Essential guide for new pool owners
Maintenance of a new above-ground pool: the complete guide to getting started properly
A new pool should mean enjoyment, not stress. The first few days are nevertheless important: this is when you establish proper circulation, good water balance, and a simple routine that will make the rest of the season easier.
This guide brings together the essential steps to follow after installation: filling, water testing, balancing, sanitization, filtration, chlorine or salt maintenance, filter cleaning, the first few weeks, and seasonal routines.
Welcome to Piscine Hippocampe
A guide designed to support you through your first season
Thank you for entrusting us with your project. The goal of this guide is to give you clear reference points to understand your pool, establish good habits from the start, and know when to ask for help. A pool that is started up properly is generally much easier to maintain throughout the summer.
The first 7 steps
Your post-installation roadmap
Bring the water to the proper level and check the pump, return lines, and for leaks.
Avoid making blind adjustments on the first day.
Start with alkalinity, then pH, followed by the other parameters.
With chlorine or a salt system, depending on your setup.
Depending on the volume, flow rate, temperature, and usage.
New water can change quickly after the initial adjustments.
Once the water is stable, a few simple checks are all that is needed.
Step 1
Put the pool into circulation properly
When the pool is filled to the proper level, start the pump and check that the water is circulating normally through the return lines. Inspect the unions, pump lid, valves, and fittings for any leaks or air intake.
Take advantage of this first start-up to note the filter pressure when it is clean. This value becomes your reference for knowing later when the filter starts to get dirty.
Step 2
Test and balance the water as soon as the pool is filled
Even municipal water is not automatically balanced for a pool. Parameters can vary from one municipality to another, and some may change after filling.
The proper correction order is generally: alkalinity → pH → hardness/stabilizer according to the analysis → sanitization. To understand this logic in detail, consult our complete guide to water balancing.
Which parameters should you monitor?
Exact targets depend on the type of treatment, liner, equipment, and manufacturers’ recommendations. The most important parameters to check are:
Helps stabilize pH.
Affects the comfort and effectiveness of the disinfectant.
Indicates the available disinfectant.
Protects chlorine from UV rays when used at the proper level.
Part of the overall water balance.
The target depends on the installed system.
Our advice for a new pool: test before adding anything
Bring a sample to the Piscine Hippocampe laboratory after circulation has begun. This establishes an accurate baseline before making multiple adjustments and reduces the risk of overdosing or unnecessary purchases.
Step 3
Choose your disinfection method: chlorine or salt
A saltwater pool is still a chlorine-disinfected pool: the generator converts the salt dissolved in the water into chlorine. The main difference lies in how the chlorine is produced and managed.
Chlorine pool
Structured routine with Day & Night
For owners who use traditional chlorine disinfection, we highlight the Solei & Luna Day & Night program. It helps organize maintenance around complementary products rather than waiting for the water to develop a problem.
Saltwater pool
Automated chlorine production
With a system like the MOOV MiniSalt MC50MINI, chlorine production is automated. The required salt level depends on the model and selected mode; always follow the recommendations for the installed system.
Featured technology
Solei & Luna Day & Night to simplify the first season
A new pool is the best time to establish a simple routine from the start. The Day & Night program combines Solei, a sun-activated oxidizer, and Luna, a mineral treatment used in the weekly routine.
The goal is not to replace water testing or disinfection, but to add a regular structure to maintenance.
Step 4
Understanding salt systems without complicating things
A salt chlorinator does not eliminate maintenance: it automates chlorine production. You still need to monitor the pH, free chlorine, cell condition, and salt concentration.
Modern systems such as MiniSalt MC50MINI or JustSalt MC50JUST can operate with different concentrations depending on their configuration. Check your model's manual rather than automatically applying a single ppm target.
Once the water is balanced and the salt has completely dissolved, gradually adjust the generator's output. The correct setting is the one that keeps your chlorine level within the target range despite the temperature and actual usage.
When should you increase or reduce the generator's output?
During hot weather, high pool usage, or if the chlorine becomes insufficient.
When the water is cold, the pool is lightly used, or the chlorine remains too high.
Test the water after making adjustments to understand the actual effect.
Step 5
Filtration: the heart of maintenance
Chemistry cannot compensate for poor circulation. The filter must remove particles and contaminants while the pump circulates the water throughout the pool.
The daily filtration time depends on the pool volume, the pump's actual flow rate, the filter type, the temperature, and pool usage. Therefore, there is no need to use a fixed rule of 10, 12, or 24 hours for all pools.
Start with a reasonable schedule, observe the water clarity, and adjust according to conditions. During a heat wave or after a day of intensive swimming, longer filtration may be helpful.
Improved filtration
Silica sand or AFM® NG?
Both can be used in a compatible filter, but they are not intended to deliver the same level of performance. Silica sand is the traditional solution. Dryden Aqua AFM® NG is an activated filter medium designed to improve filtration quality and limit biological fouling of the medium.
For a new installation, this is an option to consider if you want to maximize filter performance from the start.
When should I backwash?
Primarily use the reference pressure of your clean filter, the flow at the returns, and the manufacturer’s recommendations. When the pressure increases significantly and the flow decreases, backwashing may be necessary.
Avoid backwashing unnecessarily often: a filter needs time to work properly, and each backwash discharges treated water.
Step 6
The first week: monitor more closely, then simplify
The first few days help you understand how your water and equipment behave. During this period, test more often than you will later in the season.
Check circulation, leaks, filter pressure, and the initial water parameters.
Recheck pH and sanitation after the initial adjustments.
Adjust filtration or chlorine production according to the temperature and usage.
If the water is stable, switch to a simpler weekly routine.
Seasonal routine
The ideal routine for an above-ground pool
Check the sanitizer and pH, especially in hot weather.
Brush less-circulated areas, empty the baskets, and inspect the filter.
Check the water level, chlorine, pH, and clarity.
Test the chlorine and temporarily increase filtration if necessary.
Have a complete laboratory analysis done to detect parameters that drift slowly.
The essentials
Three choices that truly simplify a new pool
Useful products and technologies, without turning the guide into a catalogue.
AFM® NG
To improve the performance of a compatible media filter from the initial installation.
Discover AFM NGMistakes to avoid
Common mistakes made by new pool owners
Every adjustment affects the rest of the balance.
Start reasonably and adjust based on testing.
Clear water can still be poorly balanced.
Perfect chemistry does not replace good circulation.
Use pressure and flow rate as reference points.
A preventive routine requires much less effort.
When should I return to the Piscine Hippocampe laboratory?
For a new pool, we recommend a complete analysis at startup, followed by monitoring when the parameters are difficult to stabilize, after a major correction, or when a problem persists despite good filtration.
Bring a representative sample from your pool and, if possible, tell us your treatment method, pool volume, and the last products added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about a new above-ground pool
How long should I filter an above-ground pool?
The duration depends on the volume, pump flow rate, filter, temperature, and usage. Adjust the filtration time according to the conditions rather than following a fixed rule.
How often should I test the water during the first week?
Test more often during the first few days, especially after the initial adjustments. Once the water is stable, you can space out the checks.
Is a salt pool chlorine-free?
No. The generator converts dissolved salt into chlorine. Disinfection therefore remains chlorine-based.
How much salt should be added?
This depends on the generator’s volume and model. Some modern systems can operate at different concentrations. Always use the target specified by your system’s manufacturer.
When should I backwash?
When the pressure increases significantly compared with the pressure of a clean filter or when the flow rate decreases. Also consult the filter manual.
Which filter media should I choose?
Silica sand remains a traditional option. AFM® NG is an activated alternative designed to improve filtration performance in compatible filters.
Should I use Day & Night if my pool is a salt pool?
The Day & Night program is presented here primarily as a routine for pools maintained with chlorine. A salt pool already has an automated chlorine production system and should follow the routine suited to its generator.
We’re here to help
Your first season should stay simple
If you have any doubts about the water, filtration, or your salt system, stop by our store with a water sample. Our team can help you understand your setup and build a routine suited to your pool, rather than using multiple products at random.