Crokett, how's your pool ?

[ssmith1627]

Long time no talk -- just thought I'd post this and check in with you.

You sent me over to the troublefreepool.com site several weeks ago and wanted to thank you again. It was rough going there at first trying to get up to speed. But what they preach really does work. I haven't spent anything at HD/Lowes or at the pool stores since. Bleach, borax and baking soda have gotten me through the past month.

It's amazing -- 6 weeks ago I had a green swamp and now I really don't think it would be possible for the water to be cleaner or clearer. I vacuum the pool about once a week. I add chlorine every couple of days. Test chlorine once a day or every other day and test the other things (Ph, TA, etc.) once a week now.

Thanks for getting me on the right path.

Did you ever get your metals issue sorted out ?

Steve

[crokett]

Thanks for the update. I am glad you are swimming in your pool now.

I did. It took 3 tries with 3 different products though. I had to use a chelating agent vs sequestrant - they do the same job but slightly differently. The problem is there is calcium in my water and the sequestrants like the calcium a bit more than the metals, so they weren't treating for the metals. The weird part is the one that worked last year didn't work this year. The chelating agent doesn't have this problem.

On a side note, last season I didn't fill the pool enough to let me hook the pump to the intake on the sides of the pool so I had it running through the drain. This required dropping the pipe size down the 3/4". After we got back from vacation rain had filled the pool just enough to use the normal intake and run 1.5"" pipe all the way to the pump. It has made a huge difference in the effectiveness of the skimmer and how clean the water is.

[ssmith1627]

That's good news. I'm glad you got it sorted out.

I know exactly what you mean with the skimmer. You have to have that level of water or you can't use it. I have no other option with my a/g pool -- that's the only drain I have.

I can't imagine not being able to use that part of the filtering. I empty june bugs and japanese beatles out of the skimmer basket every day -- two dozen at a time !

I'm still amazed at how much circulation that one return jet provides. I've got one of those Toypedo things and left it in the pool the other day. Every time I checked it was in a different spot. So even at the bottom, the water is circulating.

It's been a huge learning experience since this is my first time through all this. Thanks again for your help !

Steve

[gsmittle]

Well, I'm convinced--no pool for me! I have enough trouble keeping the closet clean...

g.

[crokett]

I had the skimmer hooked to the drain, it was just moving through a 3/4" pipe to get through the drain instead of a 1.5". You can move a lot more water through the 1.5" pipe - IIRC, almost 5x as much.

[ssmith1627]

AH, I see what you mean now.

Steve

[ssmith1627]

Well, I'm convinced--no pool for me! I have enough trouble keeping the closet clean...

g.

I think of it like the woodworking. A big learning curve but after a while the terminology makes sense and you get the basic concepts. If I can learn to keep mine clean, you can too. And the troublefreepool.com site is the pool version of this place. Some very friendly and helpful people over there.

Steve

[gsmittle]

I think of it like the woodworking. A big learning curve but after a while the terminology makes sense and you get the basic concepts. If I can learn to keep mine clean, you can too. And the troublefreepool.com site is the pool version of this place. Some very friendly and helpful people over there.

Steve

I'll check it out. Great-one more hobby for LOML to roll her eyes at!

g.

[ssmith1627]

It's easy to sell them on this stuff. They can see the results of the woodworking hopefully. Some cutting boards, a new deck, a bed for my son, etc. All those magazines with all the potential projects for stuff we "need". The pool they can enjoy too so it wouldn't be just YOUR hobby.

Now......aviation......I don't know that I can sell that one. Expensive expensive expensive. And I can't afford to rent the type of airplane you'd be comfortable in for a flight to the beach. Which is why I don't have a single hour in my logbook in the last 10 years......sigh........

Steve

[crokett]

G, for 300 bucks you can get a complete kit - 15' round pool, pump, etc. I can help you get it set up and started. 4' deep - plenty big enough to float/cool off in. Pay a little more and you can get an 18' one I think.

My neighbor is a KCMO transplant tho and he says out there everybody has a stock tank in the back yard that is their pool.

[eccentrictinkerer]

G, for 300 bucks you can get a complete kit - 15' round pool, pump, etc. I can help you get it set up and started. 4' deep - plenty big enough to float/cool off in. Pay a little more and you can get an 18' one I think.

My neighbor is a KCMO transplant tho and he says out there everybody has a stock tank in the back yard that is their pool.

Sixteen years ago I built our 16' above-ground pool out of wood. Mostly because I had never seen it done before.

Six sheets of treated 1/2" plywood some treated 2 x 6's, my trusty PC690 router and an 8' foot trammel point to cut the curves in the 2 x 6 coping and I was in business.

I used 3 aircraft cables to help keep the 40,000 pounds of water inside the confines of the pool.

Two summers ago I put a 2' x 20' solar panel on my roof and am now able to keep it 80 degrees or so.

I used a commercial vinyl liner (replaced once) and a free Jacuzzi pump and filter (way over-sized for my pool).

Thank to all for the Bleach, Borax, Bicarb advice. You guys are saving me good money!

Most days the pool is full of grandkids! I like watching the kids. Last year I went in 4 times. Two times it was on purpose.

[ssmith1627]

Post some pictures ! I'd like to see that !

Steve

[eccentrictinkerer]

Post some pictures ! I'd like to see that !

Steve

I'll give it try. Now, where did I put the camera?