first time pool owner need help

madwolfpool · Mar 29, 2024

hello, thank you in advanced as i mentioned I'm a new pool owner and looking for some help with my package choice
this is the configuration that i consider :

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18'x33'x52" Saltwater 5000 Oval Pool$4,826.00
18'x33'x52" Oval Uni-Bead Mystri Gold Liner - 25 Gauge$195.00Edit
Hayward SP1091WM Wide-Mouth Above Ground Thru-Wall Skimmer & Return Fitting$0.00 Included
AquaPro 190 SQ. FT. Cartridge Filter System 2-HP 2-Speed Pump 2 Year Warranty$849.00Edit
Confer Step 1X Above Ground Pool Steps$309.00
18'x33' Oval Peel N' Stick Foam Pool Cove - Gladon XL$143.00
18'x33' Oval Armor Shield Liner Floor Pad$179.00
Solaxx Saltron Reliant Saltwater Chlorine Generator up to 30,000 Gallons$929.00
Saltwater Series Chemical Maintenance Kit with Test Kits$89.99
30" x 36" Step Pad

is there anything needs to be updated or change ?
is this good for the price ?

Thank you

Please

Newdude · Mar 29, 2024

Hey mad wolf and Welcome !!!!

Skip the saltron SWG. The Circupool Universal 25 will make more chlorine per day, needing to be run less, giving it a proportionate longer life.

It's also cheaper @ $699 Link

The rest looks great. Get a larger filter if available. It will need cleaning less often, which you'll appreciate.

VinnyinNJ · Mar 29, 2024

Welcome!

Great choice in liner, I have that one as too! I have the wide mouth skimmer and it works well.

Are you putting the Confer steps on a deck? If not you need both sides, the connector kit and probably the gate kit. The steps are nice, I have them as well but be warned they like to float. I drilled holes on the inside to get them to fill with water quicker and I made a rig to get them to stay put. If you look at the photo, the inside has the same contours as the outside and I bought pebbles and put them into sturdy bleach containers with handles and used a thinner (1/2 inch I think) PVC pipe that spans the contours. I used 2 one gallon bottles and between the holes and the bottles the steps are sturdy.

Putting a pad in the pool is nice, keeps the ladder from rubbing on the liner. Our last pool we used bath mats but our dealer had something like you listed as part of the package. Think about using a plastic landing pad outside the pool if not attaching to a deck for the ladder to sit on. We had concrete 16x16 paver blocks on our last pool and the bigger plastic one is much better. It does get hot in the sun but a little pool water or wet feet takes care of that.

Filters as an interesting thing, I swear by DE but the filter needs to have grids for me to want it, my old pool had this type of filter. I bought a sand filter with my new pool and would never consider a cartridge filter. Others swear by cartridge filters and hate/dislike the rest. So it's a matter of preference. When I asked the dealer about getting a DE filter he asked why would I want all that work ... my last filter was so easy to use and maintain; I've only used the new filter 1 season so I can't compare the sand to the DE.

I've just used sand as a base and cove, worked well for us.

Go and buy a good test kit, this is a good one: TF-100 Salt Test Kit Don't rely on a store or strips.

madwolfpool · Mar 29, 2024

Newdude said:
Hey mad wolf and Welcome !!!!

Skip the saltron SWG. The Circupool Universal 25 will make more chlorine per day, needing to be run less, giving it a proportionate longer life.

It's also cheaper @ $699 Link

The rest looks great. Get a larger filter if available. It will need cleaning less often, which you'll appreciate.

Newdude said:

Hey mad wolf and Welcome !!!!

Skip the saltron SWG. The Circupool Universal 25 will make more chlorine per day, needing to be run less, giving it a proportionate longer life.

It's also cheaper @ $699 Link

The rest looks great. Get a larger filter if available. It will need cleaning less often, which you'll appreciate.

Click to expand...

thank you

madwolfpool · Mar 29, 2024

VinnyinNJ said:
Welcome!

Great choice in liner, I have that one as too! I have the wide mouth skimmer and it works well.

Are you putting the Confer steps on a deck? If not you need both sides, the connector kit and probably the gate kit. The steps are nice, I have them as well but be warned they like to float. I drilled holes on the inside to get them to fill with water quicker and I made a rig to get them to stay put. If you look at the photo, the inside has the same contours as the outside and I bought pebbles and put them into sturdy bleach containers with handles and used a thinner (1/2 inch I think) PVC pipe that spans the contours. I used 2 one gallon bottles and between the holes and the bottles the steps are sturdy.

Putting a pad in the pool is nice, keeps the ladder from rubbing on the liner. Our last pool we used bath mats but our dealer had something like you listed as part of the package. Think about using a plastic landing pad outside the pool if not attaching to a deck for the ladder to sit on. We had concrete 16x16 paver blocks on our last pool and the bigger plastic one is much better. It does get hot in the sun but a little pool water or wet feet takes care of that.

Filters as an interesting thing, I swear by DE but the filter needs to have grids for me to want it, my old pool had this type of filter. I bought a sand filter with my new pool and would never consider a cartridge filter. Others swear by cartridge filters and hate/dislike the rest. So it's a matter of preference. When I asked the dealer about getting a DE filter he asked why would I want all that work ... my last filter was so easy to use and maintain; I've only used the new filter 1 season so I can't compare the sand to the DE.

I've just used sand as a base and cove, worked well for us.

Go and buy a good test kit, this is a good one: TF-100 Salt Test Kit Don't rely on a store or strips.

thank you so much for your support
i'm planning to build it to deck thats is why i choose this steps but if you think there is better options let me know please.
to be honest as im somewhat new and don't know anything about pools or filters i just choose to go with cartridge because it's seams to be the medium of everything between sand and DE after saw many reviews.

mariane · Mar 29, 2024

Welcome to the forum and AGP ownership. There are a few of us here.

Will you be installing the pool or paying an installation company?
My 2 cents (coming out of a firehose):
1) We have a similar ladder and like it a lot. Our issue is having to move it to vacuum when debris gets behind it. Even with the enclosed sides, debris will happen. Also, enclosed sides decrease the water circulation around them, so it will be something to keep an eye on. If you're not on top of it, algae will happen and the ladder can harbor it. Just keep an eye on it. We weigh down our ladder with huge pvc pipes filled with sand then zip tie them to the ledge underneath. The hanging jugs filled with sand would work a lot easier than what we do. I'm not strong enough to lift the pipes but hubby and favored son take care of that.
2) The padding under the liner is very nice on the feet. As the pool gets older, it will compress but that's not a problem. You might not even notice.
3) Sand for the cove can be tricky, and the installation is of utmost importance. If not done correctly, the sand can wash out from around the bottom channel, the liner would be pushed into the hole because of the water pressure, then pinch and/or tear the liner. Then it'll a complete liner fail. Styrofoam cove is recommended by many, maybe since it is also easier to install.
4) Bigger filter than what they recommend is usually best. It lasts longer before you have to clean it. It helps to have a 2nd cartridge on hand for when you are cleaning the first one. When you remove the first to clean, you can put the 2nd one in and not have to keep the pump shut down during cleaning.
5) Reconsider the Pool opening kit. It's expensive and has things you don't need. The test kit will be low grade. The best one and the one we use is TF-100 Salt Test Kit. Initially the test kit looks expensive, but it's worth its weight in gold with its accuracy when it comes to testing the pool water.
Read Pool School re: chemicals needed with new pools and start-ups.
6) Start to consider heaters. Since we are in Metro Detroit, we are able to extend our swim season using a gas fired heater. Ours is no longer available, but I'm sure others would have recommendations.
7) Eventually you'll want to consider hard piping the lines to replace the hoses. They are expensive, seem to fail at the worst time, and usually only last a few years.
Hope this helps.

VinnyinNJ · Mar 29, 2024

madwolfpool said:
thank you so much for your support
i'm planning to build it to deck thats is why i choose this steps but if you think there is better options let me know please.
to be honest as im somewhat new and don't know anything about pools or filters i just choose to go with cartridge because it's seams to be the medium of everything between sand and DE after saw many reviews.

Since there is a deck going in then that's all you need for getting into and out of the pool. My ladder is covered now but drilling holes in it was no big deal. I drilled them where the contour is upright on the bottom and the top to let water in and air out. I'll try and take a photo of my rig - it's really simple, cheap and worked great last year. the steps have plastic deck anchors (those wings at the top in the photo you posted) they get mounted to the deck. I don't have a heater but do use a solar cover and it does get the pool warm as long as the outside temps don't dip too low.

Don't let me "scare" you about a cartridge filter, I can't say if it's good or bad and people here like theirs. My experience was a very long time ago with an under powered filter back when I was a kid in the late 60's early 70's with a pool that was NOT taken care of properly (there wasn't a knowledgeable person around back then!). Apparently my experience with DE is not everyone's experience so I lucked out ... now I got a sand filter.

Something that you may or may not know is that AG pools need a permit in some (all?) places and there are codes that must be followed. Electric needs to be run for the filter, bonding of the pool, pool's water and/or the filter and salt system. There also may be setbacks from property lines that need to be followed. I know someone who was told to take down an Intex pool in his township due to not having a pool permit or not meeting code.

PVC Hard piping - YES! And make sure you have unions (there's apparently something a little better) for everything. My filter was originally hard piped without any unions anywhere - it worked but I wouldn't be able to winterize the plumbing. Have a union at the skimmer, befor and after the salt cell, if the salt cell is not at the return then at the return, at the pump between the pump and filter and from the filter to the salt cell. If there's a pipe that you may need to disassemble put a union on it!

I bought an Aquador front plate for the skimmer that's like a Tupperware lid, have used it for 2 winters and it works great.

VinnyinNJ · Mar 29, 2024

The rig to hold the ladder down.

madwolfpool · Mar 29, 2024

VinnyinNJ said:
Since there is a deck going in then that's all you need for getting into and out of the pool. My ladder is covered now but drilling holes in it was no big deal. I drilled them where the contour is upright on the bottom and the top to let water in and air out. I'll try and take a photo of my rig - it's really simple, cheap and worked great last year. the steps have plastic deck anchors (those wings at the top in the photo you posted) they get mounted to the deck. I don't have a heater but do use a solar cover and it does get the pool warm as long as the outside temps don't dip too low.

Don't let me "scare" you about a cartridge filter, I can't say if it's good or bad and people here like theirs. My experience was a very long time ago with an under powered filter back when I was a kid in the late 60's early 70's with a pool that was NOT taken care of properly (there wasn't a knowledgeable person around back then!). Apparently my experience with DE is not everyone's experience so I lucked out ... now I got a sand filter.

Something that you may or may not know is that AG pools need a permit in some (all?) places and there are codes that must be followed. Electric needs to be run for the filter, bonding of the pool, pool's water and/or the filter and salt system. There also may be setbacks from property lines that need to be followed. I know someone who was told to take down an Intex pool in his township due to not having a pool permit or not meeting code.

PVC Hard piping - YES! And make sure you have unions (there's apparently something a little better) for everything. My filter was originally hard piped without any unions anywhere - it worked but I wouldn't be able to winterize the plumbing. Have a union at the skimmer, befor and after the salt cell, if the salt cell is not at the return then at the return, at the pump between the pump and filter and from the filter to the salt cell. If there's a pipe that you may need to disassemble put a union on it!

I bought an Aquador front plate for the skimmer that's like a Tupperware lid, have used it for 2 winters and it works great.

do you have any idea how much it cost if i got someone to install it, it's seems to be hard to do it myself alone and i think about putting it 2 f in the ground

madwolfpool · Mar 29, 2024

mariane said:
Welcome to the forum and AGP ownership. There are a few of us here.
Will you be installing the pool or paying an installation company?
My 2 cents (coming out of a firehose):
1) We have a similar ladder and like it a lot. Our issue is having to move it to vacuum when debris gets behind it. Even with the enclosed sides, debris will happen. Also, enclosed sides decrease the water circulation around them, so it will be something to keep an eye on. If you're not on top of it, algae will happen and the ladder can harbor it. Just keep an eye on it. We weigh down our ladder with huge pvc pipes filled with sand then zip tie them to the ledge underneath. The hanging jugs filled with sand would work a lot easier than what we do. I'm not strong enough to lift the pipes but hubby and favored son take care of that.
2) The padding under the liner is very nice on the feet. As the pool gets older, it will compress but that's not a problem. You might not even notice.
3) Sand for the cove can be tricky, and the installation is of utmost importance. If not done correctly, the sand can wash out from around the bottom channel, the liner would be pushed into the hole because of the water pressure, then pinch and/or tear the liner. Then it'll a complete liner fail. Styrofoam cove is recommended by many, maybe since it is also easier to install.
4) Bigger filter than what they recommend is usually best. It lasts longer before you have to clean it. It helps to have a 2nd cartridge on hand for when you are cleaning the first one. When you remove the first to clean, you can put the 2nd one in and not have to keep the pump shut down during cleaning.
5) Reconsider the Pool opening kit. It's expensive and has things you don't need. The test kit will be low grade. The best one and the one we use is TF-100 Salt Test Kit. Initially the test kit looks expensive, but it's worth its weight in gold with its accuracy when it comes to testing the pool water.
Read Pool School re: chemicals needed with new pools and start-ups.
6) Start to consider heaters. Since we are in Metro Detroit, we are able to extend our swim season using a gas fired heater. Ours is no longer available, but I'm sure others would have recommendations.
7) Eventually you'll want to consider hard piping the lines to replace the hoses. They are expensive, seem to fail at the worst time, and usually only last a few years.
Hope this helps.

that was helpful thank you

madwolfpool · Mar 29, 2024

VinnyinNJ said:
The rig to hold the ladder down.View attachment 561244

i see you are from NJ as me too from south NJ and wanted to ask you do you think it's better to find local places or getting online kit like that?

VinnyinNJ · Mar 30, 2024

madwolfpool said:
do you have any idea how much it cost if i got someone to install it, it's seems to be hard to do it myself alone and i think about putting it 2 f in the ground

I am a DIYer and I would not install a pool by myself. I watched our pool going up and you need equipment and enough bodies to get the pool up. I think we paid about $1,900 for a simple install at the end of season 2022 - existing area that had a pool and all they had to do is put sand down and put the pool up. Excavating will cost money, our last pool needed the ground to be flattened and it was a lot. It was 20+ years ago so I forget how much more; we didn't have the dirt removed because it was additional $$$. You'll need access for equipment to get to the area as well.

Just as a FYI, our new pool was installed the week before Labor Day 2022 and all in it was about $11,000 and that was for a pool + install that an existing pool was already there.

VinnyinNJ · Mar 30, 2024

madwolfpool said:
i see you are from NJ as me too from south NJ and wanted to ask you do you think it's better to find local places or getting online kit like that?

My thoughts are buying online can be great for a lot of things including a pool. When I priced a similar pool online the price difference was not that much compared to what I paid if anything at all. A local pool store may have some pull to get work done because they use the same people to do the work. I can say that it was super easy to get the installer and electrician along with the store setting up and starting my pool - they hard plumbed the filter, they filled the filter with sand, they added the salt and started my pool season. Adding salt to pool - no big deal, same with sand in the filter. Hard plumbing the filter may take most people a lot of time if they aren't used to it (I'm not).

What you can get online may be better for certain things, I don't know if I'd want to use a galvanized steel wall pool sunk into the ground for fear of rusting away quickly. A full resin pool would work great in a sunken pool scenario and you may not be able to get that locally. Something to remember if you do shop locally, they need us to spend money to keep the lights on so they may slightly more expensive and may recommend stuff that is not recommended here. And not all pool stores are alike, We went to 2, one only had non salt water pools to sell and they were more expensive than where we bought our pool. The local store informed me that DE is now considered hazardous waste by our township and I would have to capture it vs blowing it onto a open spot.

Personally, I feel more comfortable walking into a store for big ticket items, but that's me. Now if I'm going to save $1000's that may be a different story; possibly saving $200 over a 20 year period is no big deal.

mariane · Mar 30, 2024

We are DIYers, did it ourselves and it took us 8 months. Long story about why this happened but that's for another thread. We started in late July, continued through Oct. Put it on hold for the winter and restarted April the following spring. We finished August of that year. We did not bury it, but hand dug the leveling and hand dug a deep end. It was slow, methodical and a lot of work, making sure we followed Doughboy directions to a T.

DIY install is not for the faint of heart, so if you're not confident of your ability, hire it out.
My friend tells the story of her neighbor who put one up himself. He did not take time nor attention to details of painstakingly installing it correctly. It was obvious to my friend it was not level. It failed, the walls came crashing down and the water flooded the area.
Pool fails are hilarious to watch on videos but not your own. They are possible if not installed correctly.
Hopefully I didn't scare you too much.

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