What to do when you first fill your pool?

What Do You Do After an Above Ground Pool Is Filled With Water?
  1. Step 1: Learn about how to prevent drowning and pool chemical injuries. ...
  2. Step 2: Turn on the filter. ...
  3. Step 3: Vacuum and skim off debris. ...
  4. Step 4: Test the water, and then test it again. ...
  5. Step 5: Enjoy your pool, but safely!
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What to put in a pool when you first fill it up?

Chemicals Needed for Pool Start Ups
  1. Stain & Scale Preventer.
  2. Granular Shock Chlorine.
  3. Chlorine Tablets.
  4. pH Increaser and/or pH Decreaser.
  5. Alkalinity and/or Calcium Increaser.
  6. Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer)
  7. Algaecide and Clarifiers if needed.
  8. Complete Test Kit or Test Strips.
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How soon after filling a pool Can you swim?

Chlorine/non-chlorine chemicals – When adding chlorine or non-chlorine chemicals to “shock” your pool after a fill-up, wait about 24 hours or until levels are approximately 5 ppm. If you'll only be adding liquid chlorine, it's generally safe to swim after about 4 hours or until levels are 5 ppm or lower.
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How do you treat a new pool for the first time?

At the very least, you should have the following chemicals on hand whenever we're talking about treating pool water:
  1. Shock Chlorine Granules or pure liquid chlorine.
  2. Chlorine tablets or Stabilized chlorine (if not using a salt water chlorinator)
  3. pH Regulators (pH up and pH down)
  4. Cyanuric Acid.
  5. Calcium Up and Down.
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What chemicals should I balance first in my pool?

Total Alkalinity (TA) is the first thing you should balance in your pool water. TA refers to the amount of alkaline material in the water. And since alkaline is a pH stabilizer, the number of alkaline substances in water will affect the pH balance. The ideal Total Alkalinity range for pool water is 80 – 120 ppm.
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First Time Pool Owner: "Do's



How much chlorine should I put in my pool for the first time?

The most important factor though is the size of the pool. You'll need about 52-104 oz of liquid chlorine per 10,000 gallons of water. This amount should get the chlorine level to between 5 and 10 ppm.
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How do you prepare a new pool?

How to Get Your Swimming Pool Ready for Summer
  1. Don't Empty Your Pool. ...
  2. Clean It Up. ...
  3. Top It Off. ...
  4. Have a Pro Test Your Water. ...
  5. Balance Your Chemicals. ...
  6. Wait for the Water to Clear. ...
  7. Housekeeping. ...
  8. Maintain.
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What chemicals do I need to start up an above ground pool?

We recommend that you take an inventory of the following:
  • Chlorine Tablets & Chlorine Stock.
  • pH Increaser & Decreaser.
  • Alkalinity & Calcium Increaser.
  • Cyanuric Acid or Stabilizer.
  • Algaecides, Clarifiers, Enzymes.
  • Test Kit Reagents or Test Strips.
  • Stain Removers.
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Do I add chlorine or stabilizer first?

Open your pool under normal procedures, and let the filter run with its normal amount of chemicals. When all the other chemicals, such as chlorine. pH and alkalinity, are balanced, add the chlorine stabilizer. Add the stabilizer only after the filter has been backwashed to ensure it is cycled through a clean filter.
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Do I use shock or algaecide first?

While shocking and adding algaecide is effective in getting rid of algae, it should not be done together. This is because when you mix chlorine and algaecide together, it renders both of them useless. Hence, you should first shock the pool and wait for the chlorine levels to fall below 5 PPM.
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How long do I wait between adding pool chemicals?

Wait times for adding pool chemicals

The wait times between adding pool chemicals is usually around 10 minutes each, as that is also sufficient time for the chemicals to mix in the water. Users also under normal conditions can swim roughly 10 minutes after adding chemicals.
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How do I start my inground pool for the first time?

How to Open Your Inground Swimming Pool
  1. Get the Gunk Off Your Pool Cover. ...
  2. Whisk Away the Winter Pool Cover. ...
  3. Clean and Store Your Pool Cover. ...
  4. Skim the Pool. ...
  5. Remove Plugs and Ice Compensator. ...
  6. Reinstall the Chutes and Ladders. ...
  7. Just Add Water. ...
  8. Set up and Run Your Filter and Pump.
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What's the difference between shock and chlorine?

Liquid chlorine and granular shock have the same active chemical that sanitizes your pool, what changes is the strength and the way you use it. Liquid chlorine is less costly, unstabilized and comes in liquid form. Granular shock is stabilized and comes in a solid form that dissolves in your pool.
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Can I add pH and chlorine at the same time?

What is this? Add them one at a time waiting 10-30 mins between different chemicals (except for pool shock or cal-hypo – wait 24 hours). Granular chlorine, pH and alkalinity adjusting chemicals can be dissolved first in a bucket of water. But not at the same time of course.
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Do I add chlorine everyday?

Chlorine sanitizer should not be put in your hot tub every day. Instead, it should be added 2-3 times per week depending on the frequency the tub gets used. Then about ¼ cup of chlorine shock should be added every 7-10 days. The amount of sanitizer to add depends on where the chlorine levels read on a test strip.
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Is liquid chlorine better than shock?

Liquid chlorine is generally less costly than granular shock and comes in refillable containers, where granular shock does not. Liquid chlorine does not need to dissolve in your water as it is already in liquid form. In addition, liquid chlorine is non-scaling and leaves no residue.
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Can I swim 12 hours after shocking pool?

After Shocking Your Pool

It is safe to swim once your chlorine levels are around 5 ppm or after 24 hours. It is always best to test first!
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Do you adjust pH or alkalinity first?

Check Total Alkalinity (TA) first, then adjust for proper pH range. Proper TA will buffer pH, that is, it will help to prevent pH fluctuations. Use fresh, high quality test strips. Excessively high bromine or chlorine levels can result in false pH and TA readings.
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What order should pool water be checked?

Save yourself time and effort by following this order:
  1. Total alkalinity.
  2. pH.
  3. Calcium hardness.
  4. Cyanuric acid.
  5. Chlorine.
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Does rain increase pH in pool?

Rain almost immediately causes the pH (Potential Hydrogen) in the pool water to rise while also reducing the TA (Total Alkalinity) slightly via dilution. Higher pH will cause more of the chlorine in a pool to become inactive or “fall asleep” reducing it's effectiveness.
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How long can water sit in pool without chlorine?

If you are not adding chlorine to kill bacteria, drain the pool every other day. Stagnant water without chlorine can become unhealthy water in as little as 24-48 hours.
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What happens if you swim in a shocked pool?

What Happens If You Swim In A Shocked Pool? If you do not wait for the chemicals used to shock a pool to totally dissolve then you could be placing yourself in serious danger by swimming in it. At the minimum, you will feel itchy skin and eyes because of the chemicals present in the water.
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How long after putting chlorine tablets in pool Can you swim?

Generally you will want to wait at least 4 hours, but ideal is waiting for one complete turnover of the water (the time it takes all the water to go through the filter).
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