Magna_Mike

obie, If you look at the pump, there should be a PLUS sign above one of the two ports. Then look at the pool, there should be a corresponding PLUS sign on the pool where the hoses go. You connect plus sign to plus sign and the one not marked together. on my 15 foot Intex, you connect the in on the pump to the right hole, and the out to the right hole on the pool.

I am by no means a chem expert when it comes to pools, i am still learning myself, and am probably going to give you the wrong advice..... You need to ass chlorine either by way of stablized tablets, or chlorine (unscented) bleach. the "Total Chlorine" levels should be between 1-3ppm "free chlorine" between 1-3ppm, and "Bromine" (if you are using tablets) between 2-4ppm The chlorine keeps certain bacteria levels down, and keeps certain algae from growing..... I know there are other reasons for the chlorine too, but I dont know what they are.... There are some very knowledgeable people on this board, the trick is getting them to reply to your posts... LOL Maybe do a google on importance of chlorine in pools....

Todays Testing: 06.08.08..................................Target....Results....Ok...Low Total Hardness 175-225ppm.......B+/C-......B...................X Total Chlorine 1-3ppm...............B/C..........-B.................X Free Chlorine 1-3ppm................B+...........-B..................X Bromine 2-4ppm.......................B+...........-B..................X pH 7.2-7.6................................B+...........-B..................X Total Alkalinity 175-225ppm.......D/D+.......-C..................X Stabilizer at least 30ppm...........B/C..........B..........X So guessing, I need to add a couple more Chlorine tabs, Up my Hardness, Up my pH, and Up my Alkalinity? How much of what do I need to add?

PoolTech, you forget about me?

06.03.08...............................Target......Results...Ok.....Low Total Hardness 175-225ppm....B+/C-........B..........X Total Chlorine 1-3ppm............B/C............B..........X Free Chlorine 1-3ppm.............B+.............B..................X Bromine 2-4ppm....................B+.............B..................X pH 7.2-7.6..............................B+............B-.................X Total Alkalinity 175-225ppm.....D/D+........C-.................X Stabilizer at least 30ppm..........B/C...........B.........X It looks like it is time for me to start putting the 1" Stabilized tablets back into the pool via floater. You said to put 5-6 tablets in the floater at a time. How long do I leave the floater in the pool at any given time? I intend on running the pump/filter 8-12 hours a day/night when I can (I have it set up on an automatic shut off timer. I manually turn it on, and set the timer to however long I want it to run, and am trying to run it at night instead of during the day). From the looks of my results, I am guessing that other than the Chlorine, I also need to add a little pH, guessing the actual number it is at is a high 6.x, the Hardness needs to be raised from the 100ppm to at least 175ppm, and the Alkalinity needs raised from the 80ppm it is sitting at to at least 175ppm as well. I did add 4 ounces of Algaecide Plus yesterday with the pump/filter running because there is an algae growing on the bottom, I left it alone and will vacuum it out tomorrow. other than that, I have not added anything to the pool since I started with the high chlorine levels.

ok, here are todays test results: 06.02.08.......................................Results Total Hardness 175-225ppm...............B Total Chlorine 1-3ppm.......................C+ Free Chlorine 1-3ppm........................C- Bromine 2-4ppm...............................C- pH 7.2-7.6........................................B+ Total Alkalinity 175-225ppm...............C- Stabilizer at least 30ppm....................B

Todays Readings are: 05.31.08 Total Hardness 175-225ppm B(100ppm area) Total Chlorine 1-3ppm C (a dark c, very light D probably close to 5-6ppm) Free Chlorine 1-3ppm C (a dark c, very light D probably close to 5-6ppm) Bromine 2-4ppm Tablets C (a dark c, very light D probably close to 10-12ppm) pH 7.2-7.6 B (a light B probably around 7.0) Total Alkalinity 175-225ppm B (a light B probably around 25ppm) Stabilizer at least 30ppm B (a light B probably around 40ppm)

Even though the Chlorine is showing high, there isnt a strong smell, only a slight smell when my nose is close to the surface of the water.

As of 05.28 the results were: Total Chlorine: D+ (higher than 10ppm) Free Chlorine: D+ (higher than 10ppm {pools}) Bromine: D+ (higher than 20ppm {tablets}) I will test it again in the morning.

How long do i leave the floater with the 5-6 1" tabs in the pool? How long should I run the filter with skimmer? Still waiting for the chlorine levels to come down....

I used 4 tons of masonry sand. I have had no problems.... I would guess to answer that the only difference is that "play" sand is filtered better than masonry sand. I did have to pick a few smooth rocks out of my sand, and some weeds from where the sand had been piled and the weeds started to grow in it... Outside of that... it was fine. I didnt sift it or anything, i spread it out, and as I was on my hands and knees leveling it I picked out the bad stuff... Major plus is that masonry sand by the bucket load is cheap.... I forget the square yardage, but it was like $24.00 for a load that was about 2 tons. So all in I paid about $50 for the 4 tons of sand.... Around here $50 will buy you about 20 40pound bags of play sand.... 800 pounds... not even a half ton... So that is going to be your major deciding force.... can you afford all the play sand you will need?

double post.... edited...

I laid sand down.... about 4 tons, and then a tarp over the sand. I moved the corners of the tarp to mow around the pool and was greeted by a stentch.... I was thinking that I somehow set the pool over the old non functional septic system. I am glad to read that this is a common issue.

Several questions.... How far is the pool from any buildings? is there a deck? Are you wanting to cover the entire pool? Are you wanting a permanent covering? A temporary covering or a covering that you can use to cover the pool when he is in it, but remove when he is not in the pool? Also, are you looking to hire someone to build this for you or DIY? How much money are you planning to spend on this? A remedy that comes to mind would be a curtain type roof. Build a rectangle frame around the pool on 12 foot 4x4s that are 10 feet out of the ground. and either 4x4s or 3x4s around the top. Using two 20 foot by 20 foot sunblock screens. These are UV protected black mesh screens that are used to block the sun from penetrating patios and what not. You will probably need to have them special made from a awning shop. Attach these to tight wires that run the length of the pool along the top of the frame with eye hooks. Open in the center, and you use a pole hook to grab the mesh, and push it open or pull it closed. This way you block the sun, when your son is in the pool, but allows the wind and rain to come through when it needs to, and you can open it to allow direct sunlight to keep the pool water warm. Just an option....

If it is a rough concrete slab, I would see about laying something down under the liner to cushion it from the concrete and also to cushion the feet of the young ones who will be using it.... If it were a smooth concrete slab, I would say to pressure wash it to make sure it was nice and clean, and then set up. If getting some type of cushion will not break the bank.... I would do it either way. Not too thick, or it might cause the liner to shift and roll.... something thick enough to cushion, but is able to be compressed..... You can get a good tarp and double it over and put the pool on it.