mama_to_one08
06-07-2010, 12:40 PM
Hi all! We recently obtained an Intex 18x48 metal frame pool from my husband's cousin. They are getting a new one, so they decided to give it to us. It was just the pool though, no filter/pump, chemicals, nothing. So I went to a pool supply store, and asked the saleslady what all I needed to get for and open our pool.
She pointed out which filter/pump to get, a solar cover, and a pool maintenance kit. Next came the chemicals. We already have test strips, so we got a bottle of pH decreaser, pH increaser, shock, a chlorine duck and chlorine tabs. Another salesperson told us how to add the chemicals and instructed us how to test.
We got our pool filled and I tested it to see how I should proceed with adding the chemicals. The pH & alkalinity were both pretty high so I added the pH decreaser per the instructions on the back and it was still high. So after a day process of doing this, and one bottle of pH decreaser later, I finally got it to an ok level yesterday. So I added the shock per the instructions on the bottle then, put the chlorine duck in and tested it again and all the levels were fine.
I wake up this morning to test again and everything is sky rocket high again! Including the chlorine and bromine. What am I doing wrong or not doing? I am going to go broke having to buy bottle of pH decreaser every single day and something must be wrong because it says I only need one pound of pH decreaser for every 6500 gallons of water. Our pool only holds just over 4500 gallons. I used all 3 pounds of the pH decreaser and it did nothing.
Our filter is working fine but I don't even know if that has anything to do with anything else.
We've never owned a pool like this in our lives before so this is all a learning process. Please be gentle!! ;)
She pointed out which filter/pump to get, a solar cover, and a pool maintenance kit. Next came the chemicals. We already have test strips, so we got a bottle of pH decreaser, pH increaser, shock, a chlorine duck and chlorine tabs. Another salesperson told us how to add the chemicals and instructed us how to test.
We got our pool filled and I tested it to see how I should proceed with adding the chemicals. The pH & alkalinity were both pretty high so I added the pH decreaser per the instructions on the back and it was still high. So after a day process of doing this, and one bottle of pH decreaser later, I finally got it to an ok level yesterday. So I added the shock per the instructions on the bottle then, put the chlorine duck in and tested it again and all the levels were fine.
I wake up this morning to test again and everything is sky rocket high again! Including the chlorine and bromine. What am I doing wrong or not doing? I am going to go broke having to buy bottle of pH decreaser every single day and something must be wrong because it says I only need one pound of pH decreaser for every 6500 gallons of water. Our pool only holds just over 4500 gallons. I used all 3 pounds of the pH decreaser and it did nothing.
Our filter is working fine but I don't even know if that has anything to do with anything else.
We've never owned a pool like this in our lives before so this is all a learning process. Please be gentle!! ;)