New Pool Start-up Guide

For those of you who have recently refurbished your pool or built a new pool or are planning to build or refurbish a pool, here is a very important start-up guide for any new pool. for any queries please contact us.

An important step-by-step guide to the chemical treatment of new PoolCrete pools.

Day minus 1
1)Before the pool is plastered, a sample of the tap water should be taken to a pool shop who will test for :

*pH (not to be below 7.2)

*the presence of iron or copper in the solution. If metals are present, add metal remover at step 4. It is advisable to add a metal remover even if no metals are found to be present.

*calcium hardness. The ideal is 300 to 400 ppm. Below this, calcium chloride should be added at step 5.

The pool shop will recommend the appropriate products to remedy the quality of the water.

Day 1

2) Plaster Pool as per PoolCrete Data Sheet.

Day 2

3) Commence filling the pool from the deep end. We recommend the use of a deflector on the end of the hosepipe to prevent damage to the surface. Fill the pool in one go to avoid a water-ring from forming. Damp down exposed PoolCrete every hour to prevent premature drying. Protect the plaster from staining (particularly from mud splashes) until the pool is filled.

4) Test the water for calcium hardness. Add metal remover while filling.

5)Once the pool is filled, add calcium chloride in flake form (dissolved in a bucket of water) if required and test again for metals and calcium hardness.

6) Start filter. Do not introduce an automatic cleaner to the pool for 3 weeks. During this period use the pool brush only to remove dust and debris. Vacuum to waste daily. Brush the PoolCrete surface with a soft pool brush and backwash at least once a day.

7) Leave the pH above 7.8. This will aid the curing and hardening process of the PoolCrete. Do not use any acid for the first 3 weeks.

8) Dose only with small quantities of unstablized granular dry chlorine, or unstabilized liquid chlorine during this period.

Day 22

9) After 3 weeks check the pH and add only a quarter cup of hydrochloric acid (per 70,000 litre pool) dissolved in a plastic bucket of the pool water in any single 6 hour period with the filter running. Periodically dose until pH reads between 7.4 and 7.6. It could take over a week before the pH is corrected. Never use sulphuric acid in the pool.

10) Follow the chlorine manufacturer's instructions for dosing from now on.

11) Stabilize the water if desired. Dissolve the stabilizer granules in boiling water before adding to the pool.

12) If a salt water chlorinator is installed, add salt to the water and switch on the chlorinator. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions.

13) The automatic pool cleaner can now be connected.

Important information

Always follow the chemical manufacturers' instructions when adding chemicals to the pool. Chemicals should be added in a controlled way as it is not advisable to overdose with any chemical hoping that the effect will last two weeks rather than one. Overdosing can damage the PoolCrete surface.

Overdosing with acid causes etching of the PoolCrete surface and destroys total alkalinity. Always dilute acid before dosing, and add while the pump is running to ensure an even distribution.

Overdosing with calcium hypochlorite (dry granular chlorine) causes scale build-up and high pH.

Overdosing with trichloroisocyanuric acid (stabilised chlorine) causes a drop in pH and etching of the PoolCrete surface as it neutralizes itself by leeching the calcium from the PoolCrete. Keep chlorine pills or granules well away from the immediate edge of the pool or surface of the PoolCrete. Also keep out of direct jet of aimflow and away from or near the weir.

The use of a gas chlorinator is not recommend. Due to the chemical reactions that take place where the gas is introduced to the water, HCl is formed which causes etching of the PoolCrete surface and results in serious staining.