First Pool - Input Apprecaited

[Gangelop]

Thanks to all who post valuable content. Between TFP and YouTube went from 0 to what I am sharing below in a few weeks. Request is to fill the gaps & recommend additional details.

We are located south of Nashville, TN and have rocky clay soil set near many trees. Freezing temperatures occur for 1-2 months per year and a 1-2 weeks in single digit temps. Vinyl Liner elected based on soil, climate and budget.

Plan: 16' x 32' rectangle (4' stairs end depth sloped to 6' water feature end) Latham 14g steel wall back filled with rock, paver coping / paver patio & 27ml Tara liner. Concrete floor. Steps & bench are liner over Latham steel. Hayward equipment (VSP, 460 sqft cartridge filter, electric heater). Three returns (one loop / line), two skimmers each with dedicated line, two RGB lights, 2'x2'x8' site built stone ledge with 6' wide descent.

Questions for TFP:
- Should I seek 'wide mouth skimmers' OR are two standard skimmers adequate? (lots of leaves)
- Should I increase to four returns with two loops (each loop has 2 returns so if issue could close 1 loop and operate pool)
- Are two RGB lights sufficient? (both pointed away from house)
- For the purpose of simpler chemistry management should I add SWG?
- For a new owner should I avoid automation requiring me to see, smell and touch the pool before adjustments?
(pad will accommodate SWG & automation if not initially added)
- Any major concerns on functional setup based on my attached rough sketch?
- Other than questions to PB below what else should I ask?

Open questions to PB:
Returns
- Can the fittings be 'aimed'?
- Is this a 'looped return system' or 'individually piped'?

Plumbing
- What is the plumbing material? (Rigid or Flexible PVC)
- What is the size of the supply / return lines?
- Are elbows sweep or 90 degrees?
- Is a discharge line at the equipment stack included?

Stairs & Benches
- Is the non-slip (Tara Sure Step) steps?
- Please confirm the structure is steel, backfilled (don't want bounce or echo) & has a foam coat under liner (comfort)

Thanks!

 

[Mdragger88]

Welcome exciting times! I’ll try to be thorough.

Questions for TFP:
- Should I seek 'wide mouth skimmers' OR are two standard skimmers adequate? (lots of leaves)

I would personally want wide mouth skimmers. Mo skimming surface is mo better!

- Should I increase to four returns with two loops (each loop has 2 returns so if issue could close 1 loop and operate pool)

More returns is usually a good thing! Hard to add more later.
You want to take your prevailing winds into consideration for placement of returns & skimmers.

- Are two RGB lights sufficient? (both pointed away from house)

Lights can be a personal preference thing- many pools don’t have any. Here’s some more info on selecting pool lights that includes calculations

How to select pool equipment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

- For the purpose of simpler chemistry management should I add SWG?

Absolutely! A salt water chlorine generator is the easiest way to feed your pool.
A pool fed via a swcg is a chlorine pool so the chemistry is the same. Its simpler in regards to aquiring chlorine- you’ll simply be making it in your backyard instead of shopping for it on a regular basis and transporting it home.
Looks like you’re volume is roughly 20k gal. If my math is mathing…
So a 40k gallon rated swcg system or larger would be ideal as we recommend one rated for at least 2x’s your pool’s volume.

- For a new owner should I avoid automation requiring me to see, smell and touch the pool before adjustments?
(pad will accommodate SWG & automation if not initially added)

There are different types of automation. Ones that let you schedule your equipment to do what you tell it, when. Like pump schedules and heating the pool or running a spa etc. Your water features would be controlled by this as well.

then there’s the type that automatically adjusts your parameters (ph via an acid pump & fc via a liquid chlorine pump or swcg adjustment) based on readings from orp type sensors and probes.
I would only recommend the first type as the latter type is unfortunately often fraught with issues & complications. The dosing pumps aren’t necessarily the issue (although they do also require maintenance), its the sensors that run afoul. Many people are fine with simple , manually adjusted dosing pumps.

Even If the second “sensor type” is selected the pool’s parameters should still be maintained with regular testing from a recommended test kit. While using your own senses is important, You should rely on accurate testing to make adjustments.
Some people do heavily rely on auto dosers - like those who travel a whole lot or its their second home.
But most people really don’t need that level of automation enough to make up for the headaches and added expense.

- Any major concerns on functional setup based on my attached rough sketch?

I don’t see an attached sketch

- Other than questions to PB below what else should I ask?

You didn’t mention a pool cleaner.
Even if considering a robotic cleaner you may want to install a suction port as just like with returns- adding plumbing later is alot of work and expense.
There are times when a pool simply needs to be manually vacuumed so its wise to make a provision for this. Fooling with skimmer plates can be a pain.
The suction port can also be converted to pressure later and a booster added if there’s room on the pad and enough juice available if a pressure side cleaner is wanted.
Other than that- Ask for exact model numbers for all equipment.
Feel free to post them here for scrutiny from the brain trust

Stairs & Benches
- Is the non-slip (Tara Sure Step) steps?

It is a textured vinyl liner over the steps instead of plain.


@Newdude & others may also have some good insights I have overlooked
Congrats again on your new pool!

 

[Newdude]

Hey Gangelop and Welcome !!

Should I seek 'wide mouth skimmers'

No question.

Should I increase to four returns

However many you do, run each return on its own leg. Otherwise 1 bad pipe takes out 2 or 3 returns. When you post your sketch, add wind direction to it along with the skimmer return placement.

I have a 20x40 with 2 returns in the shallow end and 2 skimmers in the deep end. The wind blows that way 60%+ of the time. If it came from the sides, I'd want 3 or 4 returns down the long wall with 3 skimmers on the opposite long wall.

Are two RGB lights sufficient?

How many lumens ? How bright it should be to you, is as subjective as anything else.

For the purpose of simpler chemistry management should I add SWG

So i moved during the shortages after having a swg for 8.5 years. I had my next SWG on-site before I signed my build contract. *That* important. Anyone could have built me a pool and SWGs were hard to come by for a while there. I still stand by my priorities at that time.

For a new owner should I avoid automation requiring me to see, smell and touch the pool before adjustments?

IMO the idea of automation is oversold to the customer, or it sounds/seems like more than it is.

If you don't know what you're doing, you can foul the automation up just as bad as the chemistry. Or have a waterfall blasting swamp water at 2 am because you fouled them both up.

Any major concerns on functional setup based on my attached rough sketch?

From how you describe it, it all sounds like quality stuff. The thick name brand (even if only regionally) liner for example. Get us model #s for all the equipment, including tbe automation choices. With 460 carts it's probably all oversized, but let's make sure.

What is the plumbing material? (Rigid or Flexible PVC)

Demand rigid plumbing. There's no massive savings with flex, but there's huge drawbacks possible.

Are elbows sweep or 90 degrees?

Pools worked fine with 90s for a long time, but there is no reason to not use sweeps now.

- Is a discharge line at the equipment stack included?

Probably not but it's worth the upgrade IMO. My PB installed a 3 way diverter to waste on my first pool when I didn't know anything. On pool 2 it was non negotiable.

 

[Gangelop]

Original file was too large. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Newdude]

The 'toilet bowl method' / swirling can be an effective strategy, until there is a slight breeze. Which way does the wind blow usually ? If it was to blow this way it would usually stop skimming the bulk of anything floating.