How to start chemicals in a new 15 x 30 AG pool

[ShelleyAnn]

The pool is being delivered tomorrow! I have searched for instructions on how to START using chemicals from scratch in a new AG Vinyl pool, but find information on switching from one type of chemical to another, starting in something other than vinyl, or opening a pre-existing pool in spring that already have some chemicals in them. I know the good people of this forum have found checmical Nervana and I want the start the easy/simple/inexpensive way right from the git-go without learning the hard way as so many have. (My momma didn't raise no dummy!) Now how do I get rail "A" into slot "B".....?

[Watermom]

Go ahead and test your fill water as you are filling your pool. Use a drops based kit and post your results here for somebody to take a look at and we can go from there. Go ahead and have several jugs of plain, unscented bleach on hand and a box of 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle at Walmart) and some baking soda. Some people start out by using trichlor pucks as their chorine source at first which have cya (stabilizer) in them. Then, when their cya level gets to about 30-50, they quit using them and just switch to bleach. That certainly is an option. I don't do that, though. I always just buy some cya and add an initial dose and then just use bleach. To me that is easier, but it is just a matter of preference. (If that option is your choice, go ahead and buy some cya. It may be labeled as stabilizer or conditioner, but if the ingredient list says cyanuric acid or isocyanuric acid, it is the right stuff. You can probably find it at Walmart or Lowe's, but you may have to get it at a pool store.)

Post your results and what you what to do chlorine-wise and then we'll go from there.

Watermom

[Lenny]

That sounds like good advice, Watermom. By just using tri-chlor, wouldn't it take a while to get your CYA to at least 30? It seems like you'd go through a lot of chlorine waiting for that.

Even the tri-chlor I have says to get your CYA to 30 before using.

[Watermom]

It will take some time, but it won't take as long as you would think. Actually, if my CYA level was already at 30, I would not use trichlor. Anywhere between 30-50 is what I shoot for in my pool.

Watermom

[CarlD]

Ah...The NICE thing about using Tri-chlor pucks when you have no CYA is that the CYA builds up slowly, but the pucks maintain a steady flow of chlorine during that time--so if it it's being consumed, it's always being added as well. But if your pH is low you need to boost it with borax. Also, be absolutely certain that the pucks do NOT contain copper--no matter what the pool guys tell you.

The advice they give you about adding most chems seems to be depressingly utter nonsense most of the time.

Or you can just do it Watermom's way and add bleach, CYA and baking soda as needed.

But be careful on the last--absolutely do NOT add baking soda until you test your Total Alkalinity--our public water comes out at 180-185ppm of T/A. You do not want more than that in a vinyl pool, and in a plaster/concrete pool you must immediately begin the lowering regime.

[ShelleyAnn]

So you add chlorine and CYA initially and all the time...they "breath" out of your water with sun/use/temp, etc. Does CYA build up and then you stop adding it, or does it always need to be added? Is CYA required to get the chlorine to work?

Regarding PH, you get your PH set and then monitor it.

I get it that you stay away from copper under all costs or you have to drain the pool to get rid of it.

I won't need calcium as I'm vinyl liner. and....

What are tabs?

And that's it? !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Phew.