Newbie AG

[CarlD]

Hard experience talking: The BIGGEST thing newbies don't realize is that you need a level surface for the pool. An Intex Donut can tolerate a LITTLE more out of level than most pools, but 2" is pushing your luck and 3" is trouble. Best to be no more than 1" out of level. So if you haven't leveled a site, you will need to....been there, done that, have the tee-shirt!

If you are lucky and have a VERY level spot it's easier. If not, it's better to dig down than try to build up. Less work, less chance of the weight causing a problem. You have, what? 5,000 gallons? That's about 20 TONS of water!!! Really! So your site is VERY important. (5000/7.48gallons per cubic foot. Each cubic foot weighs either 62 or 65 lbs--I used 62...)

Added note: It's actually 62.4 lbs/cubic foot. Or simply 8 1/3 lbs per gallon.

Carl

[PoolDoc]

One more issue: this season it seems like everyone with an Intex that's posted here is on well water.

That can be a REAL problem, if you have water with metals (iron or manganese, usually) present in the water.

Ben