Steps in Starting Up a 15x30 Pool

Swimming pools need to be set up properly before you can swim.

Starting up a pool that measures 15 feet by 30 feet will guarantee that your pool will have at least 10,000 gallons of water. In order to add the right amount of chemicals, you must become aware of the number of gallons in your pool. At this point hopefully, you have learned the water capacity at some point during the buying and installation of your pool. This number will vary depending on the shape and depth of your pool.

Things You'll Need

• Hose clamps
• Shock
• Chlorine
• Test strips

Instructions

1. Connect your pool filter. If you are having your pool professionally installed, they will most likely connect the filter for you. In the event you must connect it yourself, attach a pool hose from the skimmer to the pump and another from the return jet to the filter. Use hose clamps to tighten the hose and prevent leaking. Specific start-up procedures can vary depending on the type of filter you have purchased.

2. Fill the pool with water. Do not start the filter yet. Depending on the size of the pool, this can take more than a day. Be patient and drop the hose line into the pool. Set something heavy at the ledge to hold the hose down. You can skim the pool water with a skimmer net as the pool fills up if you see noticeable dirt or if leaves fall into the pool.

3. Start the filter only when the water level rises above the pool skimmer. If you are using a DE filter, add one pound of DE powder through the pool skimmer to start. Sand filters must have the valve turned to the "filter" setting, and cartridge filters must have a cartridge installed with the air pressure valve tightened and the filter locked before starting up the system.

4. Add one gallon of liquid shock to the pool for every 5,500 gallons of water you have. For example, if the pool has around 15,000 gallons, three bottles of shock will be sufficient enough to treat the water. Add the shock directly to the water surface around the perimeter. Let the filter run for 24 hours uninterrupted. When you wake in the morning, the pool should already be clearer.

5. Test the water quality with a test strip. If the water is properly sanitized from the the shock, the pH and alkalinity levels should read normally. Begin to slowly add chlorine to the water. Chlorine comes in granulated, tablet and liquid form. Consult the specific product for treatment amounts. Typically, chlorine doses are measured in relation to gallons. For example, you may need to use two chlorine tablets for every 5,500 gallons of pool water to raise the chlorine level 10 ppm. The ppm chlorine reading can be obtained from the test strip. This applies to all sized pools. If you had around 11,000 gallons, the dosage would have to be doubled.

6. Continue to let the filter run and circulate the chlorine. Monitor the pressure reading on your filter. When the pressure rises eight to 10 pounds per square inch (psi) above the start-up reading, then it's time to backwash your filter. Backwashing is an aspect of pool maintenance that should become just as routine as adding chlorine. It's the process of cleaning your filter free of dirt and debris built up inside the filter. On average, backwashing will be needed every three weeks. You will be surprised at how fast the water clears up and in one or two days after the pool fills up, it should be ready for swimming.

Tips & Warnings

• Average Pool Water Volume Calculations (in Gallons):

• 15x30 oval pool (4 feet deep) = 10,600

• 15x30 oval pool (5 feet deep) = 13,200

• 15X30 rectangle pool (4 feet deep) = 13,500

• 15x30 rectangle pool (5 feet deep) = 16,800

• 15x30 oval pool (3 to 12 feet deep) = 19,800

• 15x30 rectangle pool (3 to 12 feet deep) = 25,200

References

• Leslie's: Pool Care Tips

Resources

• Pool Wizard: Calculate Your Pool Volume