New pool need so advice / Start up

[mama.julian]

Hello newbie pool owner here. We just finished an owner build pool. It been about 12 days since we got our pebble tech plaster installed. We have A salt water system.

We’ve been told by the plaster company that they recommend 60-90 days ideally until we we add any salt in our pool, even though the manufacture says 28 day cure time. !!! We are conflicted cause other friends of ours (pool owners) are telling us to just added chlorine and start swimming after two weeks from pebble and switch to salt after the 28 days. The pebble company is doing our start up for the first 28 days. After that we will be hiring a local pool service. Should we ask the pebble company to add chlorine or is this something they are already doing with balancing the water/start up? It been hard to get ahold of the company/ people that work in the field always seem to come when we aren’t home.


Another questions is anyone out there use chlorine to sanitize until the pebble was properly cured before switching to salt, Is this transition a easy process? Any details ?


How many people wait the 28 days before the first swim, we are all biting at the bit to get in. Thanks for your advice April

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Let's get right to your concerns:
- Chlorine and stabilizer5 MUST be added to the water starting after 3 days to avoid algae. Once you get algae growth (cloudiness, green, etc) it's a different ballgame. Liquid chlorine (or regular bleach) is the preferred sanitary agent. We balance FC to CYA using the FC/CYA Levels.
- Typically we see new (initial) plaster cure restriction times at about 30 days. After 30 days, salt gets added and acclimates for at least 24 hrs before turning on the SWG. Remember the SWG is producing chlorine (gas) versus you adding it manually (liquid), but it's still chlorine.
- Test & maintain your own water. Avoid pool services if at all possible. We can't emphasize that enough. Use a TF-100 (link in my signature) or Taylor K-2006C test kit. They are easy and reliable.

See the links below for more info.

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

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Start-up New Plaster

The first few months are the most criticle for a newly plastered pool. We're here to share best practices to ensure the plaster will last for many years.

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