Pool chemical help needed

[NS Gearhead]

So today I put in a 12'X30" inflatable pool. Now I'm scrambling to figure out what chemicals to get, how much to put in, and in what order.

From the passed three hours of reading the web, I've got about 2,000 gal of water in there. I have to go to the store and get test strips, algiside, chlorine, ph booster, ph reducer, and stabilizer.

First add chlorine according to this; PoolMath aiming for 3ppm. Add stabilizer at this time also.

Second, 24hrs after adding the chlorine, test and adjust ph aiming for 7.2-7.6

Third, adjust total alkalinity to 120-150ppm Hmm, not sure how to do that... or where the algiside comes in.


What do you think? Here we are tuesday night, and I've got my 4 year old daughter's birthday party saturday. I don't wanna mess this up!

 

[NS Gearhead]

Well this three part series was very informative;

NEW - Pool School - 01 - Introduction | Family Leisure - YouTube

 

[F3506]

My daughter has a pool. From what I've seen trying to help her, 95% of the issue is chlorine. Get the test strips and keep the chlorine up.

Does the inflatable pool have a pump? Be sure to run the pump for at least 2 hours after adding any chemicals.

 

[tractchores]

Most of the chemicals have info on them for dosage by volume. The PH is likely ok to begin with assuming you used drinking water. You'd want to put chlorine in first (shock), then a day or two later add algaecide and then chlorine sticks. Then just keep the chlorine sticks replenished and shock every couple of weeks, or weekly with heavy usage. You can also then start to test PH and the chemical levels once it stabilizes and keep it balanced.

If it does not have a pump / filter system you may want to re-think adding chemicals and see if there's something special made for inflatable pools.

Most pool supply shops also are great sources of advise

 

[farmer2009]

Most of the chemicals have info on them for dosage by volume. The PH is likely ok to begin with assuming you used drinking water. You'd want to put chlorine in first (shock), then a day or two later add algaecide and then chlorine sticks. Then just keep the chlorine sticks replenished and shock every couple of weeks, or weekly with heavy usage. You can also then start to test PH and the chemical levels once it stabilizes and keep it balanced.

If it does not have a pump / filter system you may want to re-think adding chemicals and see if there's something special made for inflatable pools.

Most pool supply shops also are great sources of advise

Pretty much what I do. Use atleast a cartridge filter and clean it weekly and replace as needed. Using a sand filter is best. Salt systems don't require the chlorine or as much shock as they use electricity to make chlorine out of salt. But have been told they are hard on stuff. It rust really bad.

How deep is it? If over 48" it may not be too warm by Saturday.

 

[kenmac]

I have an 18x36 in ground 30,000 gallons of water. I don't add anything until I test the water. Here, the pool supply places will test your water for free. I only keep up with the PH and the chlorine. I only add algaecide when I need it

 

[oosik]

Hmmmm. For sure, test the pH of your water before adding anything. When you add chlorine it will make the water more acidic. This means going from neutral - pH of 7.0 towards 1.0. Unless your water is VERY basic (7.0 going towards 10.0) adding chlorine will not result in a pH of 7.2 - 7.6. This is why chlorinated pool water will burn your eyes - the added chlorine has made a mild acid - Hydrochloric acid. I've seen people fight this all summer long and eventually there are so many chemicals in the pool it turns to jello.

 

[RalphVa]

You'll need chlorine stabilizer. To get alkalinity up, buy a chemical that's similar to pH plus but doesn't raise the pH. Best to seek advice from a pool supply place initially to get these right; they typically won't charge for a pool water sample if you buy some chemicals from them. Then all you have to do is keep the chlorine up and pH right. In most cases, you won't need pH decreaser, as our rain water is acidic, and chlorine typically lowers the pH. So, you'll just need pH plus, which is sodium carbonate (think the alkalinity increaser is sodium bi carbonate).

I add 4 ounces to our 20,000 gallon lap pool once/week. Don't wait until you need it. It's the best insurance you can add for your pool. For your pool, if it's really only 2,000 gallons, you'll use 1/10 what my pool takes.

Ralph

 

[ustmd]

I highly, highly, highly recommend the Pool School section/Getting Started of the Troublefree Pool website:

Pool School - Getting Started

My in laws putting in an above ground pool 3 years ago. The various pool stores had them coming and going for chemicals ($$$$$$$$) and they still had a green pool.

Last year, I took over and followed the instructions on the Troublefree website and got the pool in control within a few weeks (it was a swamp).

The best part you do not need most of the expensive chemicals from the pool store/aisle.

For the most part you need household Bleach and Borax.

Good luck

 

[peterc38]

I'd get the pH and alkalinity set first, then add the chlorine. Buy a decent test kit and keep the chlorine @ 1-3 ppm. Shock once a week.

 

[NS Gearhead]

So we filled the pool yesterday, swam in it today (25deg C), and after that I added one cup of liquid chlorine, and 50ml of algiside. Tomorrow I'll adjust for PH, and add stabilizer.

I did buy a bag of shock, but the liquid stuff had measurements on how to use it to shock as well as to maintain. It was for 10,000L, so I just 1/4 it. Same for algiside.

I don't know how it happened, but the thermometer I bought for the pool ended up in the daughter's bath. It read 35deg C... so my goal shall be to get my pool to 30deg C. Half way between what it was today, and her bath water.

 

[kenmac]

I've had my in ground for about 15 yrs. I seldom have to add anything other than baking soda (large bags from sams) for PH and chlorine. I shock mine maybe once per month (if that often), I have never had any trouble keeping my water clear. When we get a lot of rain ,I may have to add algaecide ,but it's rare... Just 1 more note. All chlorine isn't created equal. Cheap chlorine doesn't contain high amounts chlorine . Buy the highest available chlorine you can buy.I believe the highest available chlorine I buy is 97% .

 

[KubotainNH]

Plus one to what Ustmd and Kenmac says. That pool site is where you need to be, they rock. With that said, seeing you have a small pool your biggest thing to watch is chlorine levels. Stay away from the pool stores, most just want your money. You need PH to be close but doesn't need to be perfect. I have an 18'x33' and put in maybe a pint of 8% liquid chlorine a day. I need to get my salt water gen back online, that makes things super simple. BTW, ditch the strips and buy the kit that uses drops. The strips are not accurate enough for the task. I've never added algaecide in the 6 or 7 years I've owned it. If shocking is needed then it's done with the chlorine.

 

[dodge man]

I hardly ever shock my pool. It's only needed if there is a problem. I have a chlorinator that I add tablets to and they contain stabilizer already. Good test strips will show the stabilizer level.

 

[oosik]

Man - am I glad as a kid we swam in the irrigation flume. No chlorine, no stabilizer, no chemicals at all and it was fun and open to all.

 

[radioman]

wow.. wide variety of answers here. Its a inflatable pool. not a in ground/above ground unit. Are you planning to keep pool up all winter? I am guessing not. I would not bother with the water drops kit.. and stick with the test strips. Many pool places will test your water for free in hopes you will buy chemicals from them. But a test strip is all you really need for inflatable pool. use shock to get chlorine levels up. add baking soda to water to get ph to 7.2 and dont worry about alkalinity yet. Add 20 mule team last after you get chlorine up first then ph with baking soda. If your alk is already good - dont add baking soda. you need soda ash. clear as mud?

 

[NS Gearhead]

LOL, you lost me at 20 mule...

I bought PH plus and minus. I figure the chlorine I added last night will lower the PH, so I'll test again today and will add PH plus if needed.

We bought a cover specific to the pool, but the darn thing didn't come up perfectly round... it kind of went oval on me, so the cover doesn't fit. I'm just using a tarp for now. May get some of that bubble wrap stuff... I think it helps with heating. Next year I plan to build a 2x4 octagon frame, level that, then do crusher dust tamped level with the frame... then rigid foam liner over that. Crusher dust isn't fine enough, and you can feel every stone even with a tarp under the pool.

I'm into this for $200... just to see if we actually use it and if it's worth having/ messing with... and to learn if we decide to keep doing it or to upgrade to larger.

 

[boggen]

refuse to use chlorine, and just use "salt" the dog pole, 12" deep about 8' diameter. i just buy table salt container and toss half of that into the pond. keeps the algae at bay. i only use the small pump to "circulate" the water in the pool to keep misqueters at bay.


www.koiphen.com and search for "temp ponds" or "emergency ponds" or "hospital ponds" a good amount of folks by cheap pools, and do a little bit of DIY drain and filters on them. and let the pool now pond go like mad for the fish.

12' feet diameter, 30" incher is downstairs in the basement right now, with some goldfish and koi in it.

if ya search for S&G filter "55 gallon sand and gravel filter" on koiphen. it is a cheap alternative to a pressurized sand filter. and easy to diy even for most novices.

it is fairly easy to install a 2" shower drain in bottom of pretty much any pool / pond. doesn't matter if rubber, epdm, vinyl, or other, it is all pretty much the same thing in the howto's and really helps remove the extra gunk that will build up in the pools. search for DIY bottom drain, or look at custom diy filters on koiphen. a good amount of pictures / instructions are there.

 

[KubotainNH]

For that size pool, liquid chlorine will cover your needs and doesn't affect PH. Unless the water burns your eyes then the other stuff is not really needed. Aeration will bring the PH up naturally. If you use powered stuff or pucks that has stabilizer in it and will drop the PH. It can also bring the stabilizer (cyanuric acid) up so high that you have to add way more chlorine but with your size pool just dump and refill. As you can see, people have lots of opinions on what works for pools. Troublefreepool is the TBN of pools. Read up on the pool school, button on top right.

 

[NS Gearhead]

PH was about 6.8 (7.2 is min), so I gave it 1 tablespoon (15ml) of PH+, and 1cup (8oz) of stabilizer... even though it called for 12oz. I really screwed up and just poured them into the discharge stream of the pump thinking this would dissolve/ disperse it... nope, just sank to the bottom. So I guess we're not going into the pool until that's all dissolved. It's supposed to rain for the next three days (including her birthday party)...so no biggie. I've been running the pump full time since yesterday and will continue until I can't see anymore grains on the bottom.

I've got some fun ideas for DIY pool heaters... solar with black garden hose, copper in the BBQ, or over the fire bowl... possibly with charcoal. Off to Google I go! LOL