Monday, June 28, 2021

Using Acid Magic to Clean a Salt Cell

One of the best products for salt cell cleaning in my opinion is Acid Magic. Why is it better than 31.45% Muriatic acid for salt cell cleaning? The main reason is that when you clean a salt cell you are adding a concentrated amount of an acid and water mixture into a small area – either a bucket or into the cell itself with a cap on. Since Acid Magic has 90% fewer fumes than Muriatic Acid you will do the cleaning process practically toxic fume-free.



That is one of the drawbacks of salt cell cleaning. The possibility of coming into contact with a concentrated amount of Muriatic acid can burn your skin and the toxic fumes. Acid Magic also safer to handle. There is a buffering agent that prevents burns to your skin. When you are using such a small amount of acid in a confined area Acid Magic is a great way to avoid the pitfalls of toxic fumes and burns.

Since it is the same strength as 31.45% Muriatic Acid you don’t sacrifice the cleaning ability in any way by switching to Acid Magic. If it took 20 minutes to clean a cell with Muriatic Acid it will take 20 minutes to clean a cell with Acid Magic. If the manufacturer calls for a 10 to 1 acid to water mixture, you can use the same amount of Acid Magic as Muriatic Acid. 

Last, Acid Magic has a 5-year shelf life. This means that if you want to get a gallon just for salt cell cleaning at your personal residence the product will last you several salt cell cleanings over the years. Even though the gallon is more expensive, it lasts such a long time making it in fact more economical if you factor that in. 

Here is more about the product from the manufacturer Certol:

ACID Magic is a full-strength muriatic-based product formulated to ship, use, and store easier than standard muriatic acid. This revolutionary blend of proprietary ingredients offers the cleaning and pH reduction of powerful acids while providing increased usability.


POOL AND SPA:

• Tested safe in all heated/unheated pools.

• ACID Magic is certified by NSF to NSF/ANSI Standard 50.

• Adjusts pool and spa water chemistry.

• Extremely effective acid wash.

• Cleans filters, chlorine generators, and meter electrodes.

DRINKING WATER TREATMENT:

• ACID Magic is certified by NSF to NSF/ANSI Standard 60.

• Corrosion and scale control.

• Descaler.

• pH adjustment.

PAINT PREPARATION AND GENERAL CLEANING:

• Use to etch concrete in preparation for painting.

• Removes efflorescence from masonry.

• Cleans excess mortar from brick and cinder block.

• Removes rust, scale, mineral build-up, and stains.

• Certified NSF Category A3 and Certified Kosher for cleaning food processing equipment.

• Cleans tile and porcelain in restrooms and locker rooms.

• ACID Magic has many other uses, too!

FEATURES:

• Up to 90% fewer fumes than standard muriatic acid.

• Buffering agents prevent burns to intact skin.

• Clean and clarify like full strength 20° Baume, 31.45%, muriatic acid.

• Use ACID Magic exactly as you would standard muriatic acid.

BENEFITS:

• Reduced fumes equal a better working environment. Also, less corrosion to storage areas, pump rooms, and equipment.

• Quarts and gallons ship Limited Quantity.

• Eliminates the risk of burns to intact skin.

• Less fuming means less evaporation of acid into the air.

• ACID Magic has all the strength of standard muriatic acid, but with less harmful effects


Visit my Website: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/

eBook: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/swimming-pool-care-ebook

YouTube Video Index: http://poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/03/swimming-pool-tips-reviews-how-to-video.html – A list of all of my videos.


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Thursday, June 24, 2021

Yellow Treat² by United Chemical: Sodium Bromide That Won't Zero Out Your Chlorine Level!

 If you deal with mustard or as some call it yellow algae during the season, a go-to chemical has always been sodium bromide. But one of the downsides of sodium bromide is that it will in many cases zero out the chlorine. And if you are not careful the pool will actually be worse off the next time you visit it. 
But United Chemical has come up with a new formula that if used correctly will allow you to add sodium bromide and still have a chlorine residual. They will be using the same Yellow Treat label but with a small “2” in the corner of the name to signify the new formula. Here is more on the new Yellow Treat formula and how to use it properly for the best results.



Yellow Treat®² makes killing mustard algae fast and easy. Just add 5 ounces per 10,000 gallons, brush, and shock. Then wake up the next day to an algae-free pool that still has a chlorine reading.
Yellow Treat®² contains ChlorineBoost™, the patented formula of ingredients that supercharges its algae killing ability while stabilizing chlorine readings.
Always add Yellow Treat®² directly to the pool or spa.

For swimming pools, add 5 ounces (one level capful) of Yellow Treat®² per 10,000 gallons by broadcasting directly onto the pool water surface. For spas, add the equivalent of 1/4 ounce per 500 gallons by broadcasting directly onto the spa water surface.

Brush pool or spa.

Independent of chlorine level, immediately add liquid or dry chlorinating product for super-chlorination. Use the recommended dosage rate for super chlorination from an EPA registered chlorinating product.

Before swimming, use a test kit for measuring chlorine level, as directed on your chlorinating product label. Do not enter the water or swim until the chlorine residual drops to 3 ppm.
To prevent the reoccurrence of yellow and mustard algae and maintain crystal clear water, No Mor Problems® may be used in conjunction with chlorinating and brominating products. Follow the directions for use for No Mor Problems® and maintain the chlorine or bromine level recommended on your chlorinating or brominating product.

The ease of use is probably why sodium bromide is so popular. And the fact that it works really well at killing algae in a pool. With the new formula, some of the issues caused by either over-dosing or under shocking a pool are eliminated. And if you have ever used a sodium bromide product you know that it is very easy to make a dosing error. Add too much and the chlorine is zeroed out. Or add too little chlorine following the dose and your chlorine zeros out. So the reformulated Yellow Treat®² is a great idea.

I know there has been a lot of debate lately on the safety of using sodium bromide in pools but Scott Hamilton of United Chemical has said that if sodium bromide was unsafe the EPA would not allow them to register the product. It took over a year for United Chemical to get EPA approval for their new Yellow Treat®² and with that approval, it is safe to use with the manufacture's recommended dosage. 



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Monday, June 21, 2021

Water Tech Volt 550Li Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner!

 The Water Tech Volt 550Li is a cordless, rechargeable residential pool robot loaded with innovative features. The first of its kind in the robotic cleaner category with a total daily cleaning time of 4 hours on one charge! Completely cordless and very easy to use the Volt 550Li raises the bar in the cordless battery-powered robotic cleaner category. The Volt 550Li is only available in the U.S.A. and is sold at your local pool store and is not available online. 




Key Features:
Cleans daily & weekly on a single charge -
The Volt 550Li robot features smart intelligence which lets you program a cleaning cycle daily or weekly intervals. It has a run time of up to 4 hours on a daily charge or up to 30 minutes a day for 7 days (with the first day being a 1-hour cycle).

Features a rechargeable Lithium battery - 
The Volt 550Li robot is powered by a Lithium Battery and requires 6-8 hours to completely recharge.

Comes with a hook for easy retrieval from your pool -
When it's time to retrieve the Volt 550Li robot from your pool, simply attach the hook to any standard pool pole and snag it by the handle.  No cord pulling required.

Filters at 7,200 gallons per hour -
Our high-capacity filter bags not only capture large and small debris but also sand, silt, dirt as well. Helping you maintain the cleanest water possible.

Peace of mind Warranty -
We stand behind every product we sell. The Water Tech Volt 550 Li robot comes with a 3-year limited warranty on lithium batteries, main parts-drive motors, and pump motors.

SKU #: 78000RR
Specifications:
Cleaning Coverage (sq. ft./hr.) 3542 sq. ft./hr.
Minimal Operation Depth: 16 in
Maximum Operation Depth: 15 ft
Run Time: Up to 4 Hours
Charging Time: 6-8 Hours
Cleaning Width: 18.0”
Suction Power: Up to 7200 gals. /hr
Unit Size: 19.85 x 18.0 x 11.0”
Unit Weight: 21 lbs
Retrieval Hook Adapter: Yes
Warranty: 3 years on batteries & motors
Battery Specifications
Battery Type: Li-Ion
Battery Configuration: 6S4P
Charger Specifications
AC-DC CHARGER:
Input: 100-240AC Volts 50-60Hz, 115W
Output: 29V

A cordless robotic cleaner is more of a novelty in most cases but the Volt 550Li is an exception because of the robust run time. It has two huge lithium-ion batteries which give it great power and run time. Part of the reason the price point is so high is that these batteries are very expensive. Think of your cell phone battery on super steroids and you get the idea of the size that these batteries need to be to power this cleaner and give it the ability to pump over 7,200 gallons of water every hour. 

I would say that if you are looking for a cordless robotic pool cleaner this is one to really look into.

To find out where you can purchase the Volt 550Li: https://watertechcorp.com/volt550li/


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Thursday, June 17, 2021

Summer Swimming Pool Care Tips

 Out of all the season, it is logical that Summer Time will be the most challenging in your pool service business. Not only is it hot out there but the UV index is higher, the pools get more use and chemical shortages abound. 

One thing that is often overlooked is the pool’s filtration system. At the beginning of each season, you need to make sure the filter is operating properly and is cleaned. I like to clean and inspect my DE and Cartridge filters in March before the season starts here in California. If the grids have tears or the cartridges are old this is the time to replace them. One of the major problems that contribute to algae and pools unable to hold a good chlorine level is a poorly running filtration system. So, make sure the filter is clean and in good running condition.




During the Summer season algae can be a big problem. It can bloom for several reasons, but the primary reason is not adding chlorine to the proper level. Keeping your chlorine at 3.0 ppm to 5.0 ppm is a good idea. If the chlorine zeros out during the week algae can certainly bloom. So, check your chlorine level at least once a week or more, and make sure you add chlorine consistently to the pool.

If your Conditioner level, CYA level is too low the chlorine will burn off quickly due to the intense UV rays in the Summer. Try to keep your CYA level at 30-50 ppm and raise it if necessary. If the Conditioner level gets too high, over 100 ppm then the chlorine becomes less effective. In this case, you will have to literally keep the chlorine at 10 ppm each week just to prevent algae growth. So, adjusting the CYA level in the pool is also a critical factor in the Summer.

The water level is one thing that is often overlooked during the season and it is one thing that can turn your pool green very quickly. Older pools do not have the main drain and skimmer connected and most of the older pools do not have the ability to turn off the skimmer if the water gets too low. This means that when the water level gets below the skimmer, the pool will begin to suck air. The pump will stop running and the pool water will not circulate. So, until you add water and correct this the pool will in effect stop running for that week. In 100-degree weather, this can easily lead to algae and a green pool.

If you do see any algae in the pool you will want to attack it aggressively. Failure to do this will result in a large algae bloom. Even a small amount in the step area can bloom into algae all over the pool walls in a few days. This is because the algae will use up the chlorine in the pool which will lead to it spreading rapidly. The best defense is prevention. You can start the season with a PoolRX in the pool, use a Poly Quat 60 or add Borates to your pool to bring it to 30-50 ppm. All these steps will help prevent algae in your pool during the season.

The point here is to be proactive with your pool care in the Summer. Start with a clean filter. Keep the chlorine level up, tread algae when you see it and fill your pool to keep the water circulating properly.


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Monday, June 14, 2021

Hayward TriVac 700 Pressure Cleaner - Cleans the Pool Surface and Bottom!

The Trivac 700 has been on the market for a few years now. Hayward has been tweaking it over the last couple of years to make some improvements in its surface cleaning ability. And yes, I did say surface cleaning. This is the only pressure-side cleaner that can clean the pool bottom as well as the pool surface.



If you are an old-timer you may remember the Hayward Phantom. This pressure cleaner would do the pool floors and surface. The problem with that model was the gearing was complex and would wear out all the time. Switching automatically from the top to the bottom just was not ideal and when the Phantom was on the top it tended to move too fast.

The TriVac 700 is based closely on this concept with a few updated features that make it more improved in most ways. Now the cleaner does not automatically switch from floors to the surface so the complex gearing has been eliminated. Which makes the TriVac 700 much more reliable.  Of course, since you have to now manually switch it this makes it a bit less automated but I think it is a fair trade-off for long-term reliability. So maybe a few days a week you can run it on the surface and then on the bottom the other days. 

Another upgrade is that Hayward spent about a year modulating the surface speed of the Tri-Vac 700. The 1st generation just moved too fast on the surface which caused it to push or miss surface debris. I think the current version is set to just the right speed allowing the Tri-Vac 700 to clean the surface very effectively. 

This combo of floor and surface cleaner is something that no other cleaner can do. If you currently have a pressure side cleaner and were thinking of getting one of those solar-surface skimmers you can kill two birds with one stone. You can replace your current pressure cleaner with the Tri-Vac 700 and have the ability to clean the surface of a pool as well as the floors. 

Here is more about the Tri-Vac 700 and it is only sold at your local pool store or available from your local pool service company and it is not sold online.

Tri-Vac 700 Top Skimming and Bottom/Wall Pressure Cleaner (Expert Line)
Item #TVP700C

EXPERT LINE products are only available through your local pool professional.

TriVac™ 700 pressure cleaner is the only cleaner capable of skimming debris from the surface of the water in addition to vacuuming the pool floor, walls, and coves. If skimming is not required, the TriVac™ 500 thoroughly cleans the pool floor, walls, and coves. Both TriVac models are equipped with patented AquaDrive® technology— powerful jets that propel the cleaners around the pool—as well as several other exclusive features.

Patented AquaDrive Technology

Low impact design for high impact results
Powerful jets propel TriVac cleaners easily and efficiently around the pool.
The unique short backup sequence helps reduce cleaning time.
Low-friction wheels eliminate wear and tear on pool surfaces.
Three high-pressure venturi jets and a wide vacuum inlet easily pick up larger debris.

Powerful sweep hose
Improves coverage by stirring up debris in hard-to-reach areas.
Easy management of dirt and debris
Patented extra-large debris bag with unique float carries more and requires less maintenance.


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Wednesday, June 9, 2021

All Season Turf "Oasis in the Desert" Full Front Yard Remodel

 I recently hired All Season Turf for the 3rd time to remodel a rental property in Hesperia California. They put in turf, a river rock section, and stamped concrete. We really like this company and I film the videos for them at no charge because I respect the workmanship of this company. 




To get a free estimate you can go to their website here: https://www.myallseasonturf.com/
If you ask for Jesus let them know David the YouTube guy referred you to them.

About All Season Turf
“All Season Turf is a family-owned and operated company with ample experience in using American-made TigerTurf artificial turf for both residential and commercial applications. We take great pride in the quality of our work, and your satisfaction is guaranteed.”

All Season Turf services Los Angeles County California, Orange County,  San Bernardino County, San Diego, Riverside County, and the surrounding communities. 

Other projects that All Season Turf did for us:

Personal residence
Artificial Turf Install: 9 Hour Job in a 6 Minute Video! Step by Step Featuring  All Season Turf:

Rental property #1 in the high desert
Complete Backyard Remodel! Stamped Concrete, Artificial Turf, and More: Featuring All Season Turf:

In my neighborhood out of the 110 homes in our community, All Season Turf has now done over 8 front and back yards and they will be closing in on 10% of the neighborhood as more referrals are completed. They are that good. If you're wondering about the turf brand it is Tiger Turf. Made here in the USA and it comes with a 15-year warranty. We have used it on all three of our projects.

Diamond Pro Spring:

To me, this is the most real-looking turf out there. It is not cheap and if you want cheap of course you can get another turf grade. We like this one because it is good for moderate to heavy traffic and looks just like freshly mowed grass. 

This project was 1,300 sq ft of turf and 300 sq ft of cement plus the River Rock Landscaping. The River was my wife’s idea and I think it adds a lot of character and definition to the project. Otherwise, it would be a large area of turf, which wouldn’t look bad but it would just be a large area of turf. I think having a river in the center adds to the overall “Oasis in the desert look.” In case you are wondering most of the landscaping in Hesperia Ca is just dirt and gravel. So this is something very different for the area.

Stamped Concrete is something that All Season Turf specializes in and I think if you get any concrete work done, it is a good idea to get it stamped. There are so many different stamp patterns available and it will turn a basic project into something stunning.  

For this driveway, we went with a dark grey look to match the house more and give the project some contrast. 

The cement color was Davis Graphite Dark Grey Carbon 8084 and in the pouring of the cement, it looks very black. It should lighten up over time and turn out to be a darker grey color. 

For the stamp, we went with the Pro-Line Ashlar Roman Slate which gives it a paver look. 
I think it all comes together nicely to give the project a unique look. 


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Monday, June 7, 2021

CCH Endurance Slow Release Cal Hypo Tablets Overview

 As a direct replacement to Tri-Chlor tablets the CCH Endurance tablets and CCH Endurance Feeder would be something to consider for your pool route or personal residence. Sigura the parent company of CCH makes the only slow-release or slow dissolving Cal Hypo tablet on the market. 




Here are some of the features of the Cal Hypo tablets:
Longer shelf life than liquid bleach
Effective alternative to chlorine gas and liquid bleach
Contain a scale inhibitor for improving feeder maintenance
Easy  to transport and use
Dry chemical does not leak
Reduces chloramine odors dramatically when compared to bleach
Calcium hypochlorite is less damaging on plaster and equipment
Contains no Cyanuric Acid or stabilizer

I think the number one benefit of the CCH Endurance tablet is the fact that they contain no Cyanuric Acid (CYA). When directly compared to Tri-Chlor Tablets which by weight are 50% or more Cyanuric Acid, the CCH Endurance tablets win hands down in that category. When you add Tri-Chlor tablets to the pool you are also adding large amounts of Cyanuric Acid which raises the pool's CYA dramatically. 

A pool with very high CYA means that you will also need a very high Free Chlorine level to prevent algae and to kill bacteria and microorganisms. As the CYA level increases you will need more and more chlorine in the pool to counter the effects of the high CYA. For example chemistry expert Bob Lowry has done extensive testing and has found that you need 7.5% of Free Chlorine to the CYA level. Simply put if your pool has a CYA level of 100 ppm you will need to maintain the pool at 7.5 ppm of Free Chlorine each week to make the chlorine effective. That by the way is a lot of chlorine. 

If you switch over to the CCH Endurance tablets you can actually maintain a CYA level of 8-10 ppm. That is dramatically lower than the 30-50 ppm recommended and at that level the chlorine is extremely
effective and fast-acting. And since the CCH tablets do not add any CYA to the pool you can easily maintain the low CYA level by adding CYA when needed.

That is another drawback of the Tri-Chlor tablets. Since they are by weight over 50% cyanuric acid, there is no way to effectively control the CYA level except by partially or completely draining your pool. If you live in a drought area like my area draining your pool after each season or partially draining your pool may not be practical. So the other option is to just run your pool each season with very high CYA levels and use more and more chlorine each week to keep it balanced. 

This of course raises the operation costs of your pool since Tri-Chlor tablets are now very expensive and spending money on shock and liquid chlorine and algaecides will also raise your operation costs. Since the CCH tablets don’t raise the CYA in the pool you will not need to drain it as often and you will not need to keep adding large amounts of chlorine each week to your pools to maintain a safe Free Chlorine level. In reality, if you add up the cost of draining a pool, the Tri-Chlor tablets, and the extra chemicals you will need, a Tri-Chlor pool is a very expensive way to maintain a pool over Cal Hypo. 

The CCH Endurance Feeder is NSF approved and once you see one in person you will think the Rainbow and Hayward offline chlorinators are toys. It stands about the height of a third-grader and is built to last. All the parts have been designed to make this one of the longest-lasting feeders on the market today. It can hold a ton of the CCH Endurance tablets and the feeder is rated for as little as 500 gallons of water up to 60,000 of water. There is also a built-in flow meter in front which makes setting the chlorine level in your pool simple and easy. It installs much like the off-line Tri-Chlor feeders that you are familiar with.

Bottom line, the CCH Endurance cal hypo tablets are a solid choice for your pool care and are a great direct replacement for Tri-Chlor tablets.

About CCH
CCH® is an industry leader in developing cyanuric-free disinfection solutions that help ensure bathers enjoy a clean, sparkling, and healthy pool in commercial spas and pools. CCH® is your Commercial spa and pool chlorination solution for hotels, motels, apartments, condominiums, and athletic facilities. We specialize in powerful automated feed systems and disinfection solutions to make professional spa and pool treatment easy to achieve. We are committed to adding value to our products through service and support and strive to meet the evolving community, state, and national water standards while responding to health and wellbeing concerns with innovative solutions. Our dedicated customer service and technical support teams are on call to answer any questions you may have about our systems, products, and solutions.

Learn more at the CCH website: https://cchpoolcare.com/



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Friday, June 4, 2021

Stamped Concrete by All Season Turf

 I recently hired All Season Turf for the 3rd time to remodel a rental property in Hesperia California. They put in turf, a river rock section, and stamped concrete. I thought the stamped concrete portion deserved a video of its own as it is a pretty cool process. The full remodel video will be posted soon.





To get a free estimate you can go to their website here: https://www.myallseasonturf.com/

If you ask for Jesus let them know David the YouTube guy referred you to them.

About All Season Turf
“All Season Turf is a family-owned and operated company with ample experience in using American-made TigerTurf artificial turf for both residential and commercial applications. We take great pride in the quality of our work, and your satisfaction is guaranteed.”

All Season Turf services Los Angeles County California, Orange County,  San Bernardino County, San Diego, Riverside County, and the surrounding communities. 

Other projects that All Season Turf did for us:

Personal residence
Artificial Turf Install: 9 Hour Job in a 6 Minute Video! Step by Step Featuring  All Season Turf:

Rental property #1 in the high desert
Complete Backyard Remodel! Stamped Concrete, Artificial Turf and More: Featuring All Season Turf:

Rental property #2: 

We just like the work that All Season Turf does. In my neighborhood out of the 110 homes in our community, All Season Turf has now done over 8 front and back yards and they will be closing in on 10% of the neighborhood as more referrals are completed. They are that good.

Stamped Concrete is something that they specialize in and I think if you get any concrete work done, it is a good idea to get it stamped. There are so many different stamp patterns available and it will turn a basic project into something stunning.  

For this driveway, we went with a dark grey look to match the house more and give the project some contrast. 

The cement color was Davis Graphite Dark Grey Carbon 8084 and in the pouring of the cement, it looks very black. It should lighten up over time and turn out to be a darker grey color. 

For the stamp, we went with the Pro-Line Ashlar Roman Slate which gives it a paver look. 
I think it all comes together nicely to give the project a unique look. 
If you are not familiar with Stamped Concrete Wikipedia describes it like this:
“Stamped concrete is concrete that is patterned and/or textured or embossed to resemble brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile, wood, and various other patterns and textures. Stamped concrete is commonly used for patios, sidewalks, driveways, pool decks, and interior flooring. The ability of stamped concrete to resemble other building materials makes stamped concrete a less expensive alternative to using those other authentic materials such as stone, slate, or brick. Stamped concrete is stamped tiles stacked next to each other.

There are three procedures used in stamped concrete that separate it from other concrete procedures; the addition of a base color, the addition of an accent color, and stamping a pattern into the concrete. These three procedures provide stamped concrete with a color and shape similar to the natural building material. It also is longer-lasting than paved stone, and still resembles the look.”


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Thursday, June 3, 2021

Swimming Pool Start-Up 101 with Bob Lowry

There have been two commonly practiced Start-Up Methods over the years, the Traditional Start-Up and the “Hot Start-Up” and recently over the past 3-4 years a newer method, the Barrel Start-Up. So which method is right for your pool? Bob Lowry also has his own Borate start-up method detailed in the write-up below.


Bob Lowry’s Borate Start-Up Method:

While the pool surface is curing it is basically wet cement and like a driveway that has been recently poured anything that touches it from a leaf falling to a lizard crawling across it will leave a mark. The same goes for your pool. If you step in it or your dog decides to walk across the steps like putting your handprint in wet cement, these footprints will be immortalized in your pool surface. When you vacuum the pool too soon using a manual vacuum head with wheels, turn off the water before the pool is filled or let anything fall into the pool and all of these will leave permanent marks on the pool surface (with the exception of a Pebble Surface).

Here are some things not to do as noted by Bob Lowry:
Do not turn off the water at any time until the pool has filled completely. The proper fill level is usually in the middle of the skimmer or specified by the builder. If the water is turned off, a permanent water line will be etched into the plaster where the water stopped.

Do not turn on the pool light until the light is covered with water.
Do not use a vacuum head with wheels or any automatic pool cleaner for at least 3 weeks. They can leave permanent marks in the plaster.
Do not add salt or turn on Saltwater Chlorine Generator (SWG) for 28 days.
Make sure that the filtration system and pump are operational. Check for the proper amount or level of sand, and make sure filter cartridges are in place. For DE filters, add DE once the pool is filled and the pump is running.
No people or pets should enter the water until the startup procedures are completed and the water is balanced. This may be Day 3 or 4.
The proper fill level is the middle of the skimmer opening or specified water level.

From my experience, it also seems very beneficial to run the pool as long as possible during the first 30 days. The water flowing continuously really helps with the pool’s initial chemistry and helps with the plaster dust. Keeping the pH low is critical in also reducing plaster dust in the pool. For a plaster pool, the pH will likely rise rapidly during the first 6 months as the plaster cures. So it is important to keep an eye on it and keep it on the low side – 7.0 to 7.2.

Here are some chemicals you will need for a successful Start-Up:

Sequestering agent – metal remover, chelator, or stain preventer – could also use a pre-filter. The Culator Ultra 4.0 is a must to keep out metal staining from the fill water.

Calcium chloride – hardness increaser to be used to increase Calcium Hardness if it is lower than 150 ppm.
Boric acid – pH buffer, algae preventer (Add borates to 50 ppm)
Muriatic Acid – pH and alkalinity decreaser
Sodium bicarbonate – total alkalinity increaser and pH buffer
CYA (cyanuric acid) – chlorine UV protector and a pH buffer – about 30-50 ppm
Liquid chlorine or bleach – a good primary sanitizer.

Hiring a good start-up tech is important and if you are a homeowner and just had a pool built and it is about to be filled, ask the builder if he or she will be providing the start-up technician. If not, I highly suggest you hire one to do the job right.


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