Please help! 350 gallon inflatable pool and the 3B's??

[Jaimew88]

Hello,
I have been searching for inexpensive ways to take care of my kids blow up pool. I have seen info regarding the 3B's but I don't know how much to use and how often. I have been using between 1/2 cup to 1 cup of Clorox to help get the water clean. I do have a filter that filters 1500 gallons an hour. The pool has been up for 2 weeks fresh out of the box and thanks to the weather they have only been able to use it twice. I put the bleach in about every other night and run the filter every night for about 6 hours. Can anyone help me with the 3B's info??? Thanks!

[Watermom]

Hi, Jaime. Sorry it has taken a little time to get to your post. It has been pretty busy around here lately with everyone starting up their pools!

We have a simple 'recipe' to help small pools get started up. Until your registration is completed, you'll have to log out to be able to see the rest of the forum. So, log out, and look at the section about 'Intex-type pools.' Read the second stickied thread with the 'recipe.'

Also, go ahead and order a good test kit. (Taylor K-2006 or 2006C in the test kit link in my signature below.)

Come back with questions and somebody here will try and help you get going.

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

[PoolDoc]

I'm going to override WaterMom here -- a 350 gallon pool is really small, spa sized really.

Here's what I'd recommend:

1. Get a cheap local OTO/phenol red test kit (yellow/red drops)
2. Buy a box of borax (detergent section of Walmart) and a spa container of pH Down or similar.
3. Buy a gallon of PLAIN household bleach.
4. Dump and refill your pool
5. Add 1/4 cup of bleach
6. Test the pH and chlorine. Chlorine should be ~5 ppm (dark yellow). PH should be what ever.
7. Add 1/4 cup of borax if the pH is less than 7.2. Add 1/8 cup of pH Down (dry acid) if the pH is above 7.8
8. Swim.
9. Check pH and chlorine nightly. Add pH adjustment doses as above -- just ONE dose per day.
10. Add chlorine dose each PM unless chlorine is high (dark yellow)
11. Replace water every 2 weeks or 10 uses.
12. Do NOT allow sick kids in the pool - you can't sanitize such a small pool adequately to keep one kid from infecting another.

The process above should be cheap, easy, and keep the pool fairly clean. But it will not protect one swimmer from another one.

[Watermom]

Ya know, it didn't compute with me when I read your post that it was so small. For some reason, I read it as 3500 gallons. (Ben, don't tell Jaime that I am a math teacher, ok!!?? )

Thanks for catching that, Doc!

[Larryh86GT]

I'm going to override WaterMom here -- a 350 gallon pool is really small, spa sized really.

Here's what I'd recommend:

1. Get a cheap local OTO/phenol red test kit (yellow/red drops)
2. Buy a box of borax (detergent section of Walmart) and a spa container of pH Down or similar.
3. Buy a gallon of PLAIN household bleach.
4. Dump and refill your pool
5. Add 1/4 cup of bleach
6. Test the pH and chlorine. Chlorine should be ~5 ppm (dark yellow). PH should be what ever.
7. Add 1/4 cup of borax if the pH is less than 7.2. Add 1/8 cup of pH Down (dry acid) if the pH is above 7.8
8. Swim.
9. Check pH and chlorine nightly. Add pH adjustment doses as above -- just ONE dose per day.
10. Add chlorine dose each PM unless chlorine is high (dark yellow)
11. Replace water every 2 weeks or 10 uses.
12. Do NOT allow sick kids in the pool - you can't sanitize such a small pool adequately to keep one kid from infecting another.

The process above should be cheap, easy, and keep the pool fairly clean. But it will not protect one swimmer from another one.

Pooldoc - Could I trouble you to provide the recommendations and chemical doses for my 1180 gallon pool please?
Larry

[BigDave]

Larry; check out the Stickies in the Pool Chemistry for Intex-type Pools forum.

[Larryh86GT]

Yes - Thank you BigDave. I have done so and I have printed umpteen different things from there and from the PoolSolutions BBB method and pool tips. I am getting overwhelmed with a lot of info. I really liked the simple way Pooldoc was able to put everything together in one easy cheat sheet that could be refered to daily that related to a 1180 gallon pool.

[Larryh86GT]

Although I suppose I could just multiply the dosage amounts x 3 and that should work out pretty close.

[Jaimew88]

Thank you Pooldoc! But What about the 3rd B (baking soda)? Or is that where the ph down comes in?

[Watermom]

Jaime, baking soda is only needed if your alkalinity gets too low.