What do i need to keep our 18'x4' easy set pool clean?
Question:
Answers:
You don't need much, honestly.
I'm sorry you got the typical recommendation from Uncle Johnny as the page he links to touches on the basics but doesn't actually explain the process or why things are the way they are. I've also found the calculations in there to be off by quite a bit.
The second answer recommended a lot of pool specific chemicals that you just don't need, and neither do they. Despite the fact that they work, they are expensive and limited on where you can purchase such things. The one good thing of that recommendation was to take a sample of water to your local pool store to have them test it. But instead of purchasing the expensive chemicals you can get by easily with grocery store chemicals that are the exact same and much less expensive.
Muriatic acid from a hardware store costs about $5 for a gallon and lowers alkalinity and pH.
Baking soda from Costco/Sam's Club raises alkalinity and costs about $5 for a 12lb box.
Household bleach (generic non scented) contains sodium hypochlorite which is the same as liquid pool chlorine in half the concentration (use a full gallon of household bleach to the recommended half gallon of pool chlorine). You can find bleach on sale for about $.99 per gallon.
20 Mule Team Borax (about $4 for a 4.5lb box in the detergent isle of your local grocery store) is an effective algaecide, water softener, clarifier, pH increaser, and pH buffer.
These are just some of the things that you can use instead of the more expensive pool chemicals.
If you have a pool store close by you will want to take a sample of water to them and have them test for the following:
Total chlorine
Free chlorine
Combined chlorine
pH
Alkalinity
Hardness
Cyanuric acid
Total dissolved solids
Metals
Phosphates
Bring the results back here and post them or feel free to send them to me at robandliz1992@yahoo.com and I'll be more than happy to get you on a tailored maintenance schedule to keep your pool pristine and healthy.
http://appliancequickfix.com/ has one really good page on
pool water maint.
I have one in my yard. We set it up last month. You'll need spare filter cartridges, chlorine, pool shock, pH adjusters and a good test kit. By the shock that contains an algecide and water classifiers. Change your filter cartridge after every day of use. You can rinse the old one with the hose to remove the debris, and use it again the next time. You'll also need a broom or pool brush to 'sweep' the inside of the pool. Dirt and debris will collect on the bottom that are difficult to remove with the pool vacuum. The sweeping will help move it around so the filter or vacuum will remove it.
If all else fails, take a wate sample to a local pool store. They will usually test the wate for free and advise you on what to do, so they can sell you the supplies.
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