OK -- I REALLY hate to be the bearer of bad news here, but I can help you know what you are getting yourself into. I didnt have anyone to tell me!!
The 18 ft porthole one, I have that one (without the porthole), mine was purchased from Wal-Mart 6 years ago for 450.00. Here is a yearly breakdown of what went wrong and the COST associated with it.
Year 1
Install the pool, exactly per manufacturers instructions, level the ground, install patio blocks, put the thing together. Filled it up, added the chemicals. Turned the TOY pump that came with it on. I have a beautiful pool!!! Jump in and enjoy. First week, cheap metal ladder breaks, so we use the back of my husbands truck to haul ourselves in and out of the pool. OK this is workable. Second week -- green algae starting to form because the "filter" is neither strong enough, nor does it actually filter anything. I cant get anything off the bottom of the pool, because there is absolutaly NO way to hook a vacumn up to this thing, because it does not have a skimmer. Give up and close the green monster down after a month.
Year 2
I am going to get a handle on this, I found poolsolutions.com. Before opening that summer, I bought a ladder 149.00 ladder so as not to have to use the back of a truck. I stock up on bleach. Open the monster and cholrinate, still pump/filter not adequate. I mess with it for about 2 months never swimming in it because I cant see the bottom. I give up and close it again.
Year 3
I FINALLY have saved up the money to buy a 450.00 Hayward pump and sandfilter combo and another 100.00 for a skimmer and hoses. We had to and "modify" the pool with a Dremmell tool, cut out an opening for a skimmer and installed it. Open the pool, have a handle on it. Had a great summer, till middle of the summer when the cheap liner got a hole in it. Great -- closed again.
Year 4
Seriously consider donating this thing to the dump -- but I decide instead I have already spent money on a ladder/filter/pump/skimmer, may as well go ahead and enjoy the money pit. SO I spring for a 150.00 liner. INstall myself, and we had a great year after that!
Year 5
Great year!!!! Finally have everything this thing needs
Year 6
We are open and had to buy a new pump, but I wont add that to your cost because I know that was probably a fluke --
BUT now my top rail is staring to rust, so I am probably going to have to replace that next year.
What I am trying to tell you is that my 450.00 pool, is now worth about $1500.00, and I still have a CHEAP pool, with good equipment. If i had just sprung for a decent mid priced pool, I would be much happier at this point.
Anyway, please reconsider, and just supplement the money that your children reaised and invest in a good pool that your family can enjoy from the beginning. The pool you are considering will be green and dirty after 3 weeks because it is just not properly equipped. There is no way to vacumn, no adequate filtration.
Good luck, I just wanted you to be more informed than I was.
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