Dad was a pool guy in the Chicago suburbs in the 70’s. Had a 24’ above ground as a kid and a 20x40 10’ deep end diving pool as a teenager. Dad did everything himself but I was usually mowing when he was so I never learned.
Well, I’m learning now. Got a hot tub 3 years ago then we were able to shoe horn a 12x24’ oval Stealth pool in our very sloped back yard in Tennessee.
We really didn’t think we were going to be able to put. A pool in the back as our neighbor had a quarter of a million in their backyard pool. That said it is the opposite of ours. Loaded with a slide, fiberglass, auto cover, pool vacuum and all the bells and whistles on top of a huge tiered retaining wall. I don’t have any neighborly jealousy though I swear…. Ha!
That said our set up is perfect as it is the main things I wanted. 1. Small 2. Simple 3. Efficient (though there is room for improvement but the heat pumps is AWESOME).
We have a nice paver deck on the pool tier of our 3.5 tiered patio back yard. On the other side is a “stone wall” to the pavers.
The “stone wall” is a lumber frame with cement board and stone facia plastered on it. It looks nice but is a bit of a drop on the far side so we have a metal fence running right up to the pavers.
Our equipment is below the pool on the other side of the brick wall of our bottom patio tier. Great location in my opinion but I believe some people prefer the equipment above the pool.
My pump is an always running one with that clear vortex thing in the top, and I have a cartridge filter with an ozone system and a heat pump as well.
I keep the temp at 85 in the summer and 65 in the winter.
My treatment is based off testing at pool and spa depot and responding to those (no-weekly). My weekly regimen is appropriate dosage of peroxide, non-chlorine shock ($$), then I have an Algerian 2 I put in quarterly (16 oz), and a phosphate remover I use when I get in the 400’s.
I had battled algae before the Algerian 2 and I figured out how to vacuum 100% to waste so I don’t get my filter dirty.
I do have sediment collect in the bottom after a few days. Not sure what it is, May just be dirt /debri or dead organic material but I keep the phosphates low to 0 since I got the algae under control with the Algerian 2.
If I keep on this regimen I have crystal clear water, vacuum bi-weekly. No issues. If I get lazy I’m pretty good at getting it sorted quickly.
I keep a log of my chemical applications going back to September of last year as well as every water sample test result since install of the pool (started at 7am on a sloped yard and was filling it by 7pm). I got them a ton of pizzas and cervesas.
Looking forward to engaging in this forum. I come from reddit but that’s more to chuckle at the posts and trying to help folks out when I can about stuff I know. I’m not a Reddit troll, just a normal 40 y/o guy trying to keep his kids and wife happy and have a nice place to relax in after mowing the yard.
Cheers!
I’ll post some pics of the build.
Also, fun fact, I helped my neighbor dig his pool 3ft deeper on one end and vermiculite it and re-line it. In the spring time, and it rained most of the weekend it took us. Fun times (he lets me drink his good bourbon now, totally worth the backbreaking work).
Well, I’m learning now. Got a hot tub 3 years ago then we were able to shoe horn a 12x24’ oval Stealth pool in our very sloped back yard in Tennessee.
We really didn’t think we were going to be able to put. A pool in the back as our neighbor had a quarter of a million in their backyard pool. That said it is the opposite of ours. Loaded with a slide, fiberglass, auto cover, pool vacuum and all the bells and whistles on top of a huge tiered retaining wall. I don’t have any neighborly jealousy though I swear…. Ha!
That said our set up is perfect as it is the main things I wanted. 1. Small 2. Simple 3. Efficient (though there is room for improvement but the heat pumps is AWESOME).
We have a nice paver deck on the pool tier of our 3.5 tiered patio back yard. On the other side is a “stone wall” to the pavers.
The “stone wall” is a lumber frame with cement board and stone facia plastered on it. It looks nice but is a bit of a drop on the far side so we have a metal fence running right up to the pavers.
Our equipment is below the pool on the other side of the brick wall of our bottom patio tier. Great location in my opinion but I believe some people prefer the equipment above the pool.
My pump is an always running one with that clear vortex thing in the top, and I have a cartridge filter with an ozone system and a heat pump as well.
I keep the temp at 85 in the summer and 65 in the winter.
My treatment is based off testing at pool and spa depot and responding to those (no-weekly). My weekly regimen is appropriate dosage of peroxide, non-chlorine shock ($$), then I have an Algerian 2 I put in quarterly (16 oz), and a phosphate remover I use when I get in the 400’s.
I had battled algae before the Algerian 2 and I figured out how to vacuum 100% to waste so I don’t get my filter dirty.
I do have sediment collect in the bottom after a few days. Not sure what it is, May just be dirt /debri or dead organic material but I keep the phosphates low to 0 since I got the algae under control with the Algerian 2.
If I keep on this regimen I have crystal clear water, vacuum bi-weekly. No issues. If I get lazy I’m pretty good at getting it sorted quickly.
I keep a log of my chemical applications going back to September of last year as well as every water sample test result since install of the pool (started at 7am on a sloped yard and was filling it by 7pm). I got them a ton of pizzas and cervesas.
Looking forward to engaging in this forum. I come from reddit but that’s more to chuckle at the posts and trying to help folks out when I can about stuff I know. I’m not a Reddit troll, just a normal 40 y/o guy trying to keep his kids and wife happy and have a nice place to relax in after mowing the yard.
Cheers!
I’ll post some pics of the build.
Also, fun fact, I helped my neighbor dig his pool 3ft deeper on one end and vermiculite it and re-line it. In the spring time, and it rained most of the weekend it took us. Fun times (he lets me drink his good bourbon now, totally worth the backbreaking work).
