New Pool & Starting From Scratch!

[tnt69]

Pool is being installed as we speak, starting with 3K gals (truck hauled) this pm & after that the old hose. We have purchased the bleach, stabilizer, muriatic acid, baking soda & borax & I will begin drizzling bleach in as we fill it up. We will also add the stabilizer as soon as we get it full enough to run the pump. Test kit will hopefully arrive tomorrow before it is all the way full.
We have some fairly steep banks within 2.5 - 3 feet on about 1/2 of the pool, under what will be decking. Is this a problem & will those spots need retaining walls?

[Watermom]

I am no builder so can't really comment on the retaining walls with any kind of expertise, but it kinda sounds like to me that you might need some. Maybe send some pics and let someone here take a look. You can send them to poolforum DOT pics AT gmail DOT com. Don't forget to reference the URL of this thread.

I bet you're getting pretty excited about the new pool!

[tnt69]

Yes, we are VERY excited. It was hard not to get in & play around in 18-20" of water this evening, but the installer said it wasnt a great idea until it is full. I sent some pics, not sure if they went to the right place tho.

[tnt69]

The pool is nearly full & will be able to turn on pump & filter early tomorrow morning (could have done it this evening, but had to go to work & will turn off water before full). We have purchased the bleach, borax, baking soda, stabilizer, muriatic acid & the test kit arrived today. You said when we turn on the pump to ....." add all the stabilizer slowly, TO the skimmer, so it wont clog the pipes, with the pump running."..... We are TOTAL NEWBIES, so do you mean add to the skimmer at water line or to the skimmer basket near the pump? Also, how do you add the other things...bleach (can it be poured in the chlorinator or is the chlorinator really not usefull anymore), the muriatic acid...etc? They are building the deck around the pool now, so we put the winter cover on while filling to keep junk out, so we have not been able to add beach as it filled, only 1 3qt bottle!

[aylad]

Addyour CYA to the skimmer at the water line--the idea is for it all to go through the pipes into your filter, where it will sit and dissolve. The alternative to that is to put it in an old sock and tie it up in front of your returns and let it dissolve there. You can give the sock a squeeze occasionally to help speed it up. When you add bleach, do NOT put it in the chlorinator, if there are or have ever been trichlor tabs in it--chlorine is chlorine once it gets into the water, but you don't want different forms of chlorine coming in contact with each other before they're completely dissolved in water. Watermom puts her bleach into the skimmer, I pour mine slowly into the return stream, being careful not to splash bleach on the sides or my clothes....either way works--although with trichlor in the feeder, I really think pouring it into the pool is the better way. Do not add muriatic acid into the skimmer--it's too acidic and will be bad for your motor to go through as concentrated as it will be. You want to pour the acid very slowly into the return stream, taking care not to splash on the pool, clothes, skin, eyes, etc, and do NOT breathe the fumes. It's nasty stuff, so just be careful with it. Wear gloves and eye protection while using it. Borax can be added through the skimmer if you ever have to raise your pH.

Janet

[Watermom]

And, baking soda can also go into the skimmer if you need to raise the alk. Again, slowly.

Post a current set of testing results when you try out your new kit!

[tnt69]

Thanks for all the great help!! So I guess the Chlorinator is pretty well obsolete with the BBB Method, would it be alright to simply bypass it (take it out completely) & skip an xtra hose & run directly back to the filter?

[aylad]

You could do that, or you could just let it stay empty and open the flow up all the way...

The inline chlorinators do have their uses, but the key is to know HOW to use it without getting yourself into trouble. They are great for adding a low amount of chlorine, consistently, or for use during vacations to ensure that chlorine is being added to the pool. When my CYA gets a little low, especially if the temp is hot like it is now (air temp 106 so far, and it's only 1:00--yesterday we got to 110), I'll turn mine on and set it at 2 (on 1-5 scale) so that it's constantly feeding a little chlorine into the water to supplement the bleach additions. And when people go on vacation, they can be a good way to prevent coming back to green water. It's just that they're not to be depended on for sole chlorination method. So...if you don't have a flow restriction problem with it, I'd just leave it connected and empty, turning the flow rate up, in case you need it again in future seasons.


Janet