Guide
What to do after the fill
The water is in. Here is the start-up checklist for the first 48 hours, in the order that saves you chemicals.
New plaster, pebble or a new liner? Your builder or plasterer’s start-up procedure comes first. Fresh plaster has its own routine (often daily brushing and careful pH and alkalinity control for several weeks), and some steps below may be delayed.
Check the water level
Stop at about the middle of the skimmer opening. Too low and the pump can draw air; too high and skimming suffers.
Start the pump and filter
Prime the pump, open the valves, and run the system continuously for the first 24 to 48 hours. Check for leaks at the equipment pad.
Test the water
Use a good test kit or take a sample to a pool store. Test total alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness, chlorine and, outdoors in the sun, cyanuric acid (stabilizer).
Balance alkalinity first, then pH
Alkalinity steadies pH, so adjust it first. Then bring pH into range. Make one change at a time, let it circulate, and re-test.
Set calcium hardness
Soft water can etch plaster; hard water can scale. Delivered municipal water may be either, so test before you add anything.
Add stabilizer and sanitizer
For outdoor chlorine pools, add cyanuric acid as recommended, then bring free chlorine into range.
Brush and keep it running
Brush walls and floor daily for the first week, especially on new plaster, and keep the filter running.
Typical target ranges
Common guidance for residential chlorine pools. Your equipment, surface or pool professional may specify different numbers; follow theirs.
| Test | Typical range |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.2 to 7.8 |
| Total alkalinity | 80 to 120 ppm |
| Calcium hardness (plaster) | 200 to 400 ppm |
| Free chlorine | 1 to 4 ppm |
| Cyanuric acid (outdoor) | 30 to 50 ppm |
Filled from a well?
If any of the water came from a well, test for metals (iron, copper, manganese) before you add chlorine. A sequestrant or metal remover added first helps prevent staining and discolored water.
After-the-fill questions
How soon can I swim after filling the pool?
Once the water is circulating, balanced and the sanitizer level is in range, which is often a day or two for an existing finish. New plaster has a longer start-up: follow your builder’s instructions before anyone swims.
Why is my freshly filled pool cloudy or green?
Fresh water carries minerals and, from a well, sometimes metals. Adding chlorine can make them visible. Keep the filter running, test, and correct pH and alkalinity first. For metals, a sequestrant or metal remover helps.
Should I shock a newly filled pool?
For an existing finish, an initial shock to establish a chlorine residual is common. For new plaster, many start-up procedures delay chlorine or specify when to add it. Follow your builder or plasterer first.
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