Intex Ultra Frame 16' x 48" build

[Watermom]

I can just see it now....... blue skies, clear sparkling water and you relaxing and floating around the pool on a raft!

[jab240]

Well, I finally got started with the leveling this week. I have to dig down about 3" on the high side so it's that bad. But I'm also dealing with quite a bit of clay so it's a slow process. 2 days digging and I've only got about a 1/3 done. Kids are starting to lose hope on my 2 week deadline to have the pool filled. So am I.... I may have to extend it another week.

Here's what it looked at after my Wednesday evening shift at "the hole":



Last night I started getting into the beginning of the high side with the clay so the board didn't move a whole lot but it was definitely a lot more work than the previous night. Got the email confirmation that my solar cover is en route so I almost have everything. The sad part is the most important piece (the real test kit) is going to be one of the last things I probably get.

[Watermom]

No doubt about it, leveling is by far the hardest part of the whole installation. Keep at it. It is SO worth it!

[jab240]

Not much of an update as I'm still leveling. Only got to work on it on Saturday for a few hours as it was raining here yesterday. I managed to get through the highest part so it shouldn't be much longer (I hope ). I have about a quarter of the circle left to go.

Instead of another dig pic I thought I'd post some of the items I've accumulated for the pool so far:



Don't mind the guess strips, I only picked them up to compliment the 3 way HTH test kit to tide me over until I get my Taylor kit. I think I'm going to return the strips since with my little timeline delay there should only be a week gap between the time the pool is filled and I have my Taylor kit. I've ordered the kit and will be crossing the border on July 4th for some shopping and parcel pickups.

The few bottles of fancy packaged bleach I picked up were on sale at one of box stores and have 10.8% Sodium Hypochlorite so I may have to adjust my dosing a little.



Of course that would be after I get to the proper CYA level after starting up with some Dichlor. Working late tonight so no progress will be made at the dig site. What a slow process.... can't wait to have to this thing up and running.

JB

[PoolDoc]

Nice pics; nice thread: it will help other!

Thanks!

[jab240]

Thanks Pooldoc. The forum has helped me learn a lot so far so I'm only happy to try and give back.

This arrived yesterday:


11mm 18ft SunBubble solar cover. I'll have to trim it a little but it was a definitely a good price. I seem to be getting lucky finding the good cartridge filters around here. I was in a one of our big box stores yesterday and found they started carrrying the Filbur cartridges. They are definitely a step up from Intex ones but I find the Unicel's quality is like night and day compared to the Filbur. The Unicel's have more weight to them and pleats seem more uniform.

Hopefully we have nice weather this evening so I can continue with my leveling. Between work, coaching my son's basketball team and the weather this seems to be dragging way longer than it should.

[Watermom]

... this seems to be dragging way longer than it should.

I know exactly what you are saying -- that's the way projects at my house go, too! If I think it will take a week, it'll take a month!