Intex Ultra XTR Saltwater Pool
14' × 42" round frame pool, ~3,357 gallons, saltwater (Westaho WiFi cell). Decatur, GA — Zone 8a. Property is on septic (factors into backwash/drain decisions).
Equipment & Specs
- Pool
- Intex Ultra XTR Frame, 14' × 42" round, model 26309ST
- Volume
- ~3,357 gallons at fill line (water sits ~37")
- Filter pump
- Intex sand filter pump #26641EG
- Filter media
- 55 lbs of #20-grade silica sand (AquaQuartz-50 2-pack, ASIN B0CFJTYZ5R). NOT filter balls year one.
- Salt cell
- Westaho WiFi Salt Chlorine Generator (≤15,000 gal, Intex-compatible, USA titanium cell, GeniLife app)
- Opening kit
- Rx Clear Deluxe Spring Opening Kit (alkalinity increaser, super shock/cal hypo, algaecide, clarifier, test strips, tile cleaner)
- Skimmer
- Valdorena floating surface skimmer (tri-float, 10 filter socks, hose T-adapter)
- Hose holders
- SHAPON ×2 (adhesive, fits 1.25" Intex hose)
- Salt feedstock
- Pool-grade/solar salt, 99.4%+ pure NaCl, no iodine/anti-caking. ~84 lbs for 3,000 ppm.
Setup Sequence (2–3 days)
- Site. Verify level with a 4-ft level on a straight board — check N/S, E/W and both diagonals. Shave the high side, never build up the low side. Lay ground cloth / foam underlayment (extends liner life).
- Liner. Unroll in sun 20–30 min to soften (cold vinyl wrinkles/tears). No shoes on the liner — barefoot or clean socks only.
- Frame. Ring of 8 horizontal top bars + 8 T-joints. EVERY bar must click on the spring button — jammed-but-unclicked joints are the #1 cause of catastrophic blowout. Tug to verify.
- Fill. Smooth all wrinkles during the first 1" of water; keep smoothing as depth rises (wrinkles set permanently past 2–3").
- Equipment. Install sand pump (multiport to 'Filter'); remove plunger valve red plugs after hoses are clamped; mount SHAPON holders; install Westaho cell inline between pump outlet and pool return (flow arrow toward pool, control box mounted high & rain-protected); deploy Valdorena; prime pump; leak-check. Salt cell stays OFF until Day 3.
Chemistry Startup — order is non-negotiable
Alkalinity→pH→Calcium Hardness→CYA (stabilizer)→Shock→SALT→Activate cell
| Parameter | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Alkalinity | 80–120 ppm | Set FIRST. ~1.5 lb increaser ≈ +10 ppm in this volume. |
| pH | 7.4–7.6 | Saltwater drifts up, so starting 7.2–7.4 is fine. Adjust only AFTER alkalinity. |
| Calcium Hardness | 200–400 ppm | Atlanta water is soft (75–150). ~1 lb CaCl₂ ≈ +30 ppm. Pre-dissolve in a bucket. |
| Cyanuric Acid (CYA) | 60–80 ppm | Saltwater runs higher than chlorine pools. ~4 lb. Undershoot on purpose — only removable by draining. |
| Free Chlorine | 1–3 ppm | Sanitizer level. |
| Salt | 2,700–3,400 ppm | ~84 lb for 3,000 ppm. Formula: (gallons × ppm) ÷ 120,000 = lb. |
Critical gating rule: Add salt → run pump 24 hours → test salinity at target → only then activate the cell. NEVER run the cell dry or below 2,500 ppm (permanent titanium plate damage). Activate only when salinity is 2,700–3,400 ppm AND free chlorine is under 4 ppm. Start cell at ~50% output; steady-state typically 30–60%, 8–12 hrs/day. Swim-ready ~day 4–5.
Top Mistakes to Avoid
- Unlevel pad
- Skipping the T-joint click
- Not smoothing wrinkles in the first inch
- Running pump with plunger plugs in
- Activating cell before 24 hr / before salinity target
- Adjusting pH before alkalinity
- Dumping dry shock/calcium on the liner (pre-dissolve!)
- Wrong salt (no iodized/rock/rust-inhibitor)
- Overshooting CYA
- Swimming within 24 hr of shock
- Shocking in bright sun (do it at dusk)
Zone 8a / Yard Specifics
- April–May heavy pine/oak pollen → daily skim, extra sock changes, longer pump runs.
- Summer mid-80s water → chlorine demand roughly doubles above 85°F.
- Test/adjust after every storm exceeding ~1".
- Keep saltwater splash off the raised beds — sodium accumulates in soil and harms tomatoes/peppers/basil.
- Cover during Oct–Nov leaf drop; consider closing by early November.
Open Items
- One Temu pool item still unidentified — add to guide once the product name/photo is provided.
- Confirm Let's Encrypt / SSL not relevant here — pool only.
- Buy filter sand: AquaQuartz-50 2-pack vs. Home Depot Candler Road in-store (55 lb #20 silica).