Hi Everybody,
I'm brand new to TFP and to pool ownership, so please forgive me if I mentioned any of this up. I'm purchasing an original Endless Pool, 3000 gallons (custom deeper section), vinyl liner. I plan to keep the pool on the warmer side of the spectrum for pools, but not quite hot tub temp...probably around 86-88 unless the electric bills but are bankrupting me. I'm working on a small addition to my house where we will install the pool, so it will be fully indoors once it's set up. We will also use the vinyl roller style cover and keep it covered whenever it's not in use, so it won't really get any sunlight (and the windows in the room will have a UV blocker anyway).
We currently have an outdoor hot tub that we sanitize with bromine (which will also be moved to the same addition one it's built), but other than that I have zero pool experience, so I've been reading all over the internet and this website in particular trying to decide what additional equipment I want to buy and how I want to maintain the pool once it's set up (thank you too all of the mods and contributors - I still need some guidance but would be totally lost without the wealth of info in the TFP forums).
Based on everything I've read on here so far, my understanding is that the recommendations for my pool would probably be something along the following lines:
Use the TFPC method for sanitization with a CYA level around 20-30ppm. Don't use the Nature 2 cartridge that comes with the pool. No other equipment or chemicals should be necessary if I keep up with it well, although a UV sanitizer might be beneficial to help destroy CC's since there's no sunlight.
Please let me know if any of that sounds wrong or if I'm missing anything huge. Assuming the foregoing is generally correct, I have a few specific follow up questions:
1) Bromine vs Chlorine: I've read in several places on here that there may be a good case for using Bromine instead of Chlorine in a small indoor pool, especially one with higher temps, but I want able to find anything where it was saying that was the better choice, just more of a viable option. Since I'm already familiar with Bromine care (I've basically been unknowingly using the 3 step method described here How do I use Bromine in my spa (or pool)? for the last three years and it's been working well), I already have plenty of those chemicals, the hot tub with the bromine will be in the same room and I like the benefit of being able to drop in a couple extra tabs into my floater and go away for a long weekend without to much worry, I'm just wondering if anybody on here thinks it might be a better (or just as good) choice than Chlorine for this endless pool? SWG is not an option per manufacturer recommendations. If Chlorine and TFPC is still preferred over bromine I'm happy to give it a shot (and I understand that it would be much easier to switch to Bromine later if I don't like the chlorine than it would be to go in the other direction), but I was just wondering if anybody on here would say that they'd recommend bromine in my situation.
2) UV Sanitizer - my preference is to not ever waste money on extra equipment or time doing extra maintenance (shocking, I know), and I understand that a lot of folks on here might say that I don't need a UV sanitizer (and I won't bother asking about nature 2 because the recommendations for that are very clear so it will just go in the trash), but since I'm building this new I'd prefer to just buy and incorporate it now if there's a good chance that it will be beneficial. My kids will be using the pool and it will be attached to my house so I want to keep CC's down as low as possible because of health, smell and corrosion. I understand the limitations and that it would only be secondary - my main motivation for considering it is helping with CC reduction. Please let me know your recommendations as to whether or not I should include the UV Sanitizer for my setup.
3) CYA - I've read tons of good info and advice on here about CYA use, including why it's still important for an indoor pool that is not exposed to UV. That being said, it's a complicated topic (for me at least) and I want to make sure I fully understand it. My understanding is that it's recommended indoors mainly because it allows you to maintain a higher chlorine reserve without an increased active chlorine level, which is important because if there's a high bather load, algae or something else unexpected in the pool it could use up all of the available chlorine quickly and the pool could become unsanitary. I realize that's probably not spot on, but please let me know if I'm screwing up the general gist of it. Assuming that's close, I'm wondering two things:
A) If I'm using the 20-30ppm of CYA and have the corresponding appropriate levels of active chlorine and inactive chlorine in reserve, if the same thing happens (high bather load or introduction of some other organic in the pool that uses up the active chlorine quickly), is there something automatic that happens (maybe just caused by the presence of the new others matter requiring disinfection?) that causes conversion of the inactive chlorine into active chlorine that can keep the pool safe? Or would it still require me to test, become aware of the issue and add shock or do something to convert the inactive chlorine?
B) If my indoor pool (which will be covered all the time other than an hour a day) will be used only by me most of the time and occasionally by my two very young kids who will be freshly showered and without sunblock, lotion, etc. (ie, generally very consistent and low bather load), and I'm very careful to test before and after any time anybody else is in there (and all the time in the beginning until I get very comfortable) to make sure I always have enough chlorine, under those circumstances do you still think using CYA is important/necessary?
3) Circulation Pump: Endless Pools recommends a small 1/16hp Laing E14 circulation pump, which is low flow designed to run 24 hrs a day, probably originally intended for a large hot tub. Are there any recommendations about using that vs switching to a variable speed higher flow pump that would run off a timer for maybe 12 hrs a day (or whatever is needed, presumably less than 24hrs). I'm inclined to just use what they recommend but just wanted to ask for opinions.
4) Heater: I have the option to use a 5.5kw heater or a 4kw heater. The 4kw would of course draw less power but would probably run for longer to keep up with heat demands. The 4kw would be a little less to install and is more readily available with the configurations I want from the same vendor which would be my preference for various reasons including convenience (can't get the 5.5kw that it's want through endless). I've looked up tons of pool heater sizing calculators but haven't really found a great one for a pool this small specifying an electric heater and indoor conditions (I'll insulate the sides of the pool and the slab below, keep the uninsulated cover on whenever it's not in use, probably keep the room around 70 deg. year round), etc., so I'm not sure they're very accurate for my application. The heater manufacturers and endless pools both think either would be fine since the pool will be indoor, but I do plan to use it year round and add mentioned above, keep it on the higher end of the temp range for pools, so I'm a little nervous going with the 4kw even though up front costs would be less and it would otherwise be preferable to the 5kw. All else being the same, I'd guess that ongoing energy costs would probably be similar with either (4kw draws less for longer and 5kw draws more for shorter period). Does anybody have any thoughts on whether they think I'd be okay with the 4kw or about which might have lower energy costs going forward?
5) I'd welcome any other advice or recommendations about equipment, maintenance, endless pool options, indoor pool installations/enclosures and anything else constructive that would like to be shared.
Thank you all in advance for your recommendations and feedback!
Dave
PS - once I figure out my exact pool specs and equipment (hopefully with some help from this forum), I'll add it all to my signature. Thanks again.
I'm brand new to TFP and to pool ownership, so please forgive me if I mentioned any of this up. I'm purchasing an original Endless Pool, 3000 gallons (custom deeper section), vinyl liner. I plan to keep the pool on the warmer side of the spectrum for pools, but not quite hot tub temp...probably around 86-88 unless the electric bills but are bankrupting me. I'm working on a small addition to my house where we will install the pool, so it will be fully indoors once it's set up. We will also use the vinyl roller style cover and keep it covered whenever it's not in use, so it won't really get any sunlight (and the windows in the room will have a UV blocker anyway).
We currently have an outdoor hot tub that we sanitize with bromine (which will also be moved to the same addition one it's built), but other than that I have zero pool experience, so I've been reading all over the internet and this website in particular trying to decide what additional equipment I want to buy and how I want to maintain the pool once it's set up (thank you too all of the mods and contributors - I still need some guidance but would be totally lost without the wealth of info in the TFP forums).
Based on everything I've read on here so far, my understanding is that the recommendations for my pool would probably be something along the following lines:
Use the TFPC method for sanitization with a CYA level around 20-30ppm. Don't use the Nature 2 cartridge that comes with the pool. No other equipment or chemicals should be necessary if I keep up with it well, although a UV sanitizer might be beneficial to help destroy CC's since there's no sunlight.
Please let me know if any of that sounds wrong or if I'm missing anything huge. Assuming the foregoing is generally correct, I have a few specific follow up questions:
1) Bromine vs Chlorine: I've read in several places on here that there may be a good case for using Bromine instead of Chlorine in a small indoor pool, especially one with higher temps, but I want able to find anything where it was saying that was the better choice, just more of a viable option. Since I'm already familiar with Bromine care (I've basically been unknowingly using the 3 step method described here How do I use Bromine in my spa (or pool)? for the last three years and it's been working well), I already have plenty of those chemicals, the hot tub with the bromine will be in the same room and I like the benefit of being able to drop in a couple extra tabs into my floater and go away for a long weekend without to much worry, I'm just wondering if anybody on here thinks it might be a better (or just as good) choice than Chlorine for this endless pool? SWG is not an option per manufacturer recommendations. If Chlorine and TFPC is still preferred over bromine I'm happy to give it a shot (and I understand that it would be much easier to switch to Bromine later if I don't like the chlorine than it would be to go in the other direction), but I was just wondering if anybody on here would say that they'd recommend bromine in my situation.
2) UV Sanitizer - my preference is to not ever waste money on extra equipment or time doing extra maintenance (shocking, I know), and I understand that a lot of folks on here might say that I don't need a UV sanitizer (and I won't bother asking about nature 2 because the recommendations for that are very clear so it will just go in the trash), but since I'm building this new I'd prefer to just buy and incorporate it now if there's a good chance that it will be beneficial. My kids will be using the pool and it will be attached to my house so I want to keep CC's down as low as possible because of health, smell and corrosion. I understand the limitations and that it would only be secondary - my main motivation for considering it is helping with CC reduction. Please let me know your recommendations as to whether or not I should include the UV Sanitizer for my setup.
3) CYA - I've read tons of good info and advice on here about CYA use, including why it's still important for an indoor pool that is not exposed to UV. That being said, it's a complicated topic (for me at least) and I want to make sure I fully understand it. My understanding is that it's recommended indoors mainly because it allows you to maintain a higher chlorine reserve without an increased active chlorine level, which is important because if there's a high bather load, algae or something else unexpected in the pool it could use up all of the available chlorine quickly and the pool could become unsanitary. I realize that's probably not spot on, but please let me know if I'm screwing up the general gist of it. Assuming that's close, I'm wondering two things:
A) If I'm using the 20-30ppm of CYA and have the corresponding appropriate levels of active chlorine and inactive chlorine in reserve, if the same thing happens (high bather load or introduction of some other organic in the pool that uses up the active chlorine quickly), is there something automatic that happens (maybe just caused by the presence of the new others matter requiring disinfection?) that causes conversion of the inactive chlorine into active chlorine that can keep the pool safe? Or would it still require me to test, become aware of the issue and add shock or do something to convert the inactive chlorine?
B) If my indoor pool (which will be covered all the time other than an hour a day) will be used only by me most of the time and occasionally by my two very young kids who will be freshly showered and without sunblock, lotion, etc. (ie, generally very consistent and low bather load), and I'm very careful to test before and after any time anybody else is in there (and all the time in the beginning until I get very comfortable) to make sure I always have enough chlorine, under those circumstances do you still think using CYA is important/necessary?
3) Circulation Pump: Endless Pools recommends a small 1/16hp Laing E14 circulation pump, which is low flow designed to run 24 hrs a day, probably originally intended for a large hot tub. Are there any recommendations about using that vs switching to a variable speed higher flow pump that would run off a timer for maybe 12 hrs a day (or whatever is needed, presumably less than 24hrs). I'm inclined to just use what they recommend but just wanted to ask for opinions.
4) Heater: I have the option to use a 5.5kw heater or a 4kw heater. The 4kw would of course draw less power but would probably run for longer to keep up with heat demands. The 4kw would be a little less to install and is more readily available with the configurations I want from the same vendor which would be my preference for various reasons including convenience (can't get the 5.5kw that it's want through endless). I've looked up tons of pool heater sizing calculators but haven't really found a great one for a pool this small specifying an electric heater and indoor conditions (I'll insulate the sides of the pool and the slab below, keep the uninsulated cover on whenever it's not in use, probably keep the room around 70 deg. year round), etc., so I'm not sure they're very accurate for my application. The heater manufacturers and endless pools both think either would be fine since the pool will be indoor, but I do plan to use it year round and add mentioned above, keep it on the higher end of the temp range for pools, so I'm a little nervous going with the 4kw even though up front costs would be less and it would otherwise be preferable to the 5kw. All else being the same, I'd guess that ongoing energy costs would probably be similar with either (4kw draws less for longer and 5kw draws more for shorter period). Does anybody have any thoughts on whether they think I'd be okay with the 4kw or about which might have lower energy costs going forward?
5) I'd welcome any other advice or recommendations about equipment, maintenance, endless pool options, indoor pool installations/enclosures and anything else constructive that would like to be shared.
Thank you all in advance for your recommendations and feedback!
Dave
PS - once I figure out my exact pool specs and equipment (hopefully with some help from this forum), I'll add it all to my signature. Thanks again.
