Putting up pool, need all the advice I can get!

Hi. My family has decided to get an ag pool, 12x24x54", intex. I have also decided to go with the salt water generator. My father put up a pool a few years ago that I helped with, actually did all the plumbing and such. Since then he has passed away. the Grandkids really enjoyed the pool with Grandpa so that was a big factor in purchasing one for our family. We are currently getting the ground level. I am looking for any advice for installing a new ag pool that I need to look for or may run into. One of my concerns is to have a shelter of some kind to keep the sun off the sand filter, is it necessary? What would people have done different that is hard to change after it is up? i am also considering getting the test kit offered online, F-100. i got some pea gravel for the bottom of the sand filter as recommended by a pool guy and some people on the forum, any input on that would help too. I look forward to using this forum (as my father did) for advice and knowledge. I am pretty confident on the start up but will need help when I close it for the season.
Thanks to all of you that share your experiences, I appreciate it.
Vickeybear

Pea gravel in the sand filter? Never heard of that! If the manufacturer doesn't call for it, it will probably void the warranty. Don't do it! You don't need it. However, I will defer to OUR experts on it (but nobody else's).
I am continually surprised by all the nonsense pool store guys come up with. He'll probably tell you that you need calcium in your water, too. You don't.
You don't need to worry about sun on the filter.

Closing: The better you maintain the pool throughout the season the easier closing will be. And since you are in Iowa, your winters are cold enough so a properly closed pool will be pretty easy to open in the spring.

Carl

Carl ---- Ben did tell me that some filters do have gravel at the bottom. I'm not sure which do and which don't, though. My sand filter doesn't.

Vickeybear -- as far as your sand filter needing shelter from the sun, it isn't required. Mine has never been sheltered and it is doing just fine after 10 years. Of course, it wouldn't hurt it to cover it, but not needed. By the way, welcome to the forum!

Thank-you! My pool looks pretty good right now as I am getting the levels regulated using the TF-100 kit. One thing I am a little confused about is the chlorine level I should be keeping. The manual for my swg says to keep the FC between .4-1.5ppm. However it seems what I a have been reading on this forum I should be having the chlorine up closer to 2-3ppm? My manual also suggests cya to be 30-50ppm but again the forum suggests it to be higher around 70-80ppm. Also the T/A recommendation is 100-140ppm but the forum suggests it to be 70-90ppm. So, should I just keep my readings strictly to the manual of my swg or by the recommendations here on the forum?

Here are today's readings:
Temp: 58
FC: .5
CC: .5
TC: 1
PH: 7.2
T/A: 80
CYA: 30 (which should be increasing as I did add more CYA via sock method)
Borates: 15
copper: .1

It has been cloudy and raining alot the last few days too, how will that affect my readings?

Thank you!!!!
Vickeybear

Regarding chlorine, you need to use the Best Guess Chart, linked in my signature below. (Or if you prefer more decimals in your answers, you can use Richard's (Chem_Geek) more elaborate version on TFP.)

What make / model of SWCG do you have? That sounds awfully low. By chance, is it one that is supposed to be combined with some sort of copper ('mineral') product?

TA does not have to be that high, but again I'm curious about your unit.

Ben

THis is the brand of swg I have:" Krystal Clear Saltwater System Model CS8110". I tend to agree with you that the levels are too low. The swg did come with copper test strips. I will use the Best Guest chart as you suggested. To increase the chlorine level should I add bleach or just run the swg longer?
THanks!
Vickeybear

Just use some bleach and save the life of your cell.