Hello, New to Forum.

[mcbdz]

Hello, We have recently installed the 22' x 52" intex AG pool. And of course we filled it before finding this site. So, I for see needing lots of help. :O( It came with the Krystal Clear Cartridge Filter Pump with 2,500 gph (110-120V). Will be posting laster for lots of help getting water straight. Took 3 days to fill and didn't add anything. using the hth 6-way strips water test was: TH=100, FC=0, pH=7.8, TA=180, CYA=0. Have floating 1" hth chlorinating tabs. Did add hth super shock tx times 2 bags this morning and test strips were TH=between 100-200, FC 2/4, pH=7.5, TA= close to 240, CYA= close to 0. I have bleach and borax now. It will be Wed before I can get to SAm's and will get the Dechlor. I'm going to stop and not add anything until I can get advice before I really mess up.

[Watermom]

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

Sounds like you have already found our Super Simple Start up Recipe! If not, it is in my signature below. I would also suggest going ahead and ordering yourself a good test kit -- Taylor K2006 or 2006C (better buy). It won't be available locally -- test kit link in my signature.

In the meantime while you wait for your kit, you can get by with a cheap OTO/Phenol Red kit (yellow and red drops). We do not trust test strips or 'guess strips' as we call them! :) Your pH looks good at 7.5. A freshly filled pool without CYA loses chlorine fast. You may find that you need to add some bleach a couple times per day for the first few days so that you keep some chlorine in there. It doesn't take long for a pool with no chlorine to turn green! Once you start using some dichlor (which has chlorine and CYA in it) it will start to get easier to maintain a chlorine reading through the day.

Hope this helps. Let us know any other questions you may have about starting up your pool.

[PoolDoc]

. . . membership updated.

Read these:
http://pool9.net/ssr/
http://pool9.net/tk/

[Pappy]

Read this
http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/above-ground-pool-problems.html

and everything else at PoolSolutions (the sister site). Order some good filters NOW. The Intex cartridges do NOT work well. We tried to use them for 2 summers and were very unhappy with all the "goo" they DID NOT catch.

Enjoy your new pool!

[mcbdz]

Hello, new here and not only trying to get water right but, find where to post.LOL My upgrade got me lost.LOL
Ok, I have 22' x 52" intex metal frame pool with Krystal Clear Cartridge Filter Pump with 2,500 gph (110-120V). None of the good stuff yet. Will order test kit, dichlor and cartridges Friday. Had high pH yesterday and Watermom suggested I get the phenol red and OTO drops from walmart. yesterday was above 8.2 dark pink and the OTO= just yellow about 1-2.With my saltwater test kit that test higher pH it was 8.8 Rained and mostly cloudy yesterday. raining again this morning and cloudy but bright. Added 2c bleach only last night.(DUH<couldn't figure out how to post with my upgraded status) This morning my OTO is yellow 2/4 and the phenol red is lighter pink still 8.2 and my saltwater master kit tested 8.2.
Now just hoping to get on tract and not screw anything else up. kids are dieing to swim between rain breaks.

[Watermom]

I merged your new post from today with the thread you had been using yesterday. It is easy to get lost on the forum when you're new, but you'll learn your way around here! ;)

Until you get the dichlor, you'll probably find that you need to add bleach a couple times per day because without any CYA in there, it will quickly be lost to the sun. For reference, in your pool (approximately 11,400 gallons) each quart of 8.25% bleach will add about 1.8ppm of chlorine. Use that as a reference to help you figure out how much bleach to add.

You should also try and drop your pH a little with some muriatic acid but please read the tab in my signature below about using it safely.

[mcbdz]

Thanks Watermom. I can't get the acid until Friday. Will just add bleach and keep reporting levels until then. Is it safe for the kids to swim?

[Watermom]

Yes, they can swim as long as you have some chlorine in there. The high pH may or may not bother their eyes (probably not) so you might tell them not to open their eyes under water.

[mcbdz]

Yay, it's Friday so I can start getting the stuff I need.

Here is What I have so far on pool chem. OTO=2-4 lighter side. Phenol red= around 7.8. With my master saltwater kit it is reading 7.8 so at least appears to be coming down. I added 2 c bleach during the day yesterday and 2 c last night. Should go to Sam's later to pic up Dichlor. Spray cleaned filter and plan to order taylor lit and filters today.

Vacuumed yesterday Just the cheap vacuum that came with pool but got a lot out. I do have trees in my backyard and the bugs and litter I'm afraid will be a problem. At least the kids help out with netting when they swim. Will pic up some muriatic acid but, should I mess with lowing now or let it come down on it's own? seems like it is dropping slowly.

Thank you for being here and somewhere to turn so hopefully we'll have an enjoyable summer.

[Watermom]

We are glad to help! Your pH is ok at 7.8 for now. If it is coming down on its own, wait a bit before adding the muriatic acid.

[mcbdz]

Good morning.

Ok last night added 1lb of the PoolBrand Quick Dissolving shock. From Sam's club. reads active ingredients: Sodium Dichloro-s-Triazinetrione Hydrated....99%, Other Ingredients.....1%, Total.......100%, Active Chlorine.....55.5%. And put pool cover on since still having lots of rain. Also to help keep bugs and leaves out. Filter running 24hrs.

This mornings readings About 1 hr after cover removed but still overcast. OTO=5/10Dark yellow not orange. Phenol red 7.5 still and with my master kit pH= 7.8. Still waiting on Test kit and filters from Amazon. I think I need to test in a few hours again. Maybe the sun will come out.

Is this way too high to use pool?

I vacuum better in the pool.

[Watermom]

This may help you to decipher the OTO readings until your K2006 arrives: http://pool9.net/oto-chart/

It is fine to swim but if the chlorine is closer to 10 than 5 (since you have little CYA in there yet), I'd suggest wearing old swimsuits. Your pH is fine.

(I vacuum better when in the pool, too. Hard to reach over those high walls! :))

[mcbdz]

Great, thanks watermom. I'm thinking it was closer to the 6 or 5. Checked again around 2pm and a little lighter. Noticed putting the cover on made such a major difference in the debris that i need to find a away to do that every night. Also need a good vacuum. What do ya'll suggest for the intex pools? Thanks for all the help by the way. :O)

[Watermom]

i can't help you with the recommendation for the Intex vacuum but hopefully someone will chime in who has a similar pool and an idea to share.

And, you are welcome! :)

[BigDave]

I used an inexpensive robotic cleaner (cost more than twice what the pool cost). It was great while it lasted. One failed after three seasons, I wrote it off as bad luck and bought another of the same - it only last two seasons. I'm now shopping for a different robot - a Father's Day robot.

[mcbdz]

Not sure a robotic vacuum would work since my bottom isn't smooth. Will need to research more I guess. Ok. Added 1bl dichlor last night. This morning about 1 1/2 hrs after cover removed. pH=7.6, red Phenol= 7.5-7.8. 5-10. dk yellow but not orange. Should I skip a night and see what it reads in the morning?

[Watermom]

Test tonight after the sun is off the pool and see what you have then before deciding to skip or not skip a dose. A lot can happen in a day especially if it is hot and sunny.

[mcbdz]

Ok, I just tested my water again and the OTO= 3/6 and the phenol red= 7.5. Should I skip dosing tonight and retest in the morning?

[Watermom]

I just realized why you have been listing two numbers when reporting your chlorine readings. The OTO tester can be used to measure chlorine and bromine. Just ignore the bromine column.

Tonight, your chlorine reading is 3ppm. (The 6 is in the bromine column -- ignore.)

A chlorine reading of 3ppm is not very high. Go ahead and add more chlorine.

[mcbdz]

Ugh, well I didn't see this until this morning so here's reading 1 hr after top off and sun is now on the pool. OTO=2, red phenol=7.5. Going to go ahead and add dihclor now. Will let you know tonight readings.

[Watermom]

Yeah, it was late when I got back on the forum last night and posted that reply. No big deal. I don't think you have to keep reporting your readings twice a day unless you are unsure about something. Just keep following the SS Recipe and you'll be fine. In case the link has gotten lost in this thread, here it is again: http://pool9.net/ssr/

Have you been able to order a K2006 kit yet? You're soon going to be able to have a way to test your CYA after using the dichlor for awhile.

Keep up the good work! (And, don't forget to go swimming and enjoy your pool! :))

[mcbdz]

Thanks Watermom. Yes ordered the kit and new filters. Waiting for them to come in. My OTO is starting to get a orange to it so I'm sure it is above 5. pH =7.5. I think I will skip tonight but will test to make sure. Could this just be a build up of the used chlorine? I am ready for the K2006 to come in for real. I used those 6 way stick from walmart that I had and it shows the CYA less then 30 but learned it isn't very accurate.

[Watermom]

I had made myself a mental note to pull up this thread and check on you this morning and then lo and behold, when I was in the mod queue a few minutes ago, there was a post from you. You beat me to it. :)

Here is that OTO color chart again to help you decipher those off the scale colors: http://pool9.net/oto-chart/

You are right about the 'guess-strips' and CYA readings. Hopefully, your K2006 will arrive soon so you can get some good accurate readings.

Keep up the good work!

[mcbdz]

Thanks so much. Just checked Amazon and looks like the test kit is still being processed and estimated delivered 6/9 and filters 6/10. Boy are they slow. That sucks. Skipped dichlor last night and this morning OTO =between 3and 5 so 4 i guess and pH= 7.4. Looks like the pH is kid of stable? will recheck OTO tonight. I do have a tree half over the pool and the debris is a big pain in the patootie but, luckily I'm getting it clean enough everyday to not have a swamp. :O). We are getting lots of use so getting our moneys worth :O) thanks again.

[Watermom]

Thanks so much. Just checked Amazon and looks like the test kit is still being processed and estimated delivered 6/9 and filters 6/10. Boy are they slow.
Not if you are an Amazon Prime member. It is $99 per year to join but then, your orders arrive within 2 days with free shipping. My membership pays for itself in no time since shipping charges on orders I place over a year's time are probably much higher than that. Plus, I am not patient; when I order something, I want it yesterday! ;)

[PoolDoc]

Unfortunately, this is peak period for pool product orders. (p-p-phut! My almost evil alliteration affliction has arched its awful head. ;) )

[mcbdz]

OK, finally got my Taylor K-2006 kit in. Here's the results. FC-10, CC-0,pH-7.4, TA-160 and CYA is 70 which really surprised me. OK what do I do know?

[Watermom]

Your numbers look pretty good. Your TA is a little high but shouldn't be an issue. But, if you want to try and drop it a little here are the directions for doing so. http://pool9.net/muriatic/ AND http://pool9.net/alk-step

How does your water look?

[PoolDoc]

With CYA = 70, you probably want to switch to chlorinating mostly with bleach.

[mcbdz]

Watermom, Water looks good but a lot of work because we made the mistake of putting the pool half under a mimosa tree. They are in full bloom right now so I spend 2 hrs every morning vacuuming and skimming the pool. Seriously thinking of cutting the dang tree down.LOL Will try cutting way back first.
PoolDoc, I thought so on my CYA so, will switch to regular bleach now. Thank you for all your help

[PoolDoc]

Water looks good but a lot of work because we made the mistake of putting the pool half under a mimosa tree. They are in full bloom right now.

Grew up with those things -- my late mother came to hate them. They are even worse than 'crap myrtles', which shed SOMETHING 360 days out of 365!

[mcbdz]

Yes they are. I had such fond memories as a child, they are awesome climbing trees and quick shade for area without trees. My dad hated them also and I'm learning why. Still love the smell in the and shade but boy do they shed.LOL I ordered a skimmer for the pool today so praying it is going to help. Getting a vacuum and hose this weekend that connects to the pump too.

[PoolDoc]

Yep. They do smell good. I'd forgotten how easy they were for small children to climb.

[mcbdz]

OK, kind of getting discouraged with Amazon. So far have tried ordering the filters and received the wrong ones. first time when I contacted the seller they apologized and said they would send correct ones. Got package yesterday and again wrong ones. They advertise Order ID 109-9305814-2541034:
2 of Filbur FC-3752 Antimicrobial Replacement Filter Cartridge for Intex "B" Version 59901W Pool and Spa Filter [ASIN: B002BUM8KM] but keep sending Intex filters. Has anyone else had this problem?

[PoolDoc]

+ I know it doesn't help you, but please REVIEW the product like this:

I ordered a Filbur FC-3752 filter, but received an Intex brand filter from seller "Filters Now". So far, they have shipped the wrong ones twice! 3rd party seller "Filters Now" appears to be deliberately misrepresenting their product.

This is the only really effective way to communicate to Amazon that they have a bad seller. Currently, they have NO reviews on the product. The way Amazon works, your negative review will essentially make it impossible for Filters Now to sell that cartridge on Amazon.

+ Here's their website: http://www.filters-now.com/ . I'd recommend insisting on a 100% refund, and ordering the Unicel cartridge.

+ I've added a caution note to the Filbur links. Filbur cartridges should cost the SAME or MORE than Unicels; if they don't they probably aren't real Filbur.

[mcbdz]

OK, I'm a little slow with picking things up so please bare with me. Confused why my pH would be going up when I'm only adding bleach and no new water? Readings yesterday FC-8.0 CC-o pH-7.5 TA-160. I added 2 doses of bleach after dark last night wanting to up my chlorine since I didn't clean out pool yesterday due to running around town and always lots of stuff from tree in bottom. Now to this morning. it's overcast at the moment. FC-11.6 and pH8.0. Checked pH with my high pH kit and reads 7.9. Why would it go up? I keep my output jet aerating mostly also. Assuming I will need to breakout the muriatic acid which I was hoping to avoid? :O(

[Watermom]

I keep my output jet aerating mostly also.
Here is your answer. Aerating the water increases pH.

[mcbdz]

LOL. Ok. well, guess I'll stop that then. LOL Duh.

[PoolDoc]

There's a little more to it than that: aerating strips carbonate alkalinity, which in turn raises the pH. That's a GOOD thing, if your TA is too high.

[Watermom]

There's a little more to it than that: aerating strips carbonate alkalinity, which in turn raises the pH.

Which means:


Aerating the water increases pH.

For most threads, I think the idea of *KISS* is a good thing. ;)

(*Keep it simple stupid) OOPS! Did I just call Ben stupid? :evil: Ya supposed he'll fire me? :p;))

[PoolDoc]

:p

[mcbdz]

OK, My pump totally sucks. What is going to be my best reasonably choice for a replacement. It spits out a lot of what should be in the filter and several times a day have to back wash and thae the output jet off and clean cause so much big stuff comes back out and clogs it up.

[Watermom]

Those are not pump problems, they are filter problems.

[BigDave]

Did you ever get the upgrade cartridges?

[Pappy]

This is what we upgraded to this year. It is much better than the cartridge and a LOT less maintenance.
http://www.intexcorp.com/index.php/home/above-ground-pools/agp-accessories/sand-filter-pumps/56673eg.html
You can find it on Amazon for much less money than direct from Intex. http://www.poolforum.com/amz/

Intex Sand Filter Pump 2100 GPH (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00GSPHS1U/scouscho-20/)

Here's a step by step of our change over.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php/23562
If you decide to stay with the cartridge, you NEED to get GOOD cartridges (Unicel or Filbur) referenced here.
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php/17055.

Good Luck!
Pappy

[PoolDoc]

The exact model you got seems to be discontinued but I changed to the link of the current closest model.

[mcbdz]

Thank yall so much for the quick replies. No, BigDave on the up grade cartridges yet. And I am having to replace these cheap suckers about every 3-5 days. Was waiting for refund and now going to order the unicel since had such bad luck trying to get the Filbur. Did get the skimmer in and ended up also putting a stocking in it to hopefully help catch as much stuff before it goes to the filter. Got a better vacuum which, discovered while vacuuming so much stuff was just shooting back into the pool as it cycled through the filter. Now Until I improve filter I'm using my broom and sweeping everything in a pile, letting settle again then siphoning out. Luckily so far have been keeping my chem levels pretty good. Still have pH 7.5-7.8 but, pretty stable. Hoping to see big improvement then with the filters. And yes, I'm remembering to enjoy the pool. Kids and grandson, Too. I guess I'll update when I get the new filters in. Thanks again Watermom, BigDave, Pappy, and PoolDoc.