OB Fiberglass Pool in South Florida

[Jimrahbe]

Ty,

In most old pools the main drain was tied into the bottom of the skimmer. For the main drain to work at all you needed a floating diverter valve (or some type of device inside the skimmer to turn on the main drain).

In most newer pools, the main drain(s) are plumbed back to the equipment pad with a valve to shut off or control the amount of flow. The skimmer(s) are also individually plumbed back to the equipment with associated valve(s).

When the main drain(s) are plumbed back to the equipment pad, the skimmer hole closest to the water is normally plugged.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Tym2Fish]

Thanks Jim. I saw where that was an option. I appreciate the help.

 

[Tym2Fish]

Inspector confirmed, plug the front hole.

 

[Tym2Fish]

It's going to be about 2 weeks before I can get the pump, SWG and filter hooked up. Any thoughts on water treatment to keep it from getting too bad or do I just deal with it? It's sitting stagnant at the moment and has been for about a week.

 

[kimkats]

Get some liquid chlorine NOW. Use a straw broom or boat paddle to make a whirlpool with your water. Walk around your pool a couple few times to get the water moving good. Then walk around it pouring the chlorine in then brush the pool to make sure it is mixed in good.

Have you added any CYA yet?

 

[Tym2Fish]

Thanks for the reply. I haven't added anything. Should I just do the liquid chlorine now or get CYA too?

 

[kimkats]

I would do CYA and FC. The CYA helps the pool keep some of the FC during the day. It acts as a "sunshield" from the sun.

The FC will need to be added every day. Please see this chart: FC/CYA Levels As you can see the amount of FC needed depends on how much CYA you have in the water.

Now as for adding CYA. It is going to harder since your pump is not running yet. We will come up with something to get is mixed in good as we sure do NOT want to mess up that pretty new pool.

 

[Tym2Fish]

Thanks for the help! I'll pick some up in the morning and get the ball rolling.

 

[Tym2Fish]

This is my rudimentary equipment pad layout. Anyone see anything weird I should address? Also, thoughts on check valve between the filter and SWG? Is it necessary? I've read lots about it here but with everyone's set up being different it's a little difficult to sort out.

 

[Tym2Fish]

Finished dry fitting the piping this morning. Will glue later and hopefully call for inspection Tuesday. Now headed to Home Depot to build a pressure manifold and stop by the pool store for chlorine and CYA. It's not even noon and the real feel temp is in the 90's so I'm happy to do inside work for a bit.

 

[kimkats]

That lay out looks good to me. Make sure to put unions on both sides of all of the equipment for ease to maintaince down the road.

 

[Tym2Fish]

Will do. Thanks

 

[Tym2Fish]

Pipes are hooked up and under pressure today. Plumbing inspection in the morning.

 

[mknauss]

There is no need for a check valve before the SWCG. It just creates increased head loss.

 

[Tym2Fish]

There is no need for a check valve before the SWCG. It just creates increased head loss.

Thanks for that. I'll remove it.

 

[PoolBrews]

Awesome write up! I'm having a blast reading through the steps, and you have injected just the right amount of humor! Can't wait to see the finished product!

 

[Tym2Fish]

Passed the plumbing inspection yesterday so we can move on to finishing the backfill next week after a quick electrical inspection this morning. Adding chlorine to the water appears to have made quite a difference. I'm going to add some CYA today and start water testing after a good paddle stirring. Fortunately we're still in the 80's here in South Florida so standing in waist deep water stirring with a kayak paddle (or removing plugs from the main drains after a pressure test) isn't too uncomfortable.

 

[kimkats]

SWEET on the passed inspection!

Adding CYA if you are adding powder CYA mix a bit of it at a time in a bucket of water. Put some in a sock and let it soak for a while then squeeze the sock until it is all dissolved. Do NOT just cast it in to the pool. It is an acid, a very light one, so you don't want to let it lay on the shell. It will not hurt you but better safe than sorry. If you are adding liquid CYA make sure to shake it up good AND add water to the bottle once you pour most of it out as it does tend to settle in the bottom and get goopy. Get a good whirl pool going to help mix it in.

 

[PoolBrews]

This is one case where I would recommend using a floater with chlorine tabs. It will slowly add CYA and chlorine to the pool.

 

[Tym2Fish]

SWEET on the passed inspection!

Adding CYA if you are adding powder CYA mix a bit of it at a time in a bucket of water. Put some in a sock and let it soak for a while then squeeze the sock until it is all dissolved. Do NOT just cast it in to the pool. It is an acid, a very light one, so you don't want to let it lay on the shell. It will not hurt you but better safe than sorry. If you are adding liquid CYA make sure to shake it up good AND add water to the bottle once you pour most of it out as it does tend to settle in the bottom and get goopy. Get a good whirl pool going to help mix it in.

Thanks! And thanks for the info. I think it's the powder (I haven't opened it yet).