New Salt Water Pool - Getting Closer To Fill Up

[LSU]

There is lots of information to go through on the forums, and I am just getting started. We should be filling our pool in a couple of weeks after the pebble tec is put in. I am having pool water trucked in because we live way out in the country, and our city water comes from a well and is iron rich, etc. It would be dark if we filled from there. Once the pool contractor tells me to fill the pool, I was told by another person with a salt water pool that it will be a bit before we put in salt. What are the first steps I should be doing once I add water to the pool? We are brand new in ground pool owners. I know we need a good test kit, and we will follow the recommendations from this site. I have been looking at the pool school docs. Just trying to get a feel for what we should be doing. I don't want to be misled by the pool builder.

 

[jesse-99]

Yes, you won't be adding salt in right away. Probably for about 10 days or so after the water is filled until adding salt (IIRC). I'd recommend for your pool-start-up to listen to your pool builder and follow their specs/guidelines so you don't void any warranty they might provide. You could ALSO choose to follow Pebble-tec's manufacturer pool start-up recommendations as well (which might differ than those of your pool builder's recommendations). Don't mix and match methods, pick one or the other.

If you're unsure what your pool builder tells you to do, ask here, but sometimes you're at their mercy initially if you want to be sure they cover any potential defects or warranty issues.

My $.02.

 

[LSU]

Yes, you won't be adding salt in right away. Probably for about 10 days or so after the water is filled until adding salt (IIRC). I'd recommend for your pool-start-up to listen to your pool builder and follow their specs/guidelines so you don't void any warranty they might provide. You could ALSO choose to follow Pebble-tec's manufacturer pool start-up recommendations as well (which might differ than those of your pool builder's recommendations). Don't mix and match methods, pick one or the other.

If you're unsure what your pool builder tells you to do, ask here, but sometimes you're at their mercy initially if you want to be sure they cover any potential defects or warranty issues.

My $.02.

Gotcha! Appreciate the info! We will see what they say.

 

[jesse-99]

Also, if you're bringing in water via trucks, that's good because you definitely don't want metals in your pool at startup because staining fresh plaster is really bad. I would ask your pool builder about what sequestrant they might add initially as well, because you will sooner or later need to add water in from your well, due to evaporation and splash out. And if your well is iron rich you are going to be in a long battle dealing with iron and iron staining in your pool as well. Adding a sequestrant initially is extremely important IMHO and maintaining your weekly dosing of it.

Feel free to ask more Q's.

 

[jesse-99]

Oh, as for a test kit, YES please get one NOW. Either a TF-PRO or a Taylor 2006C. IMHO it's a requirement, and the fact that you mentioned it already, is a great sign for your future attention paid to your pool and chance of successfully managing your new pool!

 

[LSU]

Yes, you won't be adding salt in right away. Probably for about 10 days or so after the water is filled until adding salt (IIRC). I'd recommend for your pool-start-up to listen to your pool builder and follow their specs/guidelines so you don't void any warranty they might provide. You could ALSO choose to follow Pebble-tec's manufacturer pool start-up recommendations as well (which might differ than those of your pool builder's recommendations). Don't mix and match methods, pick one or the other.

If you're unsure what your pool builder tells you to do, ask here, but sometimes you're at their mercy initially if you want to be sure they cover any potential defects or warranty issues.

My $.02.

PebbleTec site says to not add salt for 28 days: "Salt left on the finish surface may scale, stain or discolor the finish and is not covered by the warranty."

 

[LSU]

Also, if you're bringing in water via trucks, that's good because you definitely don't want metals in your pool at startup because staining fresh plaster is really bad. I would ask your pool builder about what sequestrant they might add initially as well, because you will sooner or later need to add water in from your well, due to evaporation and splash out. And if your well is iron rich you are going to be in a long battle dealing with iron and iron staining in your pool as well. Adding a sequestrant initially is extremely important IMHO and maintaining your weekly dosing of it.

Feel free to ask more Q's.

I will ask them. We have an auto fill they are installing with a backflow preventer, so we can fill the pool from the city water line. I purchased and have had a dual filter system from the RV filter store set inline where the water first comes into the system. I will check into the sequestrant. I see there is a page on the site here that talks about it, so I will look at that as well.

 

[jesse-99]

PebbleTec site says to not add salt for 28 days: "Salt left on the finish surface may scale, stain or discolor the finish and is not covered by the warranty."

Good find. Check with your pool builder, now that you know that information. They'll give you a recommendation on when to begin adding salt. If they say, for example, 14 days, then ask them why they say 14 days when Pebble Tec's recommendations is 28 days. Managing it for a month with Liquid Chlorine won't be too hard, and it'll make you appreciate your SWCG even more when you do get salt added. Are they adding the salt eventually? Or you? Everyone has different opinions of how to add it. Some pool builders just DUMP it into the bottom of the pool (my pool takes about 19 bags! yikes). I -hate- that method, I prefer dumping in 3-4 bags at a time and MIXING it in right away with brushing until its all dissolved, then I add in another 3-4 bags, mix, repeat etc. I don't like that salt just sitting there for hours and hours and hours. (some pool builders or pool companies are lazy and just dump and leave)

 

[LSU]

Oh, as for a test kit, YES please get one NOW. Either a TF-PRO or a Taylor 2006C. IMHO it's a requirement, and the fact that you mentioned it already, is a great sign for your future attention paid to your pool and chance of successfully managing your new pool!

I was looking at the TF Pro Salt. Planning on ordering it at the end of the week to have it in time.

 

[LSU]

Good find. Check with your pool builder, now that you know that information. They'll give you a recommendation on when to begin adding salt. If they say, for example, 14 days, then ask them why they say 14 days when Pebble Tec's recommendations is 28 days. Managing it for a month with Liquid Chlorine won't be too hard, and it'll make you appreciate your SWCG even more when you do get salt added. Are they adding the salt eventually? Or you? Everyone has different opinions of how to add it. Some pool builders just DUMP it into the bottom of the pool (my pool takes about 19 bags! yikes). I -hate- that method, I prefer dumping in 3-4 bags at a time and MIXING it in right away with brushing until its all dissolved, then I add in another 3-4 bags, mix, repeat etc. I don't like that salt just sitting there for hours and hours and hours. (some pool builders or pool companies are lazy and just dump and leave)

More than likely it will be me adding it when we get to that point, and yes, I will add a few bags at a time and mix/brush so it dissolves.

 

[jesse-99]

If your auto-fills will be on city water (but from a well), that could be problematic, even with filters (can you share more what kind of "filters" you have in place?) . Do you have a water softener? Just curious.

 

[jesse-99]

I will ask them. We have an auto fill they are installing with a backflow preventer,

They probably put in an RPZ valve outside somewhere on the side of your house as the backflow preventer. It's a must-have.

 

[jesse-99]

More than likely it will be me adding it when we get to that point, and yes, I will add a few bags at a time and mix/brush so it dissolves.

Also quick tip, don't just open the salt bags and pour into the pool. Inspect the salt quickly first and make sure its not discolored or brown. Sometimes salt bags have BAD stuff in them and the color is really off and that should be a warning to stop and not pour that bag into the pool or you'll add alot of bad contaminants. There's been a few reports of bad Mortons Pool Salt lately on here, though that doesn't mean it's necessarily any worse than some of the other brands, maybe it's just bad luck, I dunno. But check your salt before just dumping it in !

 

[LSU]

If your auto-fills will be on city water (but from a well), that could be problematic, even with filters (can you share more what kind of "filters" you have in place?) . Do you have a water softener? Just curious.

No water softener. Here is the filter housing. They make metal trap filters to capture iron, etc. I have a way after this filter to connect a food grade RV hose to be able to refill my hot tub if I ever have to do that.

 

[LSU]

Also quick tip, don't just open the salt bags and pour into the pool. Inspect the salt quickly first and make sure its not discolored or brown. Sometimes salt bags have BAD stuff in them and the color is really off and that should be a warning to stop and not pour that bag into the pool or you'll add alot of bad contaminants. There's been a few reports of bad Mortons Pool Salt lately on here, though that doesn't mean it's necessarily any worse than some of the other brands, maybe it's just bad luck, I dunno. But check your salt before just dumping it in !

Gotcha, will do! Appreciate those tips.

 

[jesse-99]

No water softener. Here is the filter housing. They make metal trap filters to capture iron, etc. I have a way after this filter to connect a food grade RV hose to be able to refill my hot tub if I ever have to do that.

Thanks for sharing that. Filters help. But... depending on how much iron you have, don't expect it to catch all the iron. I have tried similar cartridge filters, small in size like those, and large in size (as in, [4] 13x52 tanks to filter out iron), and NONE of them are completely effective, which means, iron gets into the pool. And speaking from experience, iron in your pool is one of the worst things you will ever deal with.

BEFORE you even fill your pool water, I'd suggest checking out this post: How to test for Iron without sending out water to testing lab or pool store! (pics included)

All you need is a 5 gallon white bucket, and a gallon of 10% of 12.5% chlorine. And try that test with your pool auto-fill water.

I've used some filters from Metal Trap specifically as well, and they don't remove all the iron in my experience. They help (more so with LOWER flow than HIGHER flow) but again, they let iron though as well.

 

[LSU]

Thanks for sharing that. Filters help. But... depending on how much iron you have, don't expect it to catch all the iron. I have tried similar cartridge filters, small in size like those, and large in size (as in, [4] 13x52 tanks to filter out iron), and NONE of them are completely effective, which means, iron gets into the pool. And speaking from experience, iron in your pool is one of the worst things you will ever deal with.

BEFORE you even fill your pool water, I'd suggest checking out this post: How to test for Iron without sending out water to testing lab or pool store! (pics included)

All you need is a 5 gallon white bucket, and a gallon of 10% of 12.5% chlorine. And try that test with your pool auto-fill water.

I've used some filters from Metal Trap specifically as well, and they don't remove all the iron in my experience. They help (more so with LOWER flow than HIGHER flow) but again, they let iron though as well.

I am thinking of running 2 filters in line. Anything will help. These filters are rated for 6000 gallons at higher flow rates. I may just have to do maintenance sequestrant. I will check out that post and do the test! Thanks for that!

 

[LSU]

Thanks for sharing that. Filters help. But... depending on how much iron you have, don't expect it to catch all the iron. I have tried similar cartridge filters, small in size like those, and large in size (as in, [4] 13x52 tanks to filter out iron), and NONE of them are completely effective, which means, iron gets into the pool. And speaking from experience, iron in your pool is one of the worst things you will ever deal with.

BEFORE you even fill your pool water, I'd suggest checking out this post: How to test for Iron without sending out water to testing lab or pool store! (pics included)

All you need is a 5 gallon white bucket, and a gallon of 10% of 12.5% chlorine. And try that test with your pool auto-fill water.

I've used some filters from Metal Trap specifically as well, and they don't remove all the iron in my experience. They help (more so with LOWER flow than HIGHER flow) but again, they let iron though as well.

What dual water softener are you using?

 

[jesse-99]

Don't remember specifically, I had my water treatment company custom build one for me per my specs (gallons per minute, gallons available per day, expected water usage overall, etc.). The model/brand doesn't matter so much, as long as the process works. I went dual-tank because I didn't want to have periods where one tank was regenerating (this process takes 3-4 hours and CANNOT be done any faster than that due to the science involved) and I might be adding un-softened water to my pool -- I didn't want that. So the dual tank system helps because water will -always- be softened even if one tank is regenerating. A dual tank system (depending on your tank size) could be $1,500-$4,000. I went overboard on mine, so my dual tank system can effectively treat 23,000 gallons PER day if need be. (I wanted it so I could FILL my pool with the system too each spring). With a softener, the ion exchange process converts iron to sodium, so it doesn't filter it, it changes it at the molecular level. Also, you will end up with a Calcium Hardness of 0 coming out of the softener, and you/we have a plaster pool, so that means, making sure you add in the appropriate amount of Calcium Chloride to your pool (you won't do this at new plaster startup though!! again, check with your builder or Pebble-Tec when its' safe to start upping the CH level in your pool). Calcium Chloride such as: Amazon.com

 

[jesse-99]

Also, this is helpful: Plaster Start-Up Guides - Further Reading

@mknauss who often shares that link to readers here.