1st time pool owner with chemical questions?

Question

Hi! Just set up our pool. It is 15x48. They easy set up one with the metal bars not the blow up easy set up. I bought the starter kit for the chemicals and it says I should put the stabilizer in when I begin to fill the pool, dissolve the shock iand add after pool is full around the perimeter of the pool and to add the chlorine granules daily? I have searched on ya and seen people say to test the water before adding anything. So now I am hesitant to do anything so any advice would be great. Would it be easier to just have a chlorine floater in the pool rather then adding granules daily? If the pool is full and all this stuff is added how long do I wait to test and how long before being able to swim?

Answer 1

Congratulations!

Sounds like you got some good advice.  Is the stabilizer granulated?  It takes a while for it to disolve and build to 30ppm to protect the chlorine, any chlorine, you put in your pool. Are you using granulated trichlor flor the chlorine?  There are many chlorine types out there all will be recommended to the pool owner.  Become a lable reader.  Avoid using calcium hypochlorite with trichlor they can be hazerdous to use and store so be careful.

Checking your house water before filling the pool is prudent advice.  Your water could have other contaminates in it, dissolved metals, that need to be addressed and the sooner you know about it the better.  Well water is sometimes really bad.

When you fill your pool if using the house water, visit your watermeter write down the numbers on the dial and look closely to see if the measured units are cubic feet or gallons.  Fill your pool to its waterline, prime pump and allow to circulate and finish filling pool then visit your watermeter again for a second reading.  Subtract first from second and if cubic feet are the measuring unit multiply by 7.48 gallons/cubic foot and you are done!  Now you know your pool volume which makes the chemistry much easier.

If you have to add acid or base to adjust the pH allow 3 hours to mix, chlorine if added at same time as the acid will be ok too.  Chlorine floaters are good to but you need to establish the chlorine residual first, 1-3ppm with max of 5, then the foater will keep the residual up.

Read, read, read.  Verify independantly all information and get a good testkit.  Taylortechnologies.com is a great maker of test kits sold in pool supply stores.  The more you know about your pool water the better dicisions you will make!

You're welcome!!