Weighing down Steps

[spcchap]

I read on this board that most people use sandbags to weight down steps in an AG pool. Where can I find sandbags made especially for underwater conditions and that won't leak? Thanks!

[JJ in Tx]

In my case when I purchased the steps the store where I got them gave me 3 bags of filter sand which had plastic packaging these then went into big ziploc bags. When I pulled the steps out at the end of last season there was no sand leaks. Ziploc Big Bags

JJ

[Poolidiot]

Well when I got my steps a couple years ago, I scrached my head trying to figure a good way you put sand "bags" to weigh them down, and finally what I did was, I bought regular bags of sand at lowes, then I went online and bought the water bags that people use with inground pools to put on the edge of the cover to hold them down, I then poured the sand (NOTwater) in the water bags and they have a cap to close them with, they are water tight and water proof.. Works great.

[goodfellow]

I had lots of plastic coated barbell weights around that I wasn't using anymore so I used them in the steps. Used 50 lbs.
I figured they would be easier to grab to get out next fall too.

[TimWillin2]

I read on this board that most people use sandbags to weight down steps in an AG pool. Where can I find sandbags made especially for underwater conditions and that won't leak? Thanks!

Last year I used a bag of decorative rocks in the plastics bag that came with the steps. The bag leaked so algea formed in the bag. It was a mess!

This year I purchased two cinder block caps and (electrical) tie wrapped them to a grate on the bottom of the stairs, then sunk the whole thing in the water. The blocks didn't budge and the stairs are stable. What I don't know is what affect it will have on pool chemistry.

[JohnnySixString]

I did the gym weights thing too. I placed the round weight plates in the ziploc bags and stacked them under the steps. Working really well so far.

[knarf#2]

I am a newbie to this site and a newbie pool owner (16x32 AG). I had a problem with the sand bags in the plastic zip lock bags because they kept breaking and it created a big mess with sand everywhere. So I placed large heavy rock (thich flagstone's that I had at home) in a plastic storage type tote with lid. I threw in a few Chlorine tablets and poked some small holes in the lid then I taped the lid with duct tape. It's at least 100 lbs and seems too be working. Are there any possible drawbacks to my idea?

[pratzert]

I've had my AG pool for almost 9 years. I used the old sandbag trick for the first couple of years, but then the bags became deteriorated and fell apart when I was removeing them. Talk about a mess.

My solution was to buy a couple of 10 long pcs of 5-6" PVC pipe used for plumbing drains and also "caps" for the ends. ( And of course PVC cement)

I went to my local Hunting/Gun Store and bought 200 pounds of lead shot.

Cut the PVC pipe into managable sections. Glued a cap on one end.... then filled it with lead shot.... then sealed the other end with a cap.

I have a total of 6 sections of this pipe. Not too long and not too heavy.

No water touches the lead and so no worries about any lead leaching into the water, which was an initial concern of mine.

But when I put them on the inside of my steps, that 200 pounds hold them in place like a charm.

I've been using these for 6-7 years now, and the PVC is completely unaffected by any of the chemicals in the pool.

Tim

[ShelleyAnn]

I was wondering, our steps bounce around a bit which doesn't bother me, but I'm wondering if it bothers the vinyl liner? Should we be making these things so heavy they don't budge?

Shelley