Pool Maintenance Question? 3000 gallon AG Pool. Help!?

Question

I have a 16' x 36"H Sand n Sun Above Ground Pool I bought from Walmart 3 years ago, We've put it up every year since then and every year I dont think I've really did the Chemicals right in it. I've had a baby since then he is now 11months and even though pool season is pretty much over for us "Kentucky" I want to get ready and learn about how to Maintain Crystal Clear "SAFE" Water so our whole family including my son can swim without worrying.

So My Questions is What All Do I need as far as chemicals? How Often do you normally put them in?

Also, My Pump seems to really not push much water AT ALL! Would my pool benefit any by trying to find a better one?

We've got the pool strips to check the water but honestly just not sure how to read them and what I need, how much etc....

Help!!!

Thanks!! =)

Answer 1

Check out www.taylortechnologies.com

They make great test kits.  The 2005 kit contains a great reference book Pool and Spa Water Chemistry.  This would help you greatly in maintaining your pool.  Unfortunately the kit costs about $100 retail and can be bought at a pool supply house but it is worth every penny to a novice as well as pro.

Pool Chemistry is not hard to learn but some are not dedicated enough to invest the time to learn and practice chemistry.  I use a log for my pool, measure temp, Free Cl, Total Cl and combined Cl (Bad stuff) along with pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness and Cyanuric Acid and record all readings along with what chlorine added, acid, algaecide and etc.

Seems like a lot of work?  Not really but one needs to know more about the water to do a good job maintaining.  Test water 2-3 times a week in summer, monthly rest of year.  Check chlorine dispensers weekly so you don't run out of chlorine.  Super chlorination needs to be done every 2 weeks on lightly used pool in summer and monthly rest of year.  Superchlorination raises Cl to 10x free Cl measurements and best if done with liquid chlorine when sun off the pool.  Leave pump on for 3 hours to mix well.  Test next day before swimming!

Your pump is likely clogged or the filter is clogged or dirty.  Clean filter element, some wash in washer, air dry.  I use a hose to clean all the stuff out.  Theses are reuseable and not paper like a lot of people think.

Also having a professional testkit will put you on even footing with the pool supply house since that is what they use.  People in this Yahoo Answers have commented that they do the testing better than the pool supply does.  I believe it.  But you need to know they want to sell you chemicals it is what pays their bills.  Do they give you good advise?  Sometimes but verify everyhthing.  Algaecide is way overused and will accumulate in the water and cause green hair!  Non accumulating Algaecide is better to use since it will not do this.  Poly 60% is a good one and available at Home Depot or Lowes.  Cyanuric Acid will help your chlorine, any chlorine, live longer.  20ppm is a good starting amount to have already in the water.  Chlorine tablets like Trichlor are good, Calcium Hypochlorite can work but adds a lot of calcium to the water. Use plain old trichlor and not the stuff with algecide in it.  Best algaecide"  Chlorine in adequate amounts without holidays.

For 1ppm of free chorine in the above 3K pool add 3.34oz of pool chlorine, 12.5% Sodium Hypo Chlorite.  Normal pool water is 1-3ppm with 5 max.  Better pricing on bleach sold in stores, use unscented, can be had but you need to adjust the above for concentration.  Usual bleach is 6% or less but is the same as pool chlorine except for concentration.

I know I gave you a lot of information but you asked for it!

You're welcome!!