How to Open a Traditional Chlorine Pool

Open a Chlorine Above Ground Pool 

Opening your chlorine above ground pool doesn't have to be complicated! Follow our guide below to get started and get your above ground pool open. 

Connecting your Equipment

Connect all your pool equipment. Ensure the hoses going onto the filter head are in the correct position. Fill the pool beyond the normal level and preform a generous backwash and rinse. Vacuum pool if necessary or use the Turtle automatic pool cleaner to automatically clean the pool. The Turtle must not be connected for at least 30 minutes after a backwash has been preformed.

Removing Algae from your Green Pool (if applicable)

If your pool water is green due to algae, your first step will be to kill the algae and filter it from the water. If your water is clear, you may proceed to the next step. 

To quickly kill and remove the algae from the water we suggest lowering your pH level below a reading of 7.2 and then adding a Solution 48 Kit. (Otherwise known as a Green Kit)

Sand Filter Cleaning 

After you have achieved clear water, it will be time to thoroughly clean your sand filter. Remember it is important to replace your filter sand every 3-4 years as it's performance will decrease. Here are the steps to use our pool filter cleaner: 

• Quickly pour the orange filter cleaner into the skimmer while the pump is running.
• The orange cleaner will go from the skimmer to the pump very quickly.
• Once you do NOT see the orange cleaner through the lid of the pool pump:
• TURN OFF PUMP IMMEDIATELY.
• Leave pump off for the evening. (At least 6-8 hours)
• In the morning set your sand filter to BACKWASH.
• Run pump until you see the glass on the side of the sand filter run clean and clear.
• Turn pump off.
• Set sand filter to RINSE.
• Turn Pump on.
• Run pump and watch the glass on the side of the sand filter till clean and clear. Then turn pump off.
• Set sand filter to Filtration and turn pump on

 

Adding your Opening Chemicals

Adding your Dazzle Spring Opening Kit (Orange) will ensure your pool will be clean and clear to start your swimming season.

Please note that this opening kit is not required if a Solution 48 Kit (Green Kit) has been used to clear the pool.

How to use the Dazzle Spring Opening Kit:

1. Add the provided bottle of Dazzle Stain and scale directly to the pool in front of the return jet with the pump running. This will prevent metal staining in the pool.
2. Add the bottle of Dazzle Ultra Shock slowly into your skimmer. This will remove organic contaminates from the water and help clarify the water.
3. After ONE HOUR add the bottle of Dazzle Algae Clear 60. This will prevent algae from forming in the pool.

Did you know, without protection from UV rays, the sun's rays can consume up to 90% of your pool’s chlorine in just a few hours? Therefore, adding Stabilizer is necessary to protect your pools chlorine levels. See chart below for the proper amount for your pool. 

Pool Size	Recommended Stabilizer
15' – 18’ Round	800g
21' – 27’ Round	2kg
15'x30' Oval	2kg
18'x33' Oval	2kg

 

Preventing Metal Staining in your Water

Metals in your pool water can cause extremely disturbing staining of both the water and the surfaces of your pool when combined with chlorine. It is recommended that if you have metals in your water (all well water and some municipal water supplies) you do a Stain and Scale treatment. 

Weekly Stain and Scale

It is strongly recommended that you add a small dose of your metal treatment each week to maintain protection against metals that are added into your pool while preforming routine top ups with your hose.

Pool Size	Weekly Dose
15' Round	50 mL
18' Round	75 mL
21' Round	100 mL
24' Round	125 mL
27' Round	165 mL
15'x30' Oval	125 mL
18’x33’ Oval	165 mL

 

Balancing your Water

It is very important to balance your pH, Alkalinity and Calcium. This will greatly improve your bathing comfort and will increase the lifespan of all your pool’s equipment.

Bring us a water sample to determine exactly how much of each product to add to your pool to obtain the desired levels.

Alkalinity Plus:  Total Alkalinity describes how “buffered” the water is against sudden changes in your hot tub’s pH. The alkalinity of your hot tub is perhaps the most important water balancing step in your hot tub. (Ideal reading 120ppm)

• If your Alkalinity reading is LOW you must add SPA Alkalinity Plus to increase it.
• If your Alkalinity is reading too HIGH - Use pH MINUS to lower it.

pH Minus:  (Ideal reading 7.6)

• Will lower BOTH the Alkalinity and the pH.

pH Plus:  (Ideal reading 7.6)

• Will increase only pH. (Rarely used)

Calcium Plus:  it’s important to keep the calcium hardness balanced to prevent your hot tub water from becoming corrosive or scaling. (Ideal reading 250+ ppm)

• If your HARDNESS reading is LOW you use Calcium + to increase it.
• If your reading is too HIGH you must dilute your tub water with fresh water. (Unlikely)

 To balance your water at home:

Use the AquaChek water balancing app with your test strip! Download from our website. Scan the QR code below with your smartphone camera to navigate directly to our website!

Weekly Maintenance

Adding a non chlorinated shock to your pool weekly will help to remove organic contaminants from the water. This will result in cleaner, clearer water. Adding chlorine pucks and algicide on a weekly basis will prevent algae from growing in your pool, even during the hottest summer months.

Pool Size	Weekly Oxy Pro	Weekly Algicide	Weekly Chlorine Pucks
15' Round	240g	70 mL	1-2
18' Round	360g	105 mL	1-2
21' Round	480g	140 mL	2-3
24' Round	600g	200 mL	3-4
27' Round	750g	220 mL	3-4
15'x30' Oval	600g	200 mL	3-4
18’x33’ Oval	750g	220 mL	3-4

 

Tips to Best Care for your Pool

Solar Blanket

Your solar blanket has a warranty on the seams separating. Bubbles falling off the solar blanket is not covered under the manufacturers warranty. Proper water chemistry is extremely important to prevent this from happening.

It is recommended that you remove your blanket on each sunny day to allow the pool to warm up and put your blanket back onto the pool at night to retain the heat.

Drips and Leaks

Verify your skimmer and return jet do not have any small drips or leaks after connecting your equipment. Leakage will prematurely corrode your pool wall and other components. Such damages are generally not approved for replacement by the manufacturer.

To quickly remedy these drips you can add additional hose clamps to secure hoses, use 100% silicon to seal stubborn leaks or add additional Teflon tape to threaded connections.

Changing the Sand in your Filter

We strongly recommend changing the filter media in your sand filter at least every  3-4 years. On the years where you are not replacing the media, we recommend you use a pool filter cleaner to rejuvenate the filter media.