What I found works..and what doesn't.

[AllanB]

Around 6 years ago I built my first pool, an simple concrete oblong 8m x 4m x 1.2m, with concrete steps. Initially I built it with an infinity edge and found the system filled up with crap very quickly. So being lazy, the first alteration was to fit a skimmer, problem solved and no downside.

 

Filtration

Unlike many others I went for a simple polyester bag filter installed in the skimmer, which gives much better flow from the simplified piping system and almost zero pump pressure drop, which puts no load on the pump. A great success. cheap to install and so easy to maintain, plus no water loss compared to back-washing sand filter systems. Once a fortnight I simply remove the bag, wash it out with a hose and put it back, I have replaced the bag 3 times in 6 years, £5 each.

 

Plantroom

My plantroom, if you can call it that has a 3/4hp pump (from Global) and 4off 2 port valves and that's it. I have a small panel on the wall with an RCD protected consumer unit £15 and a timeswitch. The lighting channel powers the 3 roof lights. also RCD protected. No ammeter, no relays, no lights, hand/off/auto switches, or any other cobblers.

 

Roof

I don't really like tanning, just like the Thais, so built a steel roof, with a simple box section frame sitting on 6 concrete posts. Works well. I can swim during the heat of the day, when I am hot, without any worries, the rest of the family too, we often play water volley ball. Plus the water is around 6c cooler that the moobahn pool. Cooler water means less evaporation and less chance of algae, fewer chemicals.

 

Added fountain jets

Reading that aerators are beneficial to ph balance, I plumbed in 2 small jets in the poo'ls high wall, which seems to prove the theory, plus I can use them to monitor the bag filter. When the jets start to pulse, which you can both see and hear, it is time to clean the filter..if you should forget.

 

40% above ground

In order for the top of the pool to be level with the house porch, I built the pool partially out of the ground. This prevents much of the crap from blowing into the pool and perhaps lowers evaporation.

 

Result

I run my pump for 1 hour/day, use 2 chlorine tablets every 10 days (10th, 20th, 30th of each month) and top up the water around 1cm per week, although that varies with use and TOY. I clean the bag filter when I add chlorine and that's it, no ph correction, my ph+ is now around 4 years old. No damage to the pool, no algae at all and clear water, oh I do have a net (cheap fishing net) which a remove all the leaves and insects before I swim, each day.

 

Downside (for some)

Right now the water temperature is 23c, a bit chilly when you first get in, boiling hot if you are a Brit....

 

Now what I found doesn't work, from what I have seen personally.

 

Plastic pools. 

Two guys I know have them and both pools have both moved, one about 2" in the first year, the other about 6" over 5/6 years, which caused the skimmer pipe to fracture. They are also much smaller from the maximum sizes quoted, so fast to install but you pay for that in the long run.

 

Salt systems.

One of these guys with JD plastic pool had a salt system, within a year all the glazing below the waterline was gone and after 18 months the pool looks really shabby. The chlorinator packed up after 18 months too.

 

Using only chlorine, my tiles are as shiny as when they were new and all the grouting is still 100%.

 

"Overflow" pool designs.

I know one guy who has one and every time it rains heavily and it has been known to do so in Thailand, the water system fills up with mud from the lawn. It is far dirty than an infinity system, which also looks "stylish", but a lot of trouble. 

 

Underground plantroom.

Who's bright idea was that? The guy with the overflow pool had a flood and the whole plantroom filled up with muddy water, electrical panel and all. What a nightmare, especially given the limited access. If you employ my system you don't need a plantroom anyway.

 

So if anyone is planning on building a pool, this is one man's findings over the years.

Edited December 10, 2016 by AllanB

[AllanB]

Note:-

I would point out that anyone considering using a time-switch for directly switching a pool pump, is that you are looking at an inductive load and a 3/4 hp pump is around 2.3 amps. Now although a standard time-switch is rated at 13 amps, that is for a pure resistive load and that normally equates to 2 amps inductive. So to be on the safe side I used a 16 amp HD model and have no problems with the contactors.

 

This is the another advantage of using a 3/4 pump and with the full flow you get using a bag filter, with almost zero head, the starting current is low.

 

If you are building a bigger pool than say 50m3 you will need a bigger pump and a starter relay, perhaps 2 skimmers each with a bag filter.

 

I use my pool for exercise and 8 metres is just enough, great for water volleyball for up to 6, though if I build another it will be 9m x 4m, anything bigger, not really worth the effort IMO. Many people build big odd shaped complicated pools and they take so much work, then if they seldom use them the problems start. Certainly many get neglected in Khon Kaen.

 

My view has always been if it is simple it will work and if it works you will use it.