Hey, I just bought a house which just happens to have a big above ground pool...and now I have to figure out how to deal with this thing. I should've been researching this(more than I did before) but work was so nuts the past few weeks I didn't have time so here I am. I literally got the keys today and am trying to jump in quick! My previous research didn't lead me to here for some reason but now I've seen this and the TFP (bbb) method which sounds like a good way to go. Sorry if this post is a little all over the place!
I have a 30'x15' above ground pool. I didn't think to measure water height, but seems like typical height is 52", so my math on that was just under 15,000 gallons. It looks like I have a SwimPro Voyager. It says SW1000Z4 on the label, but looking online it looks like its a SwimPro Voyager 110 Pump, which has those big circular cartridges(because I saw they left a spare in the garage). It looks exactly like this:
www.shopthegreatescape.com
I ordered the Taylor Technologies K-2006 test kit, but I don't think I'll get it until maybe Saturday. They left behind some paper test strips, so I figured I would use that in the mean time. The pool is pretty clear now, so I think the were maintaining it until at least a few days ago, so I imagine keeping it up as much as possible right away until I get a test kit is a good idea. Apart from a few leaves I need to clean out it looks pretty clean.
Test strip is a bit hard to read, center of each color thing is a bit darker then the edges, so hard to tell, but I did my best.
pH - 6.8
FC - 4 or 5 ppm
Total Alkalinity - 40 ppm, although maybe less because outside edges a bit lighter in color
Stabilizer - 30 ppm, but also lighter along the edges
Trying to pump this through the pool math app, it seems like I should add Soda Ash (~2 lbs, 12 oz) to get the pH and TA up, and a little under 2 lbs of dry stabilizer to try and get the CYA up. Chlorine seems good/a little high. They currently have the chlorine tablets in the floater, I figured I'd leave it for now until I get the full testing kit and go the full TFP method, unless you think I should just pop it out now.
Apart from that, I was trying to figure out how to use the pump, and quickly stopped when I got scared I'd break something...two things for now.
1. I tried running it at first, opened the air outlet on the top of the pump, and turned on the pump. Closed the air outlet once water shot out of it. Now water was pumping through it seemed like, but would go well and pump pretty powerfully into the pull, then would kinda make noise and not pump as much. I think I figured this out and its that the water level dropped, and is only slightly above the inlet elevation for the skimmer hole thing. I believe this should be up to about halfway? I figure whats happening is it occasionally gets good suction, pumps fast, pulls the water elevation down in the skimmer to the point where it sucks in air since the water line is too low. I think I just have to hose in some water to gain an inch or two. If thats right, how does that affect adding any additional chemicals?
2. The inlet basket on the pump. It looks pretty full of leaves now, so figure I need clean it out. This was the main oh Crud moment where I said I need to ask people online first. I tried opening it and water shot out, since the water line is above the pump, obvious to me now. Closed it immediately and walked away. So there is line shut off valve from the suction skimmer. The downstream side just has this lever that says Waste. I'm guessing turning this to there, and also opening up the cap thats keeping the outlet closed would let you drain pool water. So if I turn this but leave the cap on, would that just shut off the water from that downstream so I can safely open up the pump filter basket for cleaning? After that I believe I just refill the water in the basket, close it, then do the pump run while opening the air release thing again.
Whoo thats a lot of stuff! Sorry if its very all over the place, bit of a panic cause this is a lot to do while still dealing with all the other moving and also work!
Let me know if you need any other info! I'll definitely post a test off the real kit I ordered as soon as I get it!
I have a 30'x15' above ground pool. I didn't think to measure water height, but seems like typical height is 52", so my math on that was just under 15,000 gallons. It looks like I have a SwimPro Voyager. It says SW1000Z4 on the label, but looking online it looks like its a SwimPro Voyager 110 Pump, which has those big circular cartridges(because I saw they left a spare in the garage). It looks exactly like this:
110 Voyager Element Filter System with Twist-Lock Pump and Accessories - Filters & Parts - The Great Escape
Easy to operate Energy efficient Full flow element Advanced filtration technology that results in crystal clear pool water Includes: 110 Voyager...
I ordered the Taylor Technologies K-2006 test kit, but I don't think I'll get it until maybe Saturday. They left behind some paper test strips, so I figured I would use that in the mean time. The pool is pretty clear now, so I think the were maintaining it until at least a few days ago, so I imagine keeping it up as much as possible right away until I get a test kit is a good idea. Apart from a few leaves I need to clean out it looks pretty clean.
Test strip is a bit hard to read, center of each color thing is a bit darker then the edges, so hard to tell, but I did my best.
pH - 6.8
FC - 4 or 5 ppm
Total Alkalinity - 40 ppm, although maybe less because outside edges a bit lighter in color
Stabilizer - 30 ppm, but also lighter along the edges
Trying to pump this through the pool math app, it seems like I should add Soda Ash (~2 lbs, 12 oz) to get the pH and TA up, and a little under 2 lbs of dry stabilizer to try and get the CYA up. Chlorine seems good/a little high. They currently have the chlorine tablets in the floater, I figured I'd leave it for now until I get the full testing kit and go the full TFP method, unless you think I should just pop it out now.
Apart from that, I was trying to figure out how to use the pump, and quickly stopped when I got scared I'd break something...two things for now.
1. I tried running it at first, opened the air outlet on the top of the pump, and turned on the pump. Closed the air outlet once water shot out of it. Now water was pumping through it seemed like, but would go well and pump pretty powerfully into the pull, then would kinda make noise and not pump as much. I think I figured this out and its that the water level dropped, and is only slightly above the inlet elevation for the skimmer hole thing. I believe this should be up to about halfway? I figure whats happening is it occasionally gets good suction, pumps fast, pulls the water elevation down in the skimmer to the point where it sucks in air since the water line is too low. I think I just have to hose in some water to gain an inch or two. If thats right, how does that affect adding any additional chemicals?
2. The inlet basket on the pump. It looks pretty full of leaves now, so figure I need clean it out. This was the main oh Crud moment where I said I need to ask people online first. I tried opening it and water shot out, since the water line is above the pump, obvious to me now. Closed it immediately and walked away. So there is line shut off valve from the suction skimmer. The downstream side just has this lever that says Waste. I'm guessing turning this to there, and also opening up the cap thats keeping the outlet closed would let you drain pool water. So if I turn this but leave the cap on, would that just shut off the water from that downstream so I can safely open up the pump filter basket for cleaning? After that I believe I just refill the water in the basket, close it, then do the pump run while opening the air release thing again.
Whoo thats a lot of stuff! Sorry if its very all over the place, bit of a panic cause this is a lot to do while still dealing with all the other moving and also work!
Let me know if you need any other info! I'll definitely post a test off the real kit I ordered as soon as I get it!
Nice job putting pool info into your signature, helps the experts a lot.
