I'm also with CarlD on this one. We started with a 12 foot diameter 3ft deep pool from Walmart $150. I added a skimmer and changed the cheapo pump filter to a low end real sand filter with pump. I had $350 into that pool and we used it for 3 years. I would take it down at the end of the season (1 hr) and reinstall in the spring (3 hrs). I learned quite a bit about pool chemistry and it made me feel very comfortable when we decided to make the plunge into a 16X32 inground concrete pool. That was one great little pool.