Treading water until some supplies arrive

[bjaspan]

It's going to be 90+ degrees starting tomorrow (apparently country-wide!). I'd like to try to set up our 12' diameter (~1,500 gallon) EasySet pool tomorrow (Saturday) for the first time, so my kids can use it. I'll be picking up most of the supplies I need at Walmart in the morning, but my test kit won't arrive until Sunday evening and CYA won't arrive until next Friday.

Questions:

* How long can the pool go with new garden-hose water and no treatment at all? In past summers we've had a kiddie pool and I dumped the water every few days. If the EasySet goes 2-3 days before I treat it, will I be able to recover given the wimpy pump and filter that came with this pool? I'd rather not have to start over, though it is only $30 worth of water if I have to.

* Is there an amount of chlorine and pH reducer or increaser I can add that will definitely be safe and also keep the water happy enough until the test kit arrives on Sunday and the CYA arrives on Friday?

Thanks!

 

[Texas Splash]

The link below is perfect for your situation. It answers just about every question you asked and more. No stabilizer is quite significant. Sounds like you ordered CYA online huh? I get mine at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's etc. If your neighbor has some, I'd get it. The chlorine will disappear in an hour or so with no CYA.

Guide for Seasonal/Temporary Pools

Smaller seasonal pools can see just as much enjoyment as their larger counterparts. In this guide we'll show you how to maintain your temporary pool.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Wobblerlorri]

1. Probably a week or less. Maybe only 1 or 2 days.

2. Use PoolMath to figure out how much CYA to add, then start adding liquid chlorine to 5 ppm, calculated by pool math. Your chlorine with disappear within a day without CYA.

I get my CYA at Wal-Mart. If they don't have it, Home Depot generally does, along with chlorine. You can also use Regular bleach, with no additives and no Clorox products. It's about 5 to 6%.

 

[bjaspan]

Yes, I ordered CYA online. Local Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowes stores are all out of CYA (it must be June in Boston...). I'm picking all the other chemicals at Walmart in the morning.

 

[Texas Splash]

it must be June in Boston.

Ha ha. Then I'd walk next door with a cheap bottle of wine and borrow some CYA.

 

[MITBeta]

Ocean State Job Lot has all manner of pool chems.

 

[bjaspan]

It turns out there is an Ocean State Job Lot only 15 minutes from my house and they did indeed have everything I needed. Thanks!

 

[MITBeta]

This was the scene at the Foxboro location last night. Had to snap a couple of photos because I suggested that my friend could buy liquid chlorine there. She came home frustrated because all they had was liquid shock. LOL. I set her straight.