My wife and I are working on the back yard to make it a "STAy'cation for us and the kids. We bought a 30' Atlantic Concord 54" deep pool and a 8' spa.

I have completed all the electrical runs which include a 100' 20amp 10/2 GFI run for the pool pump, a 50' 50amp #6 GFI run for the Hottub, and a 100' 15amp 10/2 branch run for accessories. All are run to an outdoor power center that is tied into the main. all wires were berried 20" deep in sched 40 conduit.

We hs a 1200sqr ft patio poured that was completed yesterday. Rather poorly but it is complete and we may end up placing flagstone over it to hide the poor finishing work. (The wife wanted flag stone anyway so I wonder if she told the guys to mess it up... ??? jk)

Anyway, while the contractors were forming the patio I had them rough in the pool area for me. We are in South Eastern Ohio and the soil is hard clay. They got everything within 1 inch level for the pool area. I am planning on picking up the patio blocks for the supports tomorrow and start leveling them this weekend with the use of a transit. My current plan is to set the base plates and support bars in place and mark the interior and exterior of the placement of the blocks all the way around the pool. I dont think i need to place patio block all the way around with the type of soil i have but with the money I am saving doing the work myself the extra $100 in blocks and crushed limestone i figured it would be worth it.

Once i have it marked out i planned on using my mini tiller to loosen the top 2" of the marked circle and level with the transit. then place a bed of crushed lime stone tamped in for the base then level 12x12" patio block all the way around. There will be voids between each block as they are sqr and i am not planning on cutting them but rather filling them with the now pulverized clay i dug out with the tiller and packing them in.

once that is done and everything is level i can finish grade the center of the pool area as needed and follow the assembly instructions - which are straight forward.

I wanted to great an account here as I know i will run into situation that may require an experienced ear to work through. Right now the only outstanding questions in my head are around chemicals. But figured i can ask those question when things get closer ......Like what do i need to start up a 30 25000gal pool......


I am going chlorine but reading all the info has me spinning......
to start i need to balance the PH to 7.2-8.0
check TA
add chlorine(how much)
add CYA????

the pool dealer gave me some phosphate remover Perfect pool?????

more to come.....