Intex type pool?

We have a pool that's like an Intex but is sturdier and can be left up all year. We run a regular sandfilter to filter it. As I was reading through things to find out how to clear my cloudy water and high Ph levels. Since it's a vinyl type pool is it considered an Intex type or is it just an above ground type since it has a sand filter. I figure I need to know this in order to maintain it correctly. Also, we filled it with Michigan well water. We do have iron issue in the house. where the water drips in the bathtub, it is rusty colored. Please advise. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by grammy57

Since it's a vinyl type pool is it considered an Intex type or is it just an above ground type since it has a sand filter.

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Fill out the Pool Chart Entry Form and we can tell.

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Also, we filled it with Michigan well water. We do have iron issue in the house. where the water drips in the bathtub, it is rusty colored. Please advise.

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When did you fill it? How are you maintaining the water?

I filled out the chart, as requested.

We filled it about June of this year. I use chlorine tabs, algae fighting stuff, shock once or twice weekly and LOTS of Ph reducer. I was going to try your suggestions for not worrying about Ph and then it said it wouldn't work for an Intex. I'm not sure if you'd call this an Intex or not. It is vinyl on poles, but it is thicker vinyl and can be left up all year, even in Michigan. We run a sand filter and pump, not the small Intex type.

You may want to post an EXACT list of what you're using. Most chemicals have side effects; some have purely bad effects due to the chemicals pool companies are using for dilute their products.

Also . . . the only way to run a pool successfully over time, while using 'guess-strips' is to be EXTREMELY lucky. If you are that lucky, great. Otherwise, you need a test kit that provides accurate information. Pool store testing 90% of the time serves only ONE purpose: Selling More Chemicals!

Ben

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+ Get a cheap OTO (yellow drops) / phenol test kit, or if available at YOUR Walmart (check availability), get the HTH 6-way DROPS test kit, which is compatible with the Taylor K2006. Test the pool as soon and you can, and post the results. If you get the 6-way kit, ALSO test the water you FILL the pool with, especially if it's a well, and post THOSE results as well. (The HTH is the best available kit you're likely to find locally, but it's not the K-2006. It can only provide rough measurements chlorine levels above 5 ppm, and it measures "TOTAL" hardness, rather than "CALCIUM" hardness, which is not ideal.)

+ Having a good test kit makes pool care easier for EVERYONE, but is an ESSENTIAL tool for pools with problems. A good test kit means a kit that can test chlorine from 0 - 25 ppm, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and stabilizer with reasonable accuracy. Test strips (AKA 'guess-strips' ) do NOT meet this standard. Some pool store testing is accurate; most is not. The ONLY way you'll know whether your pool store is accurate or bogus, is by testing accurately your own self. On the other hand, pool store 'computer' dosing recommendations are NEVER trustworthy -- ignore them. They are designed to sell more chemicals than you need, and WILL cause many pool problems.

+ We recommend the Taylor K-2006 test kit, which meets the requirements above, for many reasons. The HTH 6-way drops kit is a great starter kit, and is compatible with the K2006 (it's made by Taylor). There are a few alternatives; for example Lamotte makes an FAS-DPD kit that's OK -- but it costs 3x as much. But, we're not aware of any test that is better, and since we are all familiar with the K-2006 (and can help you with it) we recommend it exclusively ( Test kit info page )

One caution for the 2012 season: Amazon does not stock the kits directly. So when buying at Amazon, Amato is our current preferred seller. However, they often don't list enough stock to last the whole day, so try order mid-morning. You should expect a delivered cost under $60 for the K2006A and under $95 for the K2006C. If you can't find that, wait a day.

+ Here are links to the kits we recommend (you can check local availability on the HTH kit, using the Walmart link):

HTH 6-Way Test Kit @ Walmart
Taylor K2006A (3/4 oz bottles) @ Amazon
Taylor K2006C (2 oz bottles) @ Amazon