Newbie Here

[flbowman1]

Hello,
I've been using a pool service for the past two years and quite honestly I feel that I could do a better job at maintaining and cleaning the pool myself than the company that I use. Can anyone assist me in everything I would need to get started in maintaining/cleaning my own pool? (shock, tablets, acid etc.) I have a fiberglass pool that was re-coated about 4 or 5 months ago. Also what can remove the white line from around the water level of the pool? Listed are the items that I know I will need but what else should I buy upfront?
- Aluminum pool brush
- Pool hose
- Ocean Blue flexible vacuum head
-Taylor K-2006 Test kit

[Watermom]

Get the Taylor K2006, post some good numbers for us to look at, tell us what all you have added to the pool thus far, how the water looks, size (hp) of pump, type and size of filter and then someone can help you go from there.

Be sure to also check out our sister website www.poolsolutions.com.

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

[flbowman1]

I still have the pool company maintaining the pool but I want to start buying the necessary equipment and supplies needed to maintain the pool first before I get rid of the pool company. I listed the equipment and test kit that I plan to buy but I wanted to know what kind of chemicals that I should buy as well before I start maintaining the pool. It's a fresh water pool and I want to make sure I'm buying the right products.

[CarlD]

What do you mean by a "fresh water pool"? Do you simply mean you're not using salt for an SWCG? Or is it one of those where there's a steady stream of water both in and out of the pool, like a stream-fed pond?

[Watermom]

What chemicals we recommend depend on your test results of your water. Go ahead and order the Taylor K2006 kit. Once you test, post your results and then we can make recommendation. You don't want to stockpile chemicals for a couple of reasons. If we suggest that you buy trichlor or dichlor before you test and have a CYA reading, it may turn out that your CYA is already high and thus you can't use either product. You would then be stuck with it. If you buy a lot of bleach or liquid chlorine ahead of time, it may degrade as it doesn't keep its potency for a long time period. That is why it is best to post results first and then get the recommendation. Make sense?

(You can test the water before you get rid of the pool service. Then, we can help you formulate a game plan that you can put into place at any time that you are ready.)

[flbowman1]

Sorry but I meant that I'm not using salt.

Thanks for the feedback and I'll go ahead and buy the Taylor test kit. In the meantime what can I do to rid the white film just above the water line around the pool wall area of the fiberglass pool or leave it up to the pool company to try to get rid it? It doesn't come off when you run your hand across it. The pool doesn't have tile on the top inside area where the white film is located.

[Watermom]

I really don't know about the white film. You might try using a little baking soda on a cloth and see if you can rub it off. But, don't use any type of soaps or detergents in the water unless you like gazillions of bubbles!

[CarlD]

If both CH and TA are high, I'm wondering if it's calcium deposits????

[BigDave]

If both CH and TA are high, I'm wondering if it's calcium deposits????We'll know after the K-2006 comes in ;)