Start up chemistry for first time pool owner

[eblade21]

Hi, Im back. This forum has been so much help in every aspect to becoming a better first time pool owner.

I reside in Lynbrook NY I have:
14' x 42" summer escapes pool
Intex Saltwater Krystal
Intex 12" Sand Pump Filter
HTH 6-way test kit

I like to order all my chemicals, I like to have everything, before i start.
I will be following PoolDoc Super Simple Pool Chemistry, I just have a couple of questions.

1. Do you have to balance the pool before adding the salt?
2. When should i add the salt?
3. If i use the PoolBrand bagged dischlor, does this eliminate the bleach?
4. Any other steps or chemicals i should buy?

Thank you in advance, I am sorry for all the questions i just want to get this right the first time.

[BigDave]

Great! doing the homework and getting ready before you start will make your pool far more enjoyable.

1-2) You can add salt pretty much anytime you want but I would wait to start the SWCG. I would operate the pool with dichlor until CYA is about 50 then move to SWCG as primary chlorine source. If you follow the Intex Pool Care Plan your water will be balanced by the time you're ready to start the SWCG.

3) I'd put in some bleach as the pool is filling and keep some on hand for shocking when necessary and to supplement the SWCG if it's not keeping up (lots of neighbor kids over one day). Do follow the Intex-type Pool 7 Day Start-up Plan startup steps but no need to chlorinate with bleach for the full week.

4) Salt, water, maybe baking soda if you find that you have to adjust pH too often (not right away). better filter carts from the SSR page. Floaty toys. Taylor K-2006!!!

Welcome, Good Luck!

[Pappy]

Do you have the Intex fittings that go through the pool wall? If not you'll need to get them.
Here's the manual to your pump
http://slink.intexdevelopment.com/b2cmnl/B2CMNLServlet?instantiate=B2cMnldownloadApp&action=pub_mnl&filnam=178---R0-1307%20EN.pdf
If you already have possession of the pump/filter, check to be sure you have 2 each of items 24, 25, & 26, and one 27.

I'd recommend you get this also
http://www.intexcorp.com/index.php/home/above-ground-pools/agp-accessories/pool-maintenance/28003e.html
It will make cleaning your pool easier. You can probably get it for less money on Amazon than direct from Intex (Intex shipping charges are fairly high).
http://www.poolforum.com/amz/

Enjoy your new pool!

Pappy

[eblade21]

Pappy

I started a thread to a covert a summer escapes pool to use intex sand pump and intex SWCG.
I had purchased the intex plungers, inlet strainer and had converted the Summer escapes Skimmer.

As far as the maintenance kit, I have the deluxe kit that works with the Summer escapes skimmer. I decided not to go with the Sand Pump Filter/Saltwater combo, I purchased the intex sand pump filter and the intex krystal saltwater generator separately each there own units. It was just a precaution, in case a unit goes bad i can just replace just one, where the combo might cost more if the unit goes bad (SWCG), due not being able to separate the units.

Any information is always welcomed and great.

BIG DAVE

Question:
As i am filling my pool from my garden hose, I should use the bleach and borax method INTEX 7 DAY START UP PLAN, then add the salt and start my sand pump, wait ill all my salt has dissolved and start my SWCG then follow the INTEX POOL CARE PLAN, and monitor my PH levels.
How long should i wait till the kids can go in the pool?

Please advise if this is correct?

Thank you so much
Eblade21

[BigDave]

The 7 Day plan calls for bleach while filling and borax if pH is low.

The Intex pool care plan calls for dichlor and borax. The borax is there to counteract the pH drop caused by dichlor. The dichlor is important as it is the source of CYA in this plan. CYA is critical as it prevents the sun from removing all the chlorine from the pool. Dichlor adds 9ppm CYA for every 10ppm chlorine it adds to the pool and it dissolves quickly.

I wouldn't use the SWCG until the pool has about 50ppm CYA regardless of when you add the salt. Start the pump/filter as soon as the water is above the in/out ports in the pool.

The kids can swim anytime the pH is between 7.0 and 8.0 and there is some chlorine in the pool. Add a half a dose of bleach or dichlor before each swim session.

Do you know the volume of the pool?

[eblade21]

BigDave

According to the Summer Escapes Manual it states approx. 3300 gallons.

The measurement of the pool is a round pool 14 feet diameter by 42 inches.

[BigDave]

It'll be eaisier to reckon CYA if you buy dichlor in pound bags, you'll be at about 55ppm CYA after using three pounds (1/2 Cup at a time). Don't even bother testing for CYA until then. At that point, start using the SWCG.

[eblade21]

Hi,

Being im here in NY, we do not have a Sam's club close by, what do you recommend besides Poolbrand Dichlor shock or Kem-Tek. If you swear by them i rather stay on the same boat as everyone else.

[BigDave]

Leslie's Chlor-Brite has been the good stuff everytime I've looked. It's expensive but since you need very little... Don't let them talk you into anything else - maybe floaty toys.

[eblade21]

I found this on Amazon.Com, can you please advise if this is the Pool Brand dichlor. If not I will go and get a one day pass and purchase the one from Sam's Club

I just ordered my AquaChek Salt Strips and my Taylor K-2006C, I already have the HTH 6 Way Test kit. I just like to have everything in hand before I start anything

http://www.amazon.com/PoolBrand-Quick-Dissolving-Shock-24-pouches/dp/B0026CG9PK

[Watermom]

It sure looks like it to me but I cannot read the ingredient list on the packaging. Plus, did you see the price? $32.11 in shipping charges! I would just go to Sam's if it were me.

[eblade21]

I was curious that is it, i saw the shipping, which was a bit extreme. I will be driving to Sam's Club this weekend to obtain a one day pass and purchase the dichlor.

[BigDave]

There is a Leslie's in Lynbrook - you only need a few bags. The Leslie's near me charges $5.00 per bag.

[eblade21]

BigDave

your referring to the Leslie's Chlor Brite, Correct?

[BigDave]

Yep, but read the packet - 99% sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione. I'm a little uncomfortable recommending Leslie's as the unit price is double but you need so little that I can't see buying 24 lbs.

[eblade21]

I know what your saying, but definitely makes sense

[eblade21]

How many 1lbs bags would you can approx. say I would need?

Thank you

[BigDave]

3lbs. See post 7.

[eblade21]

Your right should have scrolled back I apoligize

[BigDave]

Sorry, I didn't mean to be grumpy.

[eblade21]

FYI, just got my Taylor K-2006C, my Aquachek salt strips. Will keep everyone in the loop in the next couple of days.

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r629/eblade21/79500000-1c28-431b-a6c1-f417d82e4ed6_zpsd46821e4.jpg?t=1404230856

[Watermom]

Good deal. These testing demo videos may be helpful to you:> http://pool9.net/K2006-vid/

[eblade21]

BigDave

Is it possible if you can PM me?

[BigDave]

I don't think PM works here. What's up?

[eblade21]

BigDave

You have been so much help, along everyone else. I like to summarize first time pool setup for my pool.

PLEASE DONT CALL ME STUPID, i just want to make sure i do this correct the first time. I dont want to come to the forum in tears. LOL

I got a bit confused between the bleach and dichlor method for my pool running a salt water generator.

1. Begin the fill of my pool, add some bleach
2. Continue to add bleach until the pool is fill
3. After the pool is full add the dichlor
4. Test the water
5. If everything is perfect, begin to add salt
6. Begin my filter pump
7. Test the water
8. Begin the SWCG

Would you say perform the steps in this manner, please add any comments you like.

[BigDave]

I hope I haven't given you cause to think I'd call you stupid; the only times I recall using that word here is when I've written "The only stupid questions are unasked".

Your steps look good to me. I'll embellish a little.

1. Begin the fill of my pool, add doses of bleach as per the 7-Day Start-up of the SSR.
2. Continue to add doses of bleach until the pool is fill as per the 7-Day Start-up of the SSR.
2.5. Begin my filter pump when water is deep enough to cover inlet and outlet of pool.
3. After the pool is full add doses of dichlor and borax as per the Pool Care Plan of the SSR until three pounds of dichlor have been used.
4. Test the water for FC, CC, pH daily; once for CYA and TA after using 3lbs diclhor.
5. If CYA is between 30 and 60, pH is between 7.2 and 7.8, TA is between 50 and 150, FC is between 4 and 8, and CC is 0.5 or less, begin to add salt
7. Test the water (see 4)
8. Begin the SWCG

[eblade21]

BigDave

Not at all, LMAO

Thank you for the input, my kids will thank you in the end.

I will record my reading ASAP

[eblade21]

Big Dave

I have followed the SSR to a tee. Began my sand filter as soon as it was at the proper level, i have been running it 6 hours a day. I added my first Dichlor and borax last night. I have tested the Chlorine and PH this morning, and turned my pump on for 6 hours.

PH 7.5
Chlorine was at 5

The water is crystal clear, beyond clear it looks unbelievable. I will finish the 3lbs of dichlor before Friday. The kids cant wait to jump in, I am hoping by Saturday Morning they can.

[Watermom]

Why can't they swim now?

[eblade21]

Watermom

Wasn't sure if they could before i start my SWCG, and not finish the Dichlor treatment.

[Watermom]

Absolutely they can swim! As long as your pH is between 7-8 and you have some chlorine in the pool, let them in! It's torture having a pool that you can only look at but can't get in! ;)

[eblade21]

Hi

So now that I got my pool up and running, I'm still adding dichlor and borax for the next 7 days as per the SSR.

1. I test my water every morning
2. I run the pump for 4 hours at 2pm or the hottest part of the day
3. At night I add my dichlor and borax
4. I run my pump on recirculation mode for about an 1 hour

After I'm complete with the SSR and when my SWCG starts, I will only run the pump 4 hours at the hottest part of the day.

And continue testing my water every morning

Please excuse for all the questions, I just want to be as close to perfect as everyone here

Thank you so so much

[Watermom]

Best to test in the evening rather than the morning. You continue to use Dichlor until your CYA is where you want it. (SWCG units have specific CYA requirements. Check your manual.) It may not be 7 days of dichlor. Just depends on how high you want the CYA.

[eblade21]

Hi all

I just finished my 3lb of dichlor and borax, the water is crystal clear.

Here are my reading a bit scared to add the salt please advise

Using taylor k-2006c
FC - 27 ppm (54 drops x 0.5)
CC - 0 ppm
CYA - 60
TA - 100
PH - 7.5

Please understand it rained a lot this morning and there was no sun.

Please advise what I should do with my FC

[Watermom]

How does your water look?

[eblade21]

Watermom thank you for asking

Unbelievable beautiful crystal clear

I also used a HTH 6 way test kit to double check the chlorine level and was way above the scale.

[Watermom]

If your water is clear and you have a CC reading of 0, then let your chlorine level drift down. (Now I see that you stated in your previous post that the water was clear. Sorry I missed that.)

[eblade21]

Watermom you never need to apologize.

I will just vacuum my pool tomorrow and vacuum my pool. I will check all my levels early evening.

Can my children go in the pool with such high level of FC?

[Watermom]

Ben would most likely tell you go ahead and swim but just wear old suits. I'm a little more conservative and though it is probably fine, if it were my kids, I'd probably wait until it came down to under 20 (with a CYA of 60) and then wear an old suit that it won't matter if it fades.

By the way, no need to check everything every day when you aren't having problems. Just check chlorine and pH but if your chlorine is above 10ppm (with a Taylor kit), you'll need to dilute your water sample (half pool water and half distilled water mixed together) and then run the pH test with that.