Installing a new Intex AGP with saltwater chlorination.

[Watermom]

Leveling is the hardest part. I have no idea how long we worked to get the area level when we put in our first pool years ago. Hope the rest is smooth sailing for you.

[tigers75]

Have started to fill and after testing out water flow rate into a 5 gallon bucket, guessing 9 hrs to fill (+ or -). Have added the 2 doses of bleach. Plan on filling tonight, shutting water off before bed time and if not to late, may get the 110 lbs of pool salt into the pool tonight also. That brings up my next questions for tonight: I will start up filter pump and get things circulating (will wait to turn on SWCG until salt is completely dissolved).......do I add anything else tonight? I read that in the "CARE" section/recipe, to add dichlor and equal parts Borax together each evening. Do I officially start adding those tonight?

Thanks for the advice everyone! Did the bucket test (5 gallon bucket with 1/4 cup bleach) and water was clear as can be, so no initial issues I believe in water quality.

[Watermom]

You can start whenever your pool is full. Have you checked the pH of your fill water?

[tigers75]

YES--tested it this afternoon:
CL/BR=0....this was prior to 2 doses of bleach being added during filling
PH=7.5
ALKALINITY=70
HARDNESS=90
Did not test for CYA yet, was going to wait 24 hrs until pool was filled, salt was added and dissolved, and pump was running for a while. After filling and adding salt, how long should I run the filter/pump the first night? All night long to circulate the salt throughout the pool?

[Watermom]

You can ignore the bromine side of your tester since this is a chlorine pool.
Your pH, alk and hardness all look fine. Don't test for CYA. Since it is a fresh fill, there won't be any in there yet and you'll just be wasting your reagents. CYA is not a test you need to run all that often. Since you are using dichlor, it will gradually add CYA. (For every 10ppm of chlorine that it adds, it adds 9ppm of CYA.) So, wait awhile to test for it.

If it were my pool with new equipment, I would probably not run it unattended overnight in case there were any problems with something until you have had a chance to make sure everything is working properly. Run it as many hours as you can but I'd turn it off before going to bed the first night. Just my opinion.

[tigers75]

Great! Thanks for the advice! Plan on running filter for a couple of hours after adding salt to start recirculating. Will also start on nightly "care recipe" of dichlor and borax (equal parts). All this upfront advice has been so helpful!

[tigers75]

One question I forgot to check with: I occasionally have pine needles falling into the pool--will the acidity of those have a great enough effect that it will mess with readings?
And also...anything special to pay attention to if I have numerous days of rainfall?
Thanks again