Pool school article on opening?

[steveg_nh]

Perhaps I missed it, but I did look! We just had our pool installed in the fall, so this is the first spring I've had a pool that I've opened. The pool company that built it is opening it up and getting it running, but the initial water chemistry and getting it as it should be will be on me. I'm a bit intimidated by it, but love technical details and learning. Any pointers to articles or threads that are of sound advice would be appreciated. My search resulted in so many, I wasn't sure where to start!

Thanks.

 

[jblizzle]

Best advice for the opening chemistry is to get the water circulating for at least an hour, then do a full set of tests to find out what needs to be adjusted.

Hard to write an article when everyone is starting in a different place chemically.

 

[pwrstrk]

Just as Jason suggested. Every pool is different. Take your tests then adjust your levels as needed.

 

[JasonLion]

There is an article on opening an above ground pool. In-ground pools have essentially the same process. But that probably covers what they will be doing for you, rather then what you need to do after it is open.

Once open, all you really need to do is test the water and adjust as needed.

 

[steveg_nh]

Hmmm. Rather simple I guess then. Thanks all. So you don't necessarily need to SLAM a pool just because it's sat, as long as levels can be adjusted before algae presents itself?

 

[pwrstrk]

When I opened mine I brought my FC up to SLAM level. You can do it either way.

 

[jblizzle]

Depends on what you water looks like. If you see algae, then SLAM is required. If it is clear and you still have some FC registering from when you closed, then you may not need to SLAM.

You can always raise the FC up toward SLAM level and Perform the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to see if you need to complete the SLAM.