Finally all setup

That's one of the most thorough site prep processes I've seen yet! Very nice work there.

I've got the same pool, but added the salt water chlorinator and just dump in four bags of salt each year. Zero chemicals needed otherwise....which makes the pool super simple to take care of. I only needed chemicals one year as the city was messing with PH on tap water to reduce lead issues. They stopped this after folks (including us) developed pin hole leaks in copper plumbing. Now it's just four bags of salt (same pool)...that's it. I run the salt water chlorinator 2 hours a day to keep the levels correct.
 
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That's one of the most thorough site prep processes I've seen yet! Very nice work there.

I've got the same pool, but added the salt water chlorinator and just dump in four bags of salt each year. Zero chemicals needed otherwise....which makes the pool super simple to take care of. I only needed chemicals one year as the city was messing with PH on tap water to reduce lead issues. They stopped this after folks (including us) developed pin hole leaks in copper plumbing. Now it's just four bags of salt (same pool)...that's it. I run the salt water chlorinator 2 hours a day to keep the levels correct.
Thank you. I hope it all stays together and level. I am sure it will though, I am just the type who plans on everything going wrong that way if it does I expected it and if nothing goes wrong then it is perfect.

Also each block in my retaining wall was glued to the lower block. I didn't want to take any chances, there is about 2 feet of crushed stone behind the wall aswell as a drainage pipe around it all too
 
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It's hard to tell in your final pic, but I'd suggest taking the pavers (that the feet sit on) down to ground level as that is the way the liner/supports are designed to work. You may end up with issues if you elevate them. I take down my pool each year for winter (about 5-6 of them now) and find that the pool and liner are happiest with the feet/base at ground level. The way you set up on those pavers with the frame (and no vertical supports installed) btw was excellent thinking. It's a challenge to get the feet all vertical with a full pool, so you want to have about 8-12" to play with once you place the pads.

If you are following an install method that is already proven by other users, ignore my comments :) Also, if the pavers just make up the difference after you added foam board under the pool..also ignore my comments!
 
It's hard to tell in your final pic, but I'd suggest taking the pavers (that the feet sit on) down to ground level as that is the way the liner/supports are designed to work. You may end up with issues if you elevate them. I take down my pool each year for winter (about 5-6 of them now) and find that the pool and liner are happiest with the feet/base at ground level. The way you set up on those pavers with the frame (and no vertical supports installed) btw was excellent thinking. It's a challenge to get the feet all vertical with a full pool, so you want to have about 8-12" to play with once you place the pads.

If you are following an install method that is already proven by other users, ignore my comments :) Also, if the pavers just make up the difference after you added foam board under the pool..also ignore my comments!
The pavers are dug down level with the foam board, and I had seen on YouTube that method for placing the pavers by setting up the top frame
 
Pool just got filled and it is leveled pretty Dang good if I do say so myself lol within the same block all the way around. I have 2.5 blocks on one side and 2.25 on the other side so about 1/2 out Next is to cut the skimmer in which I am not really looking forward to doing
 
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Don't sweat the skimmer...easy job. It may feel a bit weird to cut the pool, but it's a non issue. The skimmer is pretty awesome for collecting the mass of organics that end up in our pool...ha. You may want to think about replacing the aerator return on your pool with the (Hayward?) one that came in your kit as it is a fair bit less restrictive.
 
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Don't sweat the skimmer...easy job. It may feel a bit weird to cut the pool, but it's a non issue. The skimmer is pretty awesome for collecting the mass of organics that end up in our pool...ha. You may want to think about replacing the aerator return on your pool with the (Hayward?) one that came in your kit as it is a fair bit less restrictive.
I had the haywood one on and it had a leak so threw the one on that came with the pool to test and it actualy had better flow then the heywood one.
 

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When installing the heywood skimmer are you all leaving one of the intakes connected with the skimmer aswell or just the skimmer?

I have both plumbed in using the game 1.5" to 50mm adapters. It's a Y setup with PVC valves on both...so basically I can take 100% from the skimmer, 100% from the Intex returns, or combination. It's handy to have the skimmer valved separately from the Intex supply bits if/when you want to use a pool vacuum via the skimmer insert. I open up the Intex supply valve to improve solar efficiency (by taking cooler water from the mid section of pool).

IMG_8237.JPG
 
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I have both plumbed in using the game 1.5" to 50mm adapters. It's a Y setup with PVC valves on both...so basically I can take 100% from the skimmer, 100% from the Intex returns, or combination. It's handy to have the skimmer valved separately from the Intex supply bits if/when you want to use a pool vacuum via the skimmer insert. I open up the Intex supply valve to improve solar efficiency (by taking cooler water from the mid section of pool).

IMG_8237.JPG
Good idea I like how that is set up, what filter are you using?
 
I recently added in the 21" Hayward filter...it's a bit overkill honestly, but it did increase flow (reduced resistance) in my system by about 265 GPH. The pump setup is two pumps, Intex SF80110-1 and Intex SF80110-2 (.24 HP), in series as I need to pump through two stories/8 panels of solar. I have fun with the science/data part of this project :) The dual pump setup with chlorinator running only uses 4 amps @ 120 V...a lot less than the dual speed pump I was using previously (13 amps)..and is moving 1800 GPH through the system with solar on.

This is more or less an account of the mods etc. from 2018 onwards: Solar Swimming Pool Heat DIY with SmartThings Automation

IMG_8127.JPG


IMG_7793.JPG
 
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I recently added in the 21" Hayward filter...it's a bit overkill honestly. It doesn't flow dramatically better than the Intex 12" filter, likely as the head/valve setup is very similar. The pump setup is two pumps, Intex SF80110-1 and Intex SF80110-2 (.24 HP), in series as I need to pump through two stories/8 panels of solar. I have fun with the science/data part of this project :) The dual pump setup with chlorinator running only uses 4 amps @ 120 V...a lot less than the dual speed pump I was using previously (13 amps)..and is moving 1800 GPH through the system with solar on.

This is more or less an account of the mods etc. from 2018 onwards: Solar Swimming Pool Heat DIY with SmartThings Automation

IMG_8127.JPG


IMG_7793.JPG
Do the solar panels actualy extend your swim season? I had thought of using them next season but am on the fence if they would actualy do enough to justify the extra work ill give myself
 
Figures I just get the pool filled and chemicals added (cya and chlorine) and it starts raining and will rain today and tomorrow. Guess we could use the rain but it could of held off till I atleast got my landscaping done
 

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