Brand New Pool - When do I start testing water?

[FNC1962]

Thanks! I am at work for now and may be able to get home before they start filling. I purchased a taylor 2006 test kit.

[Watermom]

Good idea to get the kit. I wish you could do something about your pump/filter combo before it is on there and yours. A 1hp pump and a 100 lb. sand filter is not a good combination!

[FNC1962]

What size filter would work with the 1 hp pump. What size pump would work with the 100 lb. filter.

[Watermom]

I am not the equipment guru around here. I know time is of the essence since you are installing today. Ben is not online right now. Let me see if I can reach him for you to see if he can make a recommendation.

[FNC1962]

Thank You !!!

[Watermom]

Alright. I just got off the phone with Ben. He says that your 1hp AG pump is about as strong as a 1/2HP inground pump and if you can get them to upgrade you to a 200lb sand filter instead of the 100 lb. filter, that would be a MUCH better combo for your pool. It may cost you a little more, but in the long run, it will be well worth it! Hope this helps you and hope your installers will cooperate with you on this. Don't let them hook up the other filter. Even if you have to wait a couple of days to get the other one, it will be fine. We can help you keep the water chlorinated and algae free even if you don't have equipment running for a few days. Let us know what you are able to do about this.

[FNC1962]

Alright. I just got off the phone with Ben. He says that your 1hp AG pump is about as strong as a 1/2HP inground pump and if you can get them to upgrade you to a 200lb sand filter instead of the 100 lb. filter, that would be a MUCH better combo for your pool. It may cost you a little more, but in the long run, it will be well worth it! Hope this helps you and hope your installers will cooperate with you on this. Don't let them hook up the other filter. Even if you have to wait a couple of days to get the other one, it will be fine. We can help you keep the water chlorinated and algae free even if you don't have equipment running for a few days. Let us know what you are able to do about this.

Well, I had just got finished upgrading to a 150 # sand filter at no charge when I received your reply. It will have to do for me. Thank you for your help. If you think I need to put some type of in-line valve in later, please, let me know. The pool will be filling this evening and they will cut in the skimmer and plumbing the pump and filter tomorrow.

[Watermom]

OK. 150 lb. is better than 100 lb. I'll let Ben decide if he thinks you need a valve in there or not. I'll ask him to look at your thread later.

You're gonna love having a pool! Congrats!

Test your fill water this evening and post the results. Also, go to Walmart and get several jugs of plain, unscented bleach and a couple boxes of 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle). If you want to just add CYA separately, see if they have any while you are there. It may be labeled as conditioner or stabilizer. Check the label ingredients. If it says cyanuric or isocyanuric acid that's the right stuff. Just make sure it doesn't also have a bunch of other junk in it. You'll need about 3 lbs.

OR:

if you prefer to just use a stabilized form of chlorine for awhile which will add CYA and chlorine at the same time, you can use some dichlor. If you have have access to a Sams Club, buy their 24lb pack of 1# bags of 100% dichlor shock. Each bag will add about 7 ppm of chlorine, and about 6 ppm of stabilizer, per 10K gallons of water. Otherwise, order dichlor from Amazon:

Kem-Tek Dichlor 22 lbs

We do NOT recommend buying dichlor locally, otherwise, at least until you are an EXPERT reader of chemical labels. The chlorinating pool chemicals sold at Walmart, Kmart, Costco, and most other local stores are diluted blends, sometimes with copper and other products with bad side-effects. (You won't need all the bags of it because your CYA will get too high if you use all of it, but you can save the ones you don't use for next year.