Hi Everyone, This all may sound so rambled as I'm trying to unscramble all the thoughts going through my head at once! I've never EVER have owned a pool before...well I guess that's not entirely true 8 years ago we had purchased a used doughboy. Not knowing what we were doing we hired someone to help us, but instead we were way too niave paid him upfront, and never saw him again. At that point we figured we couldn't spend any further money, and got rid of the idea of a pool + the pool.
Full speed ahead my son loves to swim, my husband and I thought it was about time to approach the pool idea again. I searched and searched, and have found many good reviews on these ultra frame intex pools w/ the obvious glitches here and there, and it sounded easy enough to install ourselves Well the pool is easy enough, but everything else that goes along with it, like leveling, not so much!
WHAT A PITA this can be, lol
I will post some pictures, but this is how it has gone....
Ordered pool, Have a truck because you will need one!
Leveled ground....thought maybe 6".... WRONG 13" now you will need a retaining wall (cha-ching)
Bought 12 boards of foam insulation (good info for other 18' builds (not cheap, but this forum persuaded me, and I have no doubt you all are right!!!!
Taped all seems w/ gorilla tape (p.s. by the time I was done I think it was around 4 rolls triple taped)
We have had the worst weather lately so as we had finished taping it had poured for 5 days.....Finally had a clearing, and I wanted to get this foam placed in the leveled area when a wind gust came and just took me and my son with it. It destroyed my foam Needless to say at this point I wanted to cry! Nope wait, I'm pretty sure I did have a break down!
I decided I wasn't going to let it get the best of me, and at this point we went out and bought 4 more rolls of gorilla tape, and puzzle pieced it all back together! I figure I probably only have 3 months of swimming time (WI), and I guess I will replace it next year. I don't want anyone to think this is a pity party for me....just thought the process could be helpful to someone, and a good reminder to keep your pocket book a bit fuller for the unexpected!
Here is where I am newly frazzled, and would just love some understanding of this! We finally have had another break in weather, and have finally began filling!!! (process 2 months from the point of purchase) my son is getting impatient, and so am I!!!
I have chemical kit from bioguard that a friend gave me:
I have no chlorine reading
PH at 7.8
CYA (I don't think I have a test that does this, the bioguard test 5 things, but not this??) (my pool came w/ strips so I might use them when needed for now, but I would imagine the reading is 0 since I haven't done anything yet)
My pool came w/ the saltwater sand filter combo (18'x52")
I have purchased the correct 20# silica sand for filter
I have 3 bags of pool salt on hand, 3 jugs of bleach on hand, and some CYA (stabilizer/conditioner)
Pool is almost half full w/ daylight running out at the moment. No, filter is not running yet because of water level, and plan on shutting it off throughout the night. Here I am confused....
I have played with calculator and have imputed 6900 gallons of water it shows for me to add 49oz of bleach, and 55oz of stabilizer. Do I add both of these now, and does that sound right?? Before the pump is set up and running + my salt. Do I wait to add salt since my saltwater cannot run for 24 hours after my pump is running. I'm just jumping into the chemical part of things, and I am terrified if I am doing this right, and want to make sure I'm using the calculator accordingly. I really appreciate the help. Thanks
Full speed ahead my son loves to swim, my husband and I thought it was about time to approach the pool idea again. I searched and searched, and have found many good reviews on these ultra frame intex pools w/ the obvious glitches here and there, and it sounded easy enough to install ourselves Well the pool is easy enough, but everything else that goes along with it, like leveling, not so much!
WHAT A PITA this can be, lol
I will post some pictures, but this is how it has gone....
Ordered pool, Have a truck because you will need one!
Leveled ground....thought maybe 6".... WRONG 13" now you will need a retaining wall (cha-ching)
Bought 12 boards of foam insulation (good info for other 18' builds (not cheap, but this forum persuaded me, and I have no doubt you all are right!!!!
Taped all seems w/ gorilla tape (p.s. by the time I was done I think it was around 4 rolls triple taped)
We have had the worst weather lately so as we had finished taping it had poured for 5 days.....Finally had a clearing, and I wanted to get this foam placed in the leveled area when a wind gust came and just took me and my son with it. It destroyed my foam Needless to say at this point I wanted to cry! Nope wait, I'm pretty sure I did have a break down!
I decided I wasn't going to let it get the best of me, and at this point we went out and bought 4 more rolls of gorilla tape, and puzzle pieced it all back together! I figure I probably only have 3 months of swimming time (WI), and I guess I will replace it next year. I don't want anyone to think this is a pity party for me....just thought the process could be helpful to someone, and a good reminder to keep your pocket book a bit fuller for the unexpected!
Here is where I am newly frazzled, and would just love some understanding of this! We finally have had another break in weather, and have finally began filling!!! (process 2 months from the point of purchase) my son is getting impatient, and so am I!!!
I have chemical kit from bioguard that a friend gave me:
I have no chlorine reading
PH at 7.8
CYA (I don't think I have a test that does this, the bioguard test 5 things, but not this??) (my pool came w/ strips so I might use them when needed for now, but I would imagine the reading is 0 since I haven't done anything yet)
My pool came w/ the saltwater sand filter combo (18'x52")
I have purchased the correct 20# silica sand for filter
I have 3 bags of pool salt on hand, 3 jugs of bleach on hand, and some CYA (stabilizer/conditioner)
Pool is almost half full w/ daylight running out at the moment. No, filter is not running yet because of water level, and plan on shutting it off throughout the night. Here I am confused....
I have played with calculator and have imputed 6900 gallons of water it shows for me to add 49oz of bleach, and 55oz of stabilizer. Do I add both of these now, and does that sound right?? Before the pump is set up and running + my salt. Do I wait to add salt since my saltwater cannot run for 24 hours after my pump is running. I'm just jumping into the chemical part of things, and I am terrified if I am doing this right, and want to make sure I'm using the calculator accordingly. I really appreciate the help. Thanks