Hello! I love the idea of this site and fellow pool owners helping each other out.
I just purchased and installed a Bestway Steel Pro Max 15' round AG pool (48" high). By my calculations it's roughly 5,500 gallons full, and it's not filled all the way to the top so I estimate 4,500 - 5,000 gallons. It is in a mostly shady spot in my backyard which is heated by Southeast Texas ambient temperatures.
I have read many of the Pool School guides here and installed the PoolMath app. I've been following the guide in the "Seasonal and Temporary Pools", which describes pools of less than 3,000 gallons ... but seems closer to what I have than the other guides geared more for IG pools.
I tested the water after filling it, and I measured a pH of 7.8 and a TA of 200. As I have totally new pool water, as per the guide I didn't bother to test the CYA. So as per step #3 I added CYA to the pool. I put 24 oz of dry stabilizer into a white t-shirt (as per this video -- decided to use instead of sock so I can see better), that I then put into the Intex deluxe skimmer I installed.
Now step #4 will be testing pH again and then adding muriatic acid to get the level down to 7.6 or so. I purchased the liquid form. But it's not clear how much time I should wait before testing pH and adjusting levels with the muriatic acid. It's been about 2 hrs now since I put the CYA dry stabilizer in. As I understand it can take days to dissolve all the acid. Naturally the family is chomping at the bit to get in, but I want to do things correctly before that happens.
The other question I had is about what "small scale" vacuum I should be looking at. The bottom of the pool already has a nice collection of leaves and so forth. I don't want to get a vacuum that is the price of the pool. I see what are called manual vacuums and I can't wrap my head around how they work. Any nice overview to look at?
Thanks!
I just purchased and installed a Bestway Steel Pro Max 15' round AG pool (48" high). By my calculations it's roughly 5,500 gallons full, and it's not filled all the way to the top so I estimate 4,500 - 5,000 gallons. It is in a mostly shady spot in my backyard which is heated by Southeast Texas ambient temperatures.
I have read many of the Pool School guides here and installed the PoolMath app. I've been following the guide in the "Seasonal and Temporary Pools", which describes pools of less than 3,000 gallons ... but seems closer to what I have than the other guides geared more for IG pools.
I tested the water after filling it, and I measured a pH of 7.8 and a TA of 200. As I have totally new pool water, as per the guide I didn't bother to test the CYA. So as per step #3 I added CYA to the pool. I put 24 oz of dry stabilizer into a white t-shirt (as per this video -- decided to use instead of sock so I can see better), that I then put into the Intex deluxe skimmer I installed.
Now step #4 will be testing pH again and then adding muriatic acid to get the level down to 7.6 or so. I purchased the liquid form. But it's not clear how much time I should wait before testing pH and adjusting levels with the muriatic acid. It's been about 2 hrs now since I put the CYA dry stabilizer in. As I understand it can take days to dissolve all the acid. Naturally the family is chomping at the bit to get in, but I want to do things correctly before that happens.
The other question I had is about what "small scale" vacuum I should be looking at. The bottom of the pool already has a nice collection of leaves and so forth. I don't want to get a vacuum that is the price of the pool. I see what are called manual vacuums and I can't wrap my head around how they work. Any nice overview to look at?
Thanks!