Hello everyone!
My name is Preston from San Diego, CA and I've been blessed to own this lovely pool for the past 5 years.
I reckon its roughly about 14000 gallons but not exactly sure because of the shape. This photo is also distorted from the wide angle perspective, stitching, etc.
The family and I have enjoyed our pool greatly over that time including our dog named Kilo. With our dog going swimming during the summer months we would have to backwash our filter a few times with an occasional clean during the season because his hair would collect on the cartridges.
Anyway, I titled this Introductory Thread as a 5 Year Pool Renter because I've always employed pool maintenance companies to keep it running tip top. I've read bits & pieces on maintaining but never fully committing to taking on the duties of a pool owner. With that said, I've gone thru a few companies because I felt the job they did lacked quality and professionalism. Maybe my expectations were too high but during the 5 years, I have done 2 full drain & fills because the TDS were thru the roof and have always had some sort of algae problem. I decided this year I am going to use the money I spent for pool maintenance on my own chemicals. So in the fall I purchased these items from my local Lowes:
as well as a box of DE. Proud, I watched some YouTube vids on DE backwashing and cleaning and performed my own. SUCCESS!!!! Checked my water parameters a few days later and everything looked to be within normal readings but then...
...time passes
...and passes with little to no maintainence
Now unfortunately, I am starting off the year on a bad note because my oasis of a pool has become a place only the swamp thing would call home. Yeah, success was short lived but I plan on getting it to the best condition it's ever been! I've been reading the sticky thread on reversing my algae situation but I need to acquire the Taylor FAS-DPD test kit since I only have the Leslie's Pool Supply basic kit. Not sure if I should add bleach until the kit arrives... still reading threads to determine that. Matter fact, I don't even know the difference between using bleach versus the 3" tabs.
Back to more reading... speaking of which, I want to thank this site and its contributors in advance for all the invaluable information provided.
And thank you for letting me introduce myself, here is my Kilo doing what he does best.
My name is Preston from San Diego, CA and I've been blessed to own this lovely pool for the past 5 years.
I reckon its roughly about 14000 gallons but not exactly sure because of the shape. This photo is also distorted from the wide angle perspective, stitching, etc.
The family and I have enjoyed our pool greatly over that time including our dog named Kilo. With our dog going swimming during the summer months we would have to backwash our filter a few times with an occasional clean during the season because his hair would collect on the cartridges.
Anyway, I titled this Introductory Thread as a 5 Year Pool Renter because I've always employed pool maintenance companies to keep it running tip top. I've read bits & pieces on maintaining but never fully committing to taking on the duties of a pool owner. With that said, I've gone thru a few companies because I felt the job they did lacked quality and professionalism. Maybe my expectations were too high but during the 5 years, I have done 2 full drain & fills because the TDS were thru the roof and have always had some sort of algae problem. I decided this year I am going to use the money I spent for pool maintenance on my own chemicals. So in the fall I purchased these items from my local Lowes:
as well as a box of DE. Proud, I watched some YouTube vids on DE backwashing and cleaning and performed my own. SUCCESS!!!! Checked my water parameters a few days later and everything looked to be within normal readings but then...
...time passes
...and passes with little to no maintainence
Now unfortunately, I am starting off the year on a bad note because my oasis of a pool has become a place only the swamp thing would call home. Yeah, success was short lived but I plan on getting it to the best condition it's ever been! I've been reading the sticky thread on reversing my algae situation but I need to acquire the Taylor FAS-DPD test kit since I only have the Leslie's Pool Supply basic kit. Not sure if I should add bleach until the kit arrives... still reading threads to determine that. Matter fact, I don't even know the difference between using bleach versus the 3" tabs.
Back to more reading... speaking of which, I want to thank this site and its contributors in advance for all the invaluable information provided.
And thank you for letting me introduce myself, here is my Kilo doing what he does best.
