First Time Pool Owner / Opening

[LyndonC]

Hey,

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone on this forum / site. I purchased a house with a 13x20 above ground pool and had 0 knowledge of pool ownership and recently took possession. Everything I've learned has been off this site.

Today is the day where I attempt to open the pool, I have a Taylor K 2006C ready to test after it's filled and pump is running with a decent amount of liquid chlorine 10.8%, 3 inch pucks and some algaecide on standby.

I'll probably be busy so I'll post photos of how it goes.... Wish me luck.

Equipment:
13x20x4.5 oval (6900gal / 26000L) Unknown manufacturer
Hayward encl 3 ec1309 Pump
Carvin Sand Filter (fresh sand)
Hayward Inline Chlorinator (3" pucks)
Hayward Gas Pool Heater
Olympic Skimmer

I am currently in the processes of pumping the excess water off the winter tarp using a submersible pump and garden hose making sure no debris enters the pool. The water looks much better than I expected but since I am in Canada it freezes most of the winter.

 

[LyndonC]

Here is the gas heater and filter setup, almost ready to remove the tarp.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome! Link below to help. No need to add algaecide at opening. Chlorine will be your algae weapon of choice. Take your time and ask questions if you have any. Good luck!

Opening your pool- An easy to follow guide

Opening your pool can be stressful. This Pool Start Up guide teaches everything from start-up chemicals, covers, and more for your start up.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[LyndonC]

Thanks! Will omit any algacide.

Cover is off, almost had a disaster when I pulled the pool stairs into the pool ontop of the tarp... Saved it though.

Filling now. Just need to check how to prime / add water to the pump.

 

[Texas Splash]

Looks nice. If your pump is below the waterline, then water should flow right down into the pump basket unless there is a shut-off valve in the way that you need to open. If for some reason the pump and waterline are at the same height, you can remove the clear lid and pour water in the pump basket, close the lid, and let it run and it should pull water on its own.

 

[LyndonC]

Taken about 6 and a half hours but water has made it to the skimmer! Thanks for the pump reminder, thankfully it's mounted low.

I have added pool water into all the plumbing lines I can, filled the pump and return lines as much as I can.

One thing I am not certain on. Do I HAVE to open my sand filter and water to prime it? The lines aren't long so shouldn't be too much air in the system.

Should be another 30 mins til I hit the half way line on the skimmer.

Also, do I need a skimmer basket, there doesn't seem to be one.... Seems bad to have open line straight to pump, Is that fine for the sand filter to deal with?

 

[LyndonC]

I suppose the basket in the pump will collect before it gets to the sand filter. Still seems strange to not have a skimmer basket but perhaps that's normal

 

[LyndonC]

I found if I press down slightly on the sand pump selector, as if you were to change settings, air starts to release out the drain, I suppose that is enough to clear out remaining air and prime the filter.

 

[Texas Splash]

I missed your last few posts last night. Did you get the system running okay? Any questions?

 

[LyndonC]

I managed to get everything running well last night and let the pump run to circulate the new water. Unfortunately I tested my water this morning with the 2006c kit and am a bit disheartened... These are my numbers...

FC 13-14
PH 7.2
TA 130
CYA 150+.....
CH 240

I believe the previous owners used a lot of the trichlor tabs which likely inflated the CYA. The FC is also really high so I assume they over shocked it before winterization. Either way I am not really sure the best way to proceed.

Attached is picture of the CYA test....

Any recommendations on how to get this water in check would be ideal. Really don't want to start pumping water out and adding more but....