Hello -- sarah_atx

Jump to latest Follow Reply
S

sarah_atx

0
Sep 4, 2013
9
Hi all,

Just ordered a pool online over the weekend, the 15' x 48" Intex metal side one.

At first I wasn't sure we should get a pool because of the maintenance it'll require. But our house outside Austin, TX already has a 20' x 20' empty concrete slab in the backyard and these 100 degree days won't quit.

So it should arrive next week and I'm headed to the Pool School part of the forum to learn about what to do.

Hope to learn a lot, this forum seems great. I found the site after Googling, "What filter for Intex Krystal Clear Cartridge" since many seem to be on clearance now. Sounds like I can just rinse it for a while. Now to learn about chlorine/salt/sand and all that....

-Sarah
 
I HIGHLY suggest ordering the TF100 test kit. WHile you may have a "small" pool, it only means it will fluctuate more. If you order the test kit, you will be in control of your pool and be able to effectively manage it with simple inexpensive bleach (and a few other chemicals sold at Wal-Mart or HomeDepot. relying upon inaccurate pool stores and their pool store logic, the pool will cost twice as much to maintain and you will forever be running to the store for another "free test" followed by a $60 chemical purchase.

I manage my 10K gallon pool with chlorine and some Muriatic acid from HD, along with my test kit.
 
Thanks, everyone. I just printed out the current water restrictions. I am looking at the TF100 kit, seems like the way to go. Think we will probably order it tonight so it arrives when the pool does.

Any advice on what type of foam to put under the tarp, on top of the concrete slab? We want to get some kind of padding from a home improvement store.

Also... once it's full, can you swim right away?
 
sarah_atx said:
Thanks, everyone. I just printed out the current water restrictions. I am looking at the TF100 kit, seems like the way to go. Think we will probably order it tonight so it arrives when the pool does.

Any advice on what type of foam to put under the tarp, on top of the concrete slab? We want to get some kind of padding from a home improvement store.

Also... once it's full, can you swim right away?
Click to expand...
Yes you can swim right away. You need to get chlorine and CYA in there as soon as possible. You can add both while it is filling before you get in. Just don't wait. It doesn't take long to create a problem if you don't have chlorine in the water.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Just thought I would update that everything's going well so far with the pool.

Did my first CYA test on Monday, about where I thought it would be at 30. I have a sock with some more floating now to get closer to 50. I plan to up the bleach a little too to go along with it. The first time I thought I would make a slurry like the bottle said... I definitely didn't stir/let sit long enough and had the granules on the vinyl bottom. I stirred them around with a pole and they dissolved in a day or two. Whoops, seems like no real harm though.

The only issue is the pH keeps going up because the TA levels are apparently crazy high in our water. But I will just keep adding the pH Minus (did not have Muriatic acid at our Lowes) to bring that down. The TA is already lower than when I started so that's good. Maybe I'll try one of those home made PVC aeration devices if it doesn't seem to be progressing. Cleaned the filter for the first time yesterday and ordered some higher quality ones from Amazon for the future.

So, thanks everyone for making this possible! :)

And because I know you like test results:

FC - 3.5
CC - 0
pH - 8.0
TA - 270+
CH - did not test yet, vinyl
CYA - 30
 
Looking good :goodjob:

You must be able to find muriatic acid somewhere ... if not in the pool area then in the paint area. I actually get mine from the pool store as it is a decent deal for the stronger stuff.
 
Thanks, I'll check the paint area next time I'm at Lowes. If they don't have it I'll try a pool store, because I know I'll run out of the pH Minus before I'm at my target levels. I sort of want to take a water sample in to a pool store anyway, just to see what they say.
 
Usually having the pool store test your water just results in confusion. Trust your own testing. You can have them test it if you want, just do not believe anything they tell you.
 
I am with jbliz on the testing...you testing with your kit will be so much more reliable and accurate than the pool stores results. I would just skip their testing.

Places I have seen Muriatic Acid: local hardware stores, home depot, other local home improvement centers, pool stores... I think I have even seen it at walmart, though that may have been the weaker ~14% stuff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply