Pool Build in Arkansas

[lsjs97425]

After stalking on this forum for a few months, I finally am posting!!!

My love for relaxing in the pool began years ago when we bought a house with an existing above ground pool. After much thought and consideration (and wanting to know where the kids will be) my husband and I have committed to having a pool built. Back in September we started tearing down our above ground pool, which was going to come down whether we wanted a new pool or not, due to it springing a leak. Today the mess has started and I'm already ready for the finished product.

View attachment 70200

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!

Lots of folks here like to suggest spending your money on Bling so watch out!!!

Be sure to consider buying a quality test kit this winter. I use the TF100. Best value for the residential pool owner.

Take care.

 

[lsjs97425]

Oops forgot to add my test kit, edited sig now.

 

[lsjs97425]

Day 2- ohhhh this is sooooo exciting. So today you can see the progress they have made. At some point in the day they hit our sprinkler line, they told us they would repair it, it will be nice if they do. ON another note, I totally expected to replace some sod in some of the back yard, but I didn't expect to do the whole thing!! My eyes kept getting bigger and bigger while watching them on the security cameras. Tomorrow they are supposed to do the concrete footings and haul out excess dirt. Friday it is supposed to rain, I'm actually hoping we don't get any here even though we need it real bad.

 

[kimkats]

Let the MUD/DIRT begin! Bye, bye grass Yeah they are not leaving any for you to work with for sure

It will all be worth it when you are floating in your lounger with an adult drink in your hand!

Kim

 

[lsjs97425]

Day 3 they removed 6 or 7 loads of dirt.
Day 4 the concrete footing was completed, now it will work on drying in this 30 degree weather.

I think the next step they said is dropping the liner.

 

[kimkats]

That sounds right. You don't want to take a chance of the back fill moving the panels. The water will help keep that from happening.

Kim

 

[iain42]

We are in AR as well and were hoping our pool would be under way but not the case. That is a lot of dirt!!! Wow!

 

[lsjs97425]

Hey Y'all!!!!! We are getting closer!!!!!Today the liner went in!!!! Next week they plan to pour the decking around the pool. Oh this is sooo exciting.
I guess as soon as it's full and they get the pump all hooked up I start adding chemicals.

 

[kimkats]

Well looky at that! Water going in!! SWEET!!

I am glad you already have your test kit. Have you played with it to find the levels in your fill water yet? If not now is the time to so we can make you a shopping list.

That is a pretty liner! Your water is going to look so pretty with that!

Kim

 

[lsjs97425]

I have tested it today and here are the results of my fill water:
FC 1.5
CC .5
pH 7.2
TA 20
CH 50

Now I have calculated my pool gallons as almost 28,000 the pool guy said 22-23,000. It's a 18x36 rectangle, 3.5 ft deep in shallow end, 8 ft in deep end. Am I missing something?

 

[mknauss]

Very nice fill water. I would install a SWCG - with that fill water it should work great.

Your pool walls have a bit of a slope inward so that may make it a bit under your volume. But you can work towards your real volume using chemical adds later.

Take care.

 

[lsjs97425]

The pool was finished filling last night around 9pm, it took 31 hours to fill. Not too bad. The electrician is scheduled for Wednesday...... I hate that this water will be standing stagnant till Wednesday. Is there anything I should do in the meantime or just sit back and not worry about it. Concrete forms will be put in place early next week and maybe pouring late next week, weather dictates a lot of that. Of course we were not getting any rain all summer long and now all of a sudden it raining/misting every day making this a terrible experience with the MUD!!!!I am beyond ready for the decking to be poured, so I can move on with the next stages. I am seriously considering sodding this fall/winter just to avoid this muddy mess till Spring. I think as long as it stays in the 40's the sod will make it okay??

 

[mknauss]

You should get some chlorine in the water. Would also be good to get a bit of CYA in the pool to protect that chlorine. But at a minimum, add 1/2 gallon of plain bleach in the morning and again in the evening. Use a brush to mix it in. Do not let it sit in one spot or it can bleach your liner.

To get CYA in you are in a tough spot without a pump. Would have been easier during filling to dissolve the powder. They do make liquid conditioner. It is expensive but if you used just enough to get 20 ppm of CYA in the water it would help protect the chlorine.

Take care.

 

[lsjs97425]

We are getting so very close to being DONE!! So today they came out and finished diving board, put up side, handrail, and ladder. I have gotten lax about putting in bleach and brushing in by hand, been doing that since 11/4 and have now come down with a virus. I am so happy to say that today the electricity is now hooked up and the pump is running. I mustered up the energy to go outside and dump some bleach in. Now I was prepared to raise my pH, but...... it appears they got a good amount of concrete in the pool when pouring the decking and my pH today is >8.2.... I'm talking fluorescent pink.

Todays test
FC 0
pH >8.2
TA 30

I'm assuming the pH rise is due to the concrete since that is the only thing that has changed. The pool guys said we will be back tomorrow and dump chemicals in and clean a bit. Another reason I got up and poured some bleach in. Obviously I need to run to store and get some Muriatic acid, anything else I am missing? I also know that a low TA can cause wild swings in the pH but I'm a little nervous to adjust TA if pH is this high already since raising TA will raise pH some.

 

[lsjs97425]

Tomorrow the contractor is supposed to come back and clean so I think I will talk about it in person, but I paid extra for a VSP and I'm pretty sure they installed a single speed pump. I was totally curious as to how they set up the speeds/for how long, etc., but he has installed a Pentair WF-24. Upon a quick google search it says 1 speed. Please tell me if I am wrong but this is not a VSP correct?

 

[kimkats]

My search also shows it as being a single speed NOT good! Dig out your contract and see what is in writing as for your pump so you will have it ready when you talk to the PB. Good luck and let us know what happens.

 

[lsjs97425]

Yesterday evening I added 2 gallons bleach, waited one hour added 1/2 gal Muriatic Acid. I couldn't sleep last night so at 130 I tested the pH which was down to 7.8 so I threw in 10lbs baking soda. Got up this morning and here are my results:
FC 4.5
CC .5
pH 8.0
TA 60
CH 50

Today's mission for sure is getting some stabilizer in the pool. I also think I'm going to add some more Muriatic acid to get that pH lower, either that or raise TA a smidge more up to 70 and see if that helps the pH stay in control...... The water itself looks great, the bottom is just dirty with construction debris (mud, sand, concrete). I have a feeling if I can get my pH in range I will be dropping the dolphin in today after the pool guys come and vacuum a bit, bet they hit the big stuff and run.

 

[kimkats]

When you add the CYA put it in a sock (like you wear) and hang it in front of a return with the pump on. This is safer for the plaster. You can squeeze it to help it dissolve faster.

Kim

 

[lsjs97425]

Hey y'all! It's been a minute since I've been on here last. Since my last posting the pool guy has delivered the correct pump which is the Pentair VSP. Pool man programmed pump to run at 1750RPM, it seemed a little brisk for the winter and for 24/7 running, so I turned it down to 1200. Is this too slow? Is there a potential that it could freeze? We have mild winters here and typically go into the 20's at night. What do yall think?