Soon to be pool owner checking in...

Hello everyone!

We just bought a 12x20 IG Vinyl pool which is scheduled for installation on 7/29 (2ft bury). After browsing this forum, it seems that proper pool maintenance is going to be a bit more involved than what the salesman made it out to be. He original sold me on the Pool Frog and it's ease of use but after reading through this forum, I've decided against it. Initially, I'm going with the standard trichlor pucks to get everything up as soon as possible so we can enjoy the one remaining month in the pool season. In the off-season, I'll be researching and purchasing a SWCG to stand up next year and go over to the BBB method.

Are there any fellow Staten Islanders here? Where do you buy the bulk BBB chemicals - especially Borax? I don't recall ever seeing it in the NYC supermarkets.

-Vlad

Instead of trichlor pucks, it might be easier to start up with dichlor. It adds chlorine and CYA at the same time. But, buy it at Sam's Club. Other places do not sell unblended dichlor.

What is your volume?

How much was the total cost of the pool?

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Originally Posted by VladSI

After browsing this forum, it seems that proper pool maintenance is going to be a bit more involved than what the salesman made it out to be.

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There's a saying about retail salespeople:
==> Question: "How can you tell when a salesman is lying?"
==> Answer: "Whenever his lips are moving!"

When I first heard that, many years ago, I thought it was a joke. But I've since corrected that mistake. I've had friends go into sales, and watched as their job gradually corroded their concept of truth.

Anyhow . . .

Probably the easiest way for you to go is with the SS recipe. Please note this is only for pools that have been recently filled -- you can't use this method 2 years in a row, unless you drain and refill next spring. But it's an easy way to start.

--> SS pool method

-- membership updated --

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Watermom

Instead of trichlor pucks, it might be easier to start up with dichlor. It adds chlorine and CYA at the same time. But, buy it at Sam's Club. Other places do not sell unblended dichlor.

What is your volume?

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Thanks for the tip on using dichlor - I'll look into that. Unfortunately, there aren't any Sam's clubs near me. We just have Costco and BJ's. How can you tell blended vs. unblended?

Volume should be around 5600 gallons. Small by many's standards but a good size considering my small backyard and setback regulations in NYC.

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Originally Posted by Derek O

How much was the total cost of the pool?

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Pool w/ all start-up items such as filter, pump, ladder, net, etc. was $3200

Install with 2ft dig and hard-lining was additional $2800

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PoolDoc

--> SS pool method

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I haven't stumbled across that thread yet - thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PoolDoc

-- membership updated --

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I can see all the forums now when I'm logged in but still can't edit my profile. Was wanting to get all my pool details into the signature line as soon as I could. Should I just wait longer?

Thanks!!!

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Originally Posted by VladSI

We just bought a 12x20 IG Vinyl pool

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Oops... that should read AG for above-ground.

Ben linked the start up recipe thread link for you up in post #4.

You can edit your own signature. In the upper right-hand corner near where you sign in, click on settings. From there, you can click on edit profile.

Thanks Watermom!

You are welcome.

Regarding the dichlor -- The only other reliable place that we know of to buy dichlor is the Kem-Tek brand from Amazon but when I looked this morning, I didn't see the one we recommend. I've asked Ben to take a look and see if maybe I just missed it. (Or maybe they are currently just out of stock.)

Is this it?

[ Replaced; see below. PoolDoc]

Here are the links, both to Sams and Amazon:

Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (Dichlor) -- 55% available chlorine

PoolBrand dichlor bagged shock 24lbs @ Sams Club => ~$2.50/lb (Jul 2013 in Chattanooga)

Kem-Tek dichlor 2 lbs @ Amazon => ~$6.50/lb (Jul 2013)
Kem-Tek dichlor 5 lbs @ Amazon => ~$4.50/lb (Jul 2013)
Kem-Tek dichlor 12 lbs @ Amazon => ~$4.00/lb (Jul 2013)
Kem-Tek dichlor 22 lbs @ Amazon => ~$3.60/lb (Jul 2013)

Nava dichlor Chlorinating Shock 1lb @ Amazon => ~$4.99/lb (Jul 2013)