New Owner, 32x16 Intex Salt Water Pool

[tyburke]

Thanks in advance! I purchased the below pool and to be honest have not found the intex instructions all that easy to follow. The pool was just filled, I added nine 40lb bags of salt and that's where I'm at

Initial questions:
1) How long do you let the pump run, are there settings and timers I should be aware of?
2) What do I need to purchase to test the water. I notice it included just a few test strips. After trying one, it was a bit of a challenge to determine what was high/low or needed attention.
3) After getting it set up initially, how often do you test the water and what for? What do you use to do so?
4) What cover do you recommend? Ease of use and keeping leaves etc out are top priorities.
5) Anything else a guy should know?

This will be fun!

Pool:

Intex 32ft X 16ft X 52in Ultra XTR Rectangular Pool Set with Sand Filter Pump & Saltwater System, Ladder, Ground Cloth, Pool Cover, Maintenance Kit & Volleyball

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! About your questions:
1 - Enough to mix chemicals, produce chlorine with the SWG, and keep the water surface clear of debris.
2 - A TF-100 test kit (link below in my signature). A TAylor K-2006C will also work. See Test Kits Compared
3 - You can expect to test FC daily, especially while you monitor the FC production from the SWG. PH maybe every day or two as well. TA weekly. CH and CYA about once per month.
4 - I'll defer to others for that one. Lots of varieties and reasons for covering. Pros and cons as well.
5 - Go to the Pool School section and "View All" button. Review those topics for anything that applies to you. Make sure to review our ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and those Vital Link below in my signature. Those will keep you straight.

Come back and ask questions whenever you need to.

 

[Jeanneful]

Have the same pool and saltwater system. The filter pump should run 24 hours to get the salt dissolved. After the 24 hours turn on the saltwater system. I do mine for 8 hours. I test weekly. Also add cyannuric acid which is a stabilizer, (it holds your chlorine) pour in into your skimmer. You only have to and this once in a season.