In Illinois, where I expect the season to be very short this year...
I took the name ForeverNewbie, because I don't have a real pool yet. My DH really doesn't want to take the plunge, so year after year, I am stuck with baby pools. The dogs have their small baby pool and I get the larger one...one of those pre-molded plastic pools, at most 10'-12" deep.
A few years back, I had something similar to an Intex easy set ring pool, smaller though, with a filter, but the filter stopped running after a few weeks. I had only shocked the pool a few times. I was not versed on proper maintenance and had test strips. Once the filter stopped working I took it down, and went back to the pre-molded plastic pools.
This year, I bought this:
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_...3&blockType=G23&prdNo=23&i_cntr=1307839356786
I put plastic sheeting down, then a tarp then the pool, and filled it. I did not treat the water. I didn't level it when it needed to be. It was fine for 2 days, but then the weather cooled here, the dogs played in it, and we had some high winds which blew a lot of debris in the pool.
I took the pool up now and the tarp and plastic. Found the grass to be dead somewhat, with an awful odor...I am such a newb, forgive me...really, I now know I should have taken up the grass and leveled the dirt.
So now I am thinking about another Intex pool with a filter this time...doing it right within our budget. I am thinking about a either an easy set or one with metal bars. The feature that leads me to the Intex metal bar pool, is the ability to fit the pool between these steps:
http://www.csnstores.com/Blue-Wave-Products-NE138-BWV1400.html
I think if I chose a Intex easy set ring pool, it may not fit well in between the steps.
I have a lot of questions about maintaining water condition, like do I really need a test kit costing $145+?, ...using the pump that comes with the pool vs. upgrading the pump, do I put sand down then the pool liner, or sand, then a tarp, then the pool liner??
...so this is who I am and where I am at with this.
I have been reading the pool school material and will do so many more times I am sure, as well as browsing the forum. I saw these pics here http://www.troublefreepool.com/intex-pool-and-deck-build-t23031.html and would love to do something similar, but my husband tells me that's Georgia, and that in IL, you can not use those concrete blocks, and for the job to be up to code in IL, that you have to put posts 42" deep into the ground.
My DH would rather I just join the local aquatic center, but it's an indoor heated pool, and I really prefer not to have to drive 5 miles to take a dip.
I may even put this off until next year, but I wanted to learn now, and get a grip on owning a pool before I actually own one...a real one. Thanks for reading...long introduction, I know...sorry about that. -ForeverNewbie
I took the name ForeverNewbie, because I don't have a real pool yet. My DH really doesn't want to take the plunge, so year after year, I am stuck with baby pools. The dogs have their small baby pool and I get the larger one...one of those pre-molded plastic pools, at most 10'-12" deep.
A few years back, I had something similar to an Intex easy set ring pool, smaller though, with a filter, but the filter stopped running after a few weeks. I had only shocked the pool a few times. I was not versed on proper maintenance and had test strips. Once the filter stopped working I took it down, and went back to the pre-molded plastic pools.
This year, I bought this:
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_...3&blockType=G23&prdNo=23&i_cntr=1307839356786
I put plastic sheeting down, then a tarp then the pool, and filled it. I did not treat the water. I didn't level it when it needed to be. It was fine for 2 days, but then the weather cooled here, the dogs played in it, and we had some high winds which blew a lot of debris in the pool.
I took the pool up now and the tarp and plastic. Found the grass to be dead somewhat, with an awful odor...I am such a newb, forgive me...really, I now know I should have taken up the grass and leveled the dirt.
So now I am thinking about another Intex pool with a filter this time...doing it right within our budget. I am thinking about a either an easy set or one with metal bars. The feature that leads me to the Intex metal bar pool, is the ability to fit the pool between these steps:
http://www.csnstores.com/Blue-Wave-Products-NE138-BWV1400.html
I think if I chose a Intex easy set ring pool, it may not fit well in between the steps.
I have a lot of questions about maintaining water condition, like do I really need a test kit costing $145+?, ...using the pump that comes with the pool vs. upgrading the pump, do I put sand down then the pool liner, or sand, then a tarp, then the pool liner??
...so this is who I am and where I am at with this.
I have been reading the pool school material and will do so many more times I am sure, as well as browsing the forum. I saw these pics here http://www.troublefreepool.com/intex-pool-and-deck-build-t23031.html and would love to do something similar, but my husband tells me that's Georgia, and that in IL, you can not use those concrete blocks, and for the job to be up to code in IL, that you have to put posts 42" deep into the ground.
My DH would rather I just join the local aquatic center, but it's an indoor heated pool, and I really prefer not to have to drive 5 miles to take a dip.
I may even put this off until next year, but I wanted to learn now, and get a grip on owning a pool before I actually own one...a real one. Thanks for reading...long introduction, I know...sorry about that. -ForeverNewbie
