Newbie starting up a brand new concrete pool

[MoebiusStreet]

My new swimming pool should have completed construction in another two weeks or so, and I'm trying to learn ahead of time what mistakes not to make. There are lots of tips here on what to do to start up your pool at the end of the winter, but I haven't seen any instructions on how to get a brand new pool running right.

So that's my question: what does an ignoramus need to know to get a new pool off on the right foot?

I'm tempted to say "I'll just go with the expensive pool store help until everything is rolling smoothly, and then start the BBB thing". Since I have no experience of my own, they're probably more likely to get me to a workable jumping off point than if I try to figure it out myself.

I'm not sure what facts are relevant at this point. The pool is (or will be) in Austin, TX; gunite and plaster construction; about 15000 gallons; with SWCG and variable-speed pump. It will be filled from our city water, which is rather hard (about 315 grains, the city says). There also seems to be a lot of dissolved minerals - even in the bathtub the water has a faint emerald tint.

[BigDave]

To protect your warranty, you are going to have to follow the pool builder's maintenance plan. Get it in writing and be sure it includes all your obligations and how you will prove you're meeting them.
Consider video recording your "Pool School" - the meeting where your builder goes over the operation of all your pool's systems.
Buy a Taylor K-2006 or K-2006C and a K-1000 test kit (use the links in PoolDoc's or Watermom's sigs). Learn to test your own water while you are having the poolstore test for the warranty obligation. Compare your results. Get in the habit of testing daily.
Read all you can here and on PoolSolutions.com.
Don't engage the pool builder in discussions about BBB - there's no good to come of it.
By the end of your warranty period, you'll have a really good feel for how your pool works and stepping into BBB will be easy.

Have fun!
Congratulations on your new pool.

[CarlD]

To add to Dave's advice: Much of your builder's instructions will be about how to cure your pool's walls, which can take 6 weeks or more. For the warranty, you need to follow those instructions and therefore any problems with the walls will be covered.

Key items you'll probably be told to concentrate on will be pH, calcium levels, CYA(stabilizer) and T/A (Total Alkalinity). pH will probably be constantly rising as it cures so adding lots of acid will be expected.

[PoolDoc]

membership updated . . . welcome!