First Post/Info

[tracylou]

First let me start by saying that this site and forum is AWESOME and as a result I gained the courage to drain my 12' AG Intex and take over all duties and maintenance of my neighbor's IG pool as no one has the time or willingness to learn and maintain it properly so in return me and my family have unlimited access which thrilled my 6 yr old son to death. I think it's a pretty fair trade, not to mention I have really enjoyed every minute of learning everything I can.

These are the specs about the pool that I do know without walking over there and getting the rest since it is currently raining.

• 21,000 gal IG rectangular vinyl.
• Deep end is approx 6'
• shallow 3'

I also know that the pump is a little dated, does not use salt, but works very well I think. Right now we have been running the pump 24/7 and backwashing as needed etc. It has one skimmer and two jets where the water flows back in. I will try to get the pump info next time I go over there. The owner does not have an automatic cleaner so i do have to vacuum manually every time but I actually enjoy it. Currently we use the dreaded pool store chemicals but as soon as I get her a shopping list together and a good test kit, we will be switching to the BBB method.

The test kit I have is just the basic one from walmart that tells chlorine and pH but pH is not accurate when chlorine levels are above 5. We will be able to purchase the Taylor test that you recommend toward the end of July but until then I refuse to take water sample to local pool store because they use the strips and then enter it into the computer which I have learned from here is very unreliable and that is the only pool store within quite a distance from us!! So I will try to wing it the best I can until we are able to get a good test kit.

So far I think I'm handling everything pretty well considering my resources and besides the aggravating frogs, and an episode of millions and millions of frog eggs laid one rainy night, I haven't had to deal with any big issues. The liner was just put in at the start of the year so that helps a lot. Any questions I have had have been answered by reading thru the forum, which I have been doing for a few weeks until today when I decided to actually register!! Any advice is always appreciated as I am a newbie at this but I have def been doing my "homework". Let me know if you need more info or anything to make your job easier!!

[Watermom]

Hi Tracylou and welcome to the Pool Forum! Glad you decided to register and join us. It does sound like you have been busy doing your homework. Good for you!

Please fill in the pool's information in our pool chart which makes it easier when we need to help solve problems.

Pool Chart Entry Form
Pool Chart Results

Tell us exactly what pool products have been used in the pool -- meaning actual ingredients.

Hope you enjoy being a part of our forum!

[tracylou]

ok I think I am having a complete blonde moment......I am very computer savy so I'm not sure what the heck I'm doing wrong but I can't seem to figure out how the 2 links above work.

I entered some info yesterday into the pool chart entry form and figured I would just go back and add what I didn't have available at that time but when I clicked on it again it was all blank. I think I'm missing something here. Also, when will I be granted additional access so I may edit my profile etc? Thanks!!

[PoolDoc]

Hi Tracy;

1. Your membership is upgraded, and your thread moved.

2. You have read-only access to the chart. Currently, I'm the ONLY one with read-write access. Eventually, I'm planning to have a separate chart with both pool info AND test result history, for each PF member, or at least each PF subscriber . . . but that's still at least a month away. So, just re-enter your data from scratch, and I'm merge it.

Ben / PoolDoc

[tracylou]

Ok, thanks for clearing that up for me I was finally able to remove the lid from the in line chlorinator so I currently have the trichlor pucks in there. All of this is so very new to me not to mention what seems like a lot of complicating factors. For example, the pressure guage on the sand filter does not work so knowing when to backwash is best guess. The pump is brand new as is the liner but the sand filter hasn't been cleaned, changed or anything in at least 20 yrs so who knows what kind of crap is in there from prior used chemicals and prior "lack of care" for everything related to this pool. Which leaves me with a "where do I even start" confusion!!! Any tips and/or advice is greatly appreciated and needed! Not having the right test kit is pretty frustrating too but I am determined to overcome everything somehow and get it under control.

[tracylou]

Quick add on to prev reply. Is one able to look inside of the sand filter? What would this involve? And how easy/hard would it be? Also, as long as I get the recommended media cld the sand be changed out? And what allwld that involve? We are just working on a pretty much non existent budget unfortunately.

[aylad]

Go to the pool store (or Home Depot, Lowe's, etc if they sell them) and get a new pressure gauge for the filter, and a roll of Teflon tape. The gauge is only $10 or so, and it only takes a few seconds to replace. Unscrew the old one, wrap the tape around the threads for the new one, and screw it back in....that's it! Backwash the filter, rinse it, then turn it back on, and note your "clean" pressure reading. Then when that pressure increases by 6-8 psi over the "clean" pressure, you know it's time to backwash again.

You can open the sand filter up (if you want to post pics via photobucket, flickr, etc, one of the equipment guys on the forum can help you identify the equipment and tell you where to open it) and look at the sand--if it's not gummy, then there's really no reason to change it. Sand almost never has to be changed, unless it's gummed up from a Baq conversion or other chemical. My other 3 co-mods are each over 10 years on the sand in their filters, with no problems. I would be, too, if I hadn't had a filter problem a few years ago and switched to zeo sand when I filled it back up, just to see if it was any better than sand (it's not, it's just more expensive ). You might, however, need to top it off--most of them should be 2/3 full with sand, I think--does the owner still have the manual? If you DO decide to change it, you can get filter sand at the pool store. Sandblasting sand, sandbox sand, etc. is not the same stuff--it's a different coarseness. It's not a hard job, it's just boring and labor-intensive....it requires scooping all the old sand out and disposing of it, and then scooping the new sand back in, being careful not to damage the laterals inside the filter. Personally, I would just replace the gauge , if everything appears to be working okay, and then deal with the filter later if you need to. I'm a fan of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!".

How does your water look?