Leveling the ground for a new Intex pool

[PoolDoc]

Mom, I'll do the p9 link list this evening . . .

[Watermom]

Thanks!

[dtjoseph95]

I have a question, if I have a sand filter and going to put on a saltwater system also, do I still need to do all the bleach and borax steps? where do you get borax from? Also, what is the best sand to use for the filter? Sorry newbie here, and a Coloradoian, pools aren't very common around here. I see a trip to the pool store in the very near future.

[Watermom]

I assume you mean the 'bleach and borax steps' from the SS Recipe? Yes, you do. You don't start up your SWCG until you have your water balanced.

You can get 20 Mule Team Borax at Walmart (laundry aisle).

You need to use sand made specifically for pool filters.

If you go to the Pool Store, don't let them talk you into buying a bunch of stuff you don't need! Trust me...... they'll try!

[dtjoseph95]

Ok I'll get everything tomorrow and start the fill. Is there one filter sand better then another?

[Watermom]

I'll let someone else advise you about which sand filter but wondered....... what size pump do you have or have you not yet bought one? In the case of pool pumps, bigger is not better. You want a small pump paired with a larger sand filter for best filtration. Many AG pools have badly mismatched pumps and filters which is not good.

[dtjoseph95]

Ok now I feel silly...All I have is what came with the pool, is the sand filter not the pump also?

[Pappy]

I used one bag of sand from Leslies, put it in first, then I found a local Home Depot that carries Quikcrete Pool Filter Sand. I topped my filter off with that. The pool store sand is much more uniform than Quickcrete. I've had no problems. Just be sure to backwash before you start to filter or you'll pump sand into the pool.

[PoolDoc]

1. SWCG (salt water chlorine generation) system are just a METHOD of adding chlorine. And, that's all they do. All the rest of pool water management (pH, CYA, TA, CH) has to be done the same way, PLUS you have to track salt levels.

2. Use labeled filter sand.

3. Few SWCG's generate enough chlorine to handle problems, like algae or a big group of sweaty kids. If you depend on them for that, you tend to (a) not solve the problem and (b) shorten the units life . . . a LOT.

[PoolDoc]

Some, but not all, Intex units include both pump and filter. Some are filter only. No idea what you have.