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Thread: NEW! (AG pool & to forums) some advice needed

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    Default NEW! (AG pool & to forums) some advice needed

    I would first like to declare how pleased I am to have found this great resource and community. I have been patiently reading for the past few weeks, but neglected to create an account until now, the day my new AG pool was installed!

    The goods:
    We have a Vogue Costa Del Sol 15x26 oval that nis 54'' deep. We opted to have a main drain installed, and we have a ClearWater2 Cartridge filter by Water Way (200sq ft) and a Supreme 2 speed, 2 HP pump also by waterway. All electrical work was done by a licensed electrician. Finally, and I almost hesitate to say this, the pump and filter combonation also included the FROG leap system. I'm on the fence about this because of what i have read here, but I also want to use what was given to me for free. I Will wait to hear more on that later.

    For now, i have some simple questions. When should i start testing and adding things to the water? The water level is about 6 inches from my skimmer right now.

    The only thing that is not done yet is installing the ground wire from pump motor to pool frame. However i have a resin top rail and the only part of the bottom track that is visible is also resin. The only steel that is exposed is the upright, but i'm not sure i want to be drilling and grounding anything on my pretty new upright. Can anyone suggest where i might make the connection (no one will be entering the pool until the ground is on).

    Thanks in advance! I'm looking forward to learning and helping in any way i can!

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    Default Re: NEW! (AG pool & to forums) some advice needed

    Now is the time to start adding chlorine to the pool--it only takes a day or so with these temps and algae will start growing. Do you have a test kit (one that uses drops, not strips?) If not, do yourself a favor and get one--we strongly recommend the K-2006 linked below in my signature. Strip testing is notoriously inaccurate, and pool store testing is designed to sell chemicals more than it is to help you keep a clean, clear pool. Check your local WalMart and see if they have any of the hth 6-way drop-based kits left, and that will at least allow you to run a basic set of water tests on your pool (don't check for CYA--you don't have any yet--save the reagent!). If you'll run a basic set of tests and post them here, we can help you figure out what/how much you need to add to the water. But in the meantime, even until you get the pump running, you need to get some chlorine in there. Keep the level at 1-3 ppm. I'm assumig that your pool walls are 54" high, but the actual water level is more like 48"--is that correct? If so, then I'm estimating about 9100 gallons of water. If this is accurate, then each 1/2 gallon of 6% bleach you add will raise your FC by 3.3 ppm. Until you get the pump running, you can dribble it slowly into the pool and walk around to make waves to help disperse it into the pool (wear old clothes/suits for this in case you walk through a "hot pocket" of bleach), or stir it around with your leaf net, broom, or other tool. Without stabilizer in the pool, the sun will consume the chlorine quickly, so you really will need to test and add more bleach 2-3 times a day to make sure that it doesn't ever get below 1 ppm.

    You can add some stabilizer once you get the pump running, but not until then because you don't want it sitting on the bottom of your pool.

    You can use the google search feature linked in my sig (you'll have to log out to do so until your registration is completed) to look for other posts about the Frog, but we don't have good opinions of it--it is a trichlor system (which is fine in itself) with an added mineral pack (that's the part we don't like) that supposedly allows you to run lower chlorine levels because the minerals help control the algae. However, they don't tell you what a headache the minerals are to deal with in your water chemistry, or that they're not effective against some bacteria or any viruses. Here's a link to what Pooldoc has posted about it (may have to log out to follow it) http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...-amp-More-quot

    You can do what you want, but I would just use the trichlor tabs and leave out the mineral part of the cartridge.

    Welcome to the forum!
    Janet

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    Default Re: NEW! (AG pool & to forums) some advice needed

    OOPS! Jan, this new member won't be able to follow your link until they are fully registered.

    You can get to the link she wants you to read by logging out, and going to the Minerals section of the forum and reading the FAQ thread stickied at the top of that sub-forum. (It is the 4th thread in the list.)

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    Default Re: NEW! (AG pool & to forums) some advice needed

    Thanks very much for the answer and warm welcome. The "starter package" i was given from the installers included a granulated shock that they recommend i mix in a bucket with water and add to the pool. Will this alone be sufficient to prevent early algae growth, or should i supplement it with bleach? I very much appreciate the knowledge and experience harbored here, but I'm having trouble getting over non use of the included materials my installers have me. I fully agree that i need to get a better test kit, add i am wary of relying on the strips we were given. My plan right now is to shock the pill and stay running the filter. I did use a test strip and it shows that my house full is pretty close to where it should be, with the exception of slightly high ph (about 8). However i realize that my test may be in accurate and doesn't show any metal levels

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    Default Re: NEW! (AG pool & to forums) some advice needed

    What are the ingredients of the granulated shock? What is the source of your fill water? I would advise that you go ahead and order the Taylor K-2006 kit.

    If the pH of your fill water is 8, go ahead and pick up some muriatic acid as you'll most likely need it to lower the pH some. Please read the link in Janet's signature above about using muriatic acid.

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