayed glowing green so after reading another post I'm thinking I may have copper. Any other advise would be welcome. I do have a friend that has a pool and I think I'll check to see if she can test for metals. Thanks again for your time. Sharon

[newtopools]

Finally, the guys that do the ground work will be here tommorrow. I did have my water tested and I have a ph of 6.6. That's all they could tell me. I have not been able to have my water tested for other metals yet. I believe, from what I have thus far learned, that I will need to add baking soda to raise my ph. How much should I add? Thanks, I hope I get my test kit soon. Sharon

[aylad]

You use Borax, not baking soda, to raise pH. Search through the forum for mwsmith2's posts-he has a link in his sig to a bleach calculator that will also perform other calcs for you.

Janet

[newtopools]

Thank You. I don't know how I came up with Baking soda. I'm so excited , I'll post about my chemicals as soon as I can. Thanks, Sharon

[aylad]

You use baking soda to raise total alkalinity, and Borax to raise pH. Read through the sticky that Watermom posted at this link http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=1113
and that may help clear some of it up.

Janet

[newtopools]

I am having my pool put in today. I have the bleach calculator but I'm having trouble figuring it out. Can someone help my figure it out? Should I add borax as it fills? Should I use the tabs just at first to get some cya in the pool? Thanks,I hope I don't sound like a complete dummy. Thanks, Sharon

[JohnT]

I am having my pool put in today. I have the bleach calculator but I'm having trouble figuring it out. Can someone help my figure it out? Should I add borax as it fills? Should I use the tabs just at first to get some cya in the pool? Thanks,I hope I don't sound like a complete dummy. Thanks, Sharon

Don't add anything but chlorine, and maybe CYA until you have test results on your fill water.

[newtopools]

My pool is filling and it's about 6" up. I have about 40 or more inches to go. It may take a few days. I had the water tested. No metals.
Ph - 6.6
Alk -10
Fc-0
tc-0
cc-0
Cal Hardness-5
saturation index -2.03

I haven't added anything yet. Should I wait till the pool if full to add anything? I think I have what ever I may need. Thanks for the help.
Sharon

[tundraSQ]

I am having my pool put in today. I have the bleach calculator but I'm having trouble figuring it out. Can someone help my figure it out? Should I add borax as it fills? Should I use the tabs just at first to get some cya in the pool? Thanks,I hope I don't sound like a complete dummy. Thanks, Sharon


relax...and take a deep breath here....:) I would not add anything until the pool is actually full and the filter is running. Then post your numbers and people will be here to help you plot a course. I wonder about filling your pool with the well though...I have a well and would never think of using it to fill my pool, because I wuld not want the wear and tear on my well pump. I have my local fire dept fill mine from the town water supply....26k gallons for a $300 donation. FWIW In the mean time you might want to have a couple other places test your water....just because the PH and Alk numbers are REALLY low....and it would be a bummer to treat those numbers if in fact they were not acurate.

[newtopools]

Well we just couldn't wait. We had our first swim as we put in the steps. It is wonderful. The pool is huge. It is about 2 feet of water so far. I will be getting the electric set up to run everything on Saturday. I hope my water doesn't get messy befor I get my pump and chemicals going. I'm so excited. I will post my water test results when my pump is running. Sharon