What do I need to buy?

Taddpool

Well-known member
Jul 31, 2023
60
Tomball, TX
Pool Size
34136
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
When getting a new pool, there are several things one must buy to be ready for. Chemicals, digital testers, salt bags etc....

What is the "master list"
 
I don't have much in my arsenal, truthfully:

TFTestKits.net TF Pro test kit (or TF-100 or a Taylor K-2006C). If you're going with a SWCG, pick up the TF-100/TF Pro Salt. NO other test kits aside from these 3.
Muriatic acid. Preferably 31.45%, as it's the best bang for the buck.
Cyanuric Acid/CYA (Stabilizer). This is the one time that Clorox makes a good product. The Clorox CYA sold at Wally World has always worked great for me.
Salt. If you're going salt, many members here have had great luck with the Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals. Bad luck with the Clorox and Morton lately, it seems.
Liquid chlorine. Good to have some on hand for startup and until a SWCG is up and running.

That's all I keep around.
 
In addition to the post above:

Speed Stir

Take photos of water meter before and after fill for a more accurate pool volume estimate.

Use softened water for top-offs.

This is the best set of articles to start with:


Browse TFP Wiki as time permits. Link is at the bottom of the page.
 
At this point I would get a test kit, figure out what your builder will be doing for a startup as many will cover the first 30 days including adding salt, and then start scoping out stores for chemicals.

My go to up here are Walmart, Lowes/Home Depot, with Pinch a Penny as my backup for liquid chlorine if walmart runs out/replaces the pool section with Christmas.
 
Last edited:
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TFpro salt. It's the hands down winner for the price once time you add what it comes with to any of the others.


Also a quality Pole , Brush, and net
 
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Your link isn’t working- what kind of tester?
Limited-time deal: Pool Salt Tester & PH Meter, Hofun Digital Salinity Meter and PH Tester for Pool Saltwater and Drinking Water, 5 in 1 Salinity PH Temp EC and TDS Meter Swimming Pool Hot Tub Spas, High Accuracy

https://a.co/d/ixACdTz
 
Limited-time deal: Pool Salt Tester & PH Meter, Hofun Digital Salinity Meter and PH Tester for Pool Saltwater and Drinking Water, 5 in 1 Salinity PH Temp EC and TDS Meter Swimming Pool Hot Tub Spas, High Accuracy

https://a.co/d/ixACdTz
Not sure why it's not working, I did it right, looks like it's being blocked by the site.
 
The cheap ph meters really aren’t great- even the nice ones need to be checked against the drop tests on a regular basis.
They’re not really a necessity for most. They also need to be calibrated on the regular.
Get the tf100 salt or the tfpro salt & you’ll have everything you need. The tfpro comes with the speed stir which is quite the helpful gadget.
You can always get a good apera ph meter later if you decide it’s something you need/want.
Not sure about any decent salt meters.
In general the salt meter accuracy variance is
+- 500ppm whereas the salt drop test is +- 200ppm.
 
Not sure why it's not working, I did it right, looks like it's being blocked by the site.
It shows as " about:blank#blocked". Maybe external links are not working temporarily.

I'd skip them for now.
Use a dropped based TF-Pro Salt.
You can always add the gimmicks later if you want to mess with them.
 
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