**Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster pool

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BoyWonder

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Jul 2, 2012
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Ok, I have read the articles in The Pool School several time. I ordered my TFP-100 test kit. Now my PB is getting ready to plaster tomorrow or Thursday and wants to fill as soon as he is done. I have a well so I have a guy on stand by ready to bring in city water in as soon as pool is plastered. I feel I have prepared as best as I can. My question is since I have a SWG I will need to wait 30 day before adding salt correct? Does this mean I cannot use my pool for 30 days? I know I need to keep the pump running and continually brush the walls and floor for the first few days. Can I start up with chlorine and then add salt after the 30 days are up? My PB has not been real clear on this. He said I can start using the pool right away because it will have clean fresh water. He did agree I couldn't add salt right away but did not think I needed to wait a month and he didnt say what to do in the mean time. I'm pretty sure he will go over this in more detail after we fill it but I would like to know what to expect.

Please any advise would be greatly appreciated.
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

Likely the plasterer will give you instructions on how to start up the pool. You need to pay attention to them to maintain warranty.

That said, you can see an article in Pool School about how to start up a regular pool. You will just not want to raise the CYA up to SWG levels or add salt until after the 30 days. It is very important to keep the pool in balance to start ... pay attention to the pH and CH.

Posted from my Droid with Tapatalk ... sorry if my response is short ;)
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

Ok, thanks Stuart and Jason. I understand about following the plasterers instruction because of the warranty but I really want to know what to expect so I can I can ask questions if something doesn't sound right. Your answers have definitely helped already :goodjob:

I read the article in Pool School about stating a regular plaster pool. One thing it says a couple of times is "no swimming during break-in period". What exactly would be considered the break-in period? Would it be the first 30 days? I hope not :( . Would it be the first few days while I am filtering out plaster dust and bringing up the CYA levels and chlorine? Or would it be after the first few weeks while I am scrubbing, vacuuming and finally see no signs of residual plaster dust?

As you can imagine we are very anxious and excited to jump in and start enjoying our pool! Like I said earlier our pool contractor said we can use the pool immediately because the water is "fresh and clean". I'm not sure this sound right.

Thanks again!
Carlos
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

You will have some plaster dust initially, but it will clear fairly quickly. Brushing a lot will be important. Start up with chlorine and stabilizer, and then add salt and start SWG in 3-4 weeks. We were swimming before they even started the pump and filter.

Listen to, and follow their instructions, as they may affect your warranty.
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

:paddle: Carlos - I been wondering the same kinds of things.. We are in the "watering the gunite" stage. It will be at least another week before we plaster. I haven't had a chance to ask the PB either about the "start-up period" and how long it lasts. I'll be anxious to see what you find out. My test kit is on it's way too! No matter what, we'll follow the PB's guidelines, but I'm just curious.
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

You don't want to swim until the chemical levels are properly balanced, mostly until you have a measurable FC level that is appropriate for your CYA level, typically a few days. The PH should also be in range before swimming and the bottom should be clearly visible.
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

Just keep in mind also, when using an SWG, you will still need to add chlorine when temperatures are low and your pool isn't winterized during the fall and spring. Same as what you'll have for the first month prior to using the SWG. When I open in the spring ( I open early to avoid any algea ), I use chlorine for probably the first month prior to switching over to an SWG.
 

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Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

Thanks for all your input. I will definately follow my PB's instruction first but I am a little concerned about his lack of communication. The company has a service department and I think he is going to try and sell me some sort or start-up/maintence contract, which I will not buy. I am sure with a little attention to detalis and your guys help on here it should go fairly smooth.

Imrodee- I willkeep you posted on what I am doing and how it is going. Good luck with the rest of you pool construction.
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

How are you coming along? My PB is plastering on Thursday... YIKES!!
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

It is going good. Like I thought my PB was almost no help. We filled the pool on Friday. He threw in a sequestrat and some non chlorine shock told me to add salt in a few days and left. I started following the advice from this from and the link in one of the above posts.

I basically watched the PH, vacuumed, and brushed for the first couple days. Like expected PH keeps going up so I add muratic acid accordingly. By Sunday I added CYA and bleach and we swam. Now I am just vacuuming, brushing and adding acid and chlorine as needed. I haven't see a lot of plaster dust and my filter pressure has only risen slightly. My numbers this morning are
FC 4
Ch 250
PH about 7.5
TA 130
CC .5
CYA between 0 and 20 but I just put in on Sunday and I think it takes several days to register.
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

Jeez, did he at least show you how to run the computer? Sounds like you have everything under control in spite of him. Enjoy your pool!!!
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

There are studies that show that you are best to wait at least a month before adding salt. There is a thread somewhere here discussing it ... I can try to search for it when I get to a computer if you want to read about it.

Posted from my Droid with Tapatalk ... sorry if my response is short ;)
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

I was planning on waiting 28 days. I was just explaining what my builder said. I plan on using bleach for the first month.
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

BoyWonder said:
I was planning on waiting 28 days. I was just explaining what my builder said. I plan on using bleach for the first month.
Click to expand...
You can use bleach the first month, but it might be easier to use trichlor tabs. They slowly add FC and CYA and are acidic, which will help with that pesky pH climb with new plaster.
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

Wow. I hadn't considered that or read anything here recommending trichlor tabs. That seems like a really good idea. I have been dealing with rising PH everyday. I also have been worried about cya being low. I did add some but only about half of what pool calc recommended because I was a little nervous about adding all these chemicals at once. Right now I am losing about 90% of my FC and PH is rising about .75 everyday. Everything else seems to be staying stable.
 
Re: **Please Help**Questions about starting up new plaster p

I don't have a plaster pool but I have read too many times of the PB "guy throwing in 2 of x and 3 of y but I don't know how much or what they are. and Neither does the PB or manager, but I know the worker did it as i saw him do it trough the window." Be up front with your PB and work with them to know what's going on and when you should start adding CL (bleach) to keep it from getting green before you get in it.
 

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