Pool Startup & Maintenance – Up to 6,000 Gallons

The following is Ultra Modern Pool & Patio’s recommendation for your pool’s chemical schedule using the BioGuard® 3-Step Program. It is important that you follow the directions for a trouble-free pool. These instructions are for small pools up to 6,000 gallons.

The maintenance of proper water balance is the single most important factor to maximize the life and appearance of the liner.
Proper technique is important for water testing. Be sure to read and follow the written instructions from the chemical manufacturer.

CHEMICAL SAFETY
– Never let chlorine come into contact with the liner before it has fully dissolved. This means granular chlorine is dissolved first into a bucket of water and likewise liquid chlorine is poured in various locations around the pool and is immediately mixed thoroughly with pool water.
– Never mix chemicals together, rather add chemicals to pool water separately and circulate throughout pool before adding additional chemicals.
– Do not replenish chemicals in pool while pool is occupied. Skin or eye irritations could occur.
– Store chemicals in a cool dry place.
– Keep containers closed when not in use.
– Thoroughly clean empty containers.
– Wash hands thoroughly after handling.

INITIAL MAINTENANCE
When first setting up your pool — do your initial starting dosage, circulate the water for 24 hours and then bring a water sample to Ultra Modern Pool & Patio. If you are using well water and you have metals in your water, or think you might, add nothing prior to bringing in a water sample as the water could turn cloudy or green and possibly stain the liner.

We recommend you test your pool water daily as chemical treatment of the water is very important and cannot be over emphasized.

Recommended pH level is 7.4—7.6. Adjust your pH if it is not at this level. If it is low, add BioGuard Balance Pak 200. If high, add BioGuard Lo’N Slo, following the directions on the container.

If using Nature 2 — pool water needs to be balanced before Nature 2 is added. Bring a water sample to Ultra Modern’s water care department for specific water balance instructions. Do not use Backup Algae Inhibitor – use Algae All 60. After adding the initial starting dosages, run pump and filter 24 hours for four days. Keep chlorine levels at 1-2 ppm throughout the four days which will activate the Nature 2. After four days you can run the pump and filter for a minimum of eight hours a day — if this keeps your water clear. If not, increase the run time. Then follow the daily instructions.

NOTE: Be sure to remove your solar cover before shocking and leave it off for at least eight hours.

INITIAL STARTING DOSAGES :
Sanitize the water daily using 3” tablets or hand feed Super Soluble according to directions. Maintain chlorine at a minimum of 1.5 ppm and up to 3 ppm. The more swimmers you have and the warmer the water is, can double your pool’s chlorine consumption. Add whatever amount of chlorine it takes to maintain a 1.5 ppm chlorine..
Oxidize (shock) weekly using 1 lbs. of Burn Out 35®, per 6,000 gallons of water. NOTE: Be sure to remove your cover before shocking and leave it off at least 8 hours.
Use Algicide weekly by adding BioGuard® Backup Algicide. 6 ounces initially per 5,000 gallons and a a maintenance dose of .75 ounces per 3,000 gallons every week.
Initially you will need stabilizer to protect the chlorine from the sun. This is added at a rate of one pound per 3,000 gallons of water. Pre-dissolve in warm water, then add to the pool.

See product bottle for dosage amount.

Bring a sample of your water to Ultra Modern Pool & Patio and our water care department will run a complete analysis free of charge (for our chemical customers) and give you our recommendations for start up and corrections. Do this at least twice a season, and always upon pool start-up. Ultra Modern Pool & Patio also has a short chemical film you can watch to help you with your pool maintenance.

RAINY WEATHER:
Add Burn Out 35® or BioGuard® SmartShockTM when or after it rains. Rain water can affect the pH and the sanitizer reading — so be sure to check and adjust pH and chlorine readings immediately. Also do a maintenance dosage of Backup after a rain storm.

Bring a sample of your water to Ultra Modern Pool & Patio and our water care department will run a complete analysis free of charge (for our chemical customers) for start up and corrections.
NOTE: Keep pH between 7.4 and 7.6 and chlorine between 1.5 ppm and 3.0 ppm.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
Keeping the pool physically clean is as important as the regular additions of chemicals. Debris in the pool is unsightly, increases chlorine demand, and may cause staining of the pool liner. During the swimming season, thoroughly clean the pool at least once a week.
– Maintain proper water level (you can lose up to 3” of water per week through evaporation, splash outs and backwashing).
– Skim pool surface with leaf skimmer.
– Brush walls and floor with proper pool brush (vacuuming time will be decreased).
– Remove dirt ring from pool surface with tile and vinyl cleaner.
– Clean out skimmer basket—if applicable.
– Clean out hair and lint basket—if applicable.
– Keep area clean near pool.
– Check hoses and equipment and replace when needed.
– Vacuum pool bottom weekly. If you have a filter that cannot be used with a vacuum cleaner, we suggest you use the mini-vac garden hose vacuum cleaner.

Filter Maintenance: Initially, you will need to clean the cartridge inside of your filter in two weeks by rinsing it with a garden hose. After that you should check the filter cartridge periodically. If it’s brown, it needs to be cleaned by rinsing it with a garden hose and soaking it in a solution of water and filter cleaner. If it does not come clean, you will need to replace it. If your pool is cloudy and your chemical balance is okay, most likely you need to clean your filter. If it does not come clean, you will need to replace the cartridge with a new one. We recommend having spare filter cartridges on hand. We recommend you run your filter a minimum of eight hours a day for best water clarity.

Check filter system — the filter system is designed to remove debris by circulating the pool water and screening out insoluble particles. Chemicals alone do not keep the pool water clean. The importance of proper filtration cannot be overemphasized in the overall program of sound pool maintenance and sanitary water.
Cover your pool daily with the cover provided to save on chemicals and keep debris out. Covers are not safety covers. Keep children and pets off. Covers should be removed entirely before using pool.

Cover your pool daily with the cover provided to save on chemicals and keep debris out. Covers are not safety covers. Keep children and pets off. Covers should be removed entirely before using the pool.

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Download a printable PDF: BUL-106 – POOL START-UP AND MAINTENANCE – UP TO 6,000

Copyright ©2015 ULTRA MODERN POOL & PATIO, INC.
Bulletin #106