First post here, but I've been a member for quite some time. Bought the 18x52 ultra frame last year... upgraded from our original 18' easy set (blue blob), which lasted us around 4 years, so we got our money's worth out of that one. I started using the BBB method with the first intex and it worked wonderful, saved me tons of money and kept me from making costly "pool store" mistakes. The ultra frame came with the combo pump and SWG and I absolutely love it! I've never had my chlorine levels stay so constant. I loved the bleach, but this is even better and a lot cheaper. I'm down to running the generator only about 2 hours a day, even in the hot Texas sun. I do run the pump about 8-10 hours a day. For those who have asked, we leave the pool up through the winter, but we do not have a lot of hard freezes in our area. Before a freeze, I do unhook the pump and hoses and drain them completely and put them in a shed. I'm sure the hoses full of water would freeze easily. As for keeping a cover on, I just toss a bunch of big beach balls into the pool then cover it. They raise the cover enough so it stays on tight and the rain water doesn't collect in the center.
I'm all for a separate section of the forum for Intex specific questions--I think that is a great idea! As cheap as these pools are, I'll probably never buy a "real" pool. At around $700 for the pool, pump, SWG, vacuum, leaf net, cover, skimmer, volleyball set, and cheap ladder-if it lasts us 4 or 5 years that's a great deal. And if I get too old or too tired to deal with a pool, out it goes with no $regrets$.
