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would i be better off buying the intex saltsystem??
im tired of fighting the pool
been working on it all week and although its better still cloudy
i want something so simple you just walk out flip a switch and hit the water
i know im looking for a unicorn here but ..........
I doubt the Intex would help you. As you note, you are looking for an unicorn, and it's not one.
Like most AG pools, the Intex filter and circulation systems are too small. If you start with clean water, and NEVER let it get away from you, and Intex pool can work pretty well.
But, cleaning up a mess with an Intex pump and filter can take forever. It's not a matter of chemistry, necessarily, but effective filtration.
If you want easy:
+ drain
+ refill
+ start from scratch with your help
+ don't let it go -- ever.
We can tell you how to go on vacation with one, and we can tell you how to spend less than 10 minutes a day on one. But you can't skip 2 - 3 days routinely and get away with it. One of my moderators started off with an Intex and ran it very happily for 2 years I think. He's now got a giant AG pool with an elaborate deck and all sorts of add-ons. But he and his family enjoyed the Intex.
Best wishes,
Ben
PS. Not knocking the Intex SWCG -- I don't know how well it works. I just know that no SWCG is a magic pool wand.
I'll give you some information that I've found in the short time that I've been doing this. Take it for what it's worth and compare it to what some of the more experienced pool owners have to say.
If you want "easy" I'd suggest a good sand filter, a skimmer, vacuum, and a SWG. I test my water once a week as long as it's pretty and clear (also, after a rain and if I have to add much water.) I upgraded my pump and filter and it really did make all the difference in the world. The SWG is not going to help if you are not getting good filtration. If you are using a paper filter, you will need to clean it several times a week (a sand filter takes less work.)
Once you get everything where it needs to be and you have the equipment you need, things become much easier. The trick is to stay on top of it. Once things get "off" it becomes a rapid downward spiral.
Pool care can be easy even without an SWCG. Now I would LOVE to have one but have never QUITE been able to justify the cost, because the reduction in my work load just isn't that much. I spent a total of 5 minutes today testing my water, filling a 1 gal jug halfway from my carboy, and adding it to my water. 5 minutes, max--and part of that was spent moving a table on to the deck. Had I not had to add the chlorine it would have been 1-2 minutes. How hard is THAT?
Carl
FWIW, Walmart.com has the Intex SWG for $139. I am going to give it a try. Carl is right, a few minutes a day with bleach but in my case, going to the store to buy the bleach, not to mention how many tshirts of mine have bleach spots on them (yeh I know, wear an old shirt) gets old fast. I dont know what to expect but if I can get 2 seasons from the unit I'll be happy.
Still being somewhat of a newbie to the SWCG thing, and I am sure PoolSean would agree, you'll probably get what you pay for. I know that you can easily spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on SWCG's and their installation, but in my humble opinion, If I was going to spend less than $150 hoping to get 1 to 2 years, I'd probably spend it on bleach and the BBB system.
Installing a SWCG that is too small for your pool can result in having to run it quite a bit to keep the chlorine up to the proper level. Too much run time on any SWCG will drive your Ph up and you'll be buying and adding acid all the time.
Before you spend your money, read the FAQ's in the Salt Water section of this forum and above all else, do your homework. Maybe the Walmart unit is the right size for your pool, but I seriously would hate to see you waste your money.