New pool and new to pools - green but clear

[mlopes]

Will do. Thanks so much.

Couple of questions. When you say to add it to the skimmer...why? Just curious. I like to know why I do things. Helps me understand the greater process.

Also, I am assuming a larger, better pump would make a difference. If that is correct, any suggestions?

The polyquat algaecide and the DE...where do I find those. I have the Borax. Love that stuff - we cloth diaper and it's great for getting stuff clean.

[mlopes]

Pool actually looks better this morning to a good degree with having the pump running all the time. yay! Thanks so much.

[Watermom]

You either want to add bleach to the skimmer as Ben suggested or in front of a return jet. The idea is to get the bleach dispersed quickly into the water. Either way, pour slowly.

Polyquat 60% algaecide is the only one we recommend using. You may have to get that at a pool store and also the DE powder although I think maybe Home Depot may have DE. Not certain about that, though.

In regards to pumps --- this is a case where bigger is not always better. A pump that is too big for your filter will damage the filter and will blow water through it so fast that it will not do a good job filtering. Before you buy something, run it past our pump gurus here to make sure you have a pump and filter that are sized properly.

Glad things are looking better.

[CarlD]

I don't usually question Ben, but if you are using a cartridge filter (which is common with Intex pools), DE may not be a good idea...DE can clog up some cartridges (if not most). Plus, if you don't have a skimmer (and most Intex don't) it's VERY difficult to get it into the filter. You can safely skip the DE until we figure it out, so don't worry about that.

PolyQuat is usually only available at pool stores or pool sections of places like Wal-Mart. It's called algaecide, black algaecide, yellow algae algaecide, or other stuff, but the important part is that there is only ONE active ingredient:
Poly...<something long and unpronounceable>... 60%
Anything else is the wrong stuff. "Small amounts" means 1 to 2 ounces--and with a small pool stick to 1 ounce.

[mlopes]

Thanks Carl and Watermom. I was figuring thats why I should add things through the skimmer (which this pool does have) but wanted to ask to be sure. Since I'm so new to this whole thing I figure asking more questions is better. We are loving having the pool so we want to make sure we know how to care for it in the best way possible. I'll prinbt this out and take it with me tomorrow when I go to get stuff.

I'll ask in the pumps section for advice on size etc.

[aylad]

One other reason for adding the chlorine at the skimmer is that high chlorine concentrations often cause the iron to precipitate out of the water and stain. If you add the chlorine at the skimmer, then any stain that happens from chlorine addition will happen on your filter, not in the pool itself.

Janet

[Watermom]

Jan, you're right. In this pool, it is better to add to the skimmer rather than in front of a return jet. Glad Jan caught that.