Intex 15ft X 48in Metal Frame Pool Set

UPDATE 7/2018. We've had this pool for a few years now. YES, it's lasted that long, although this year we may take it completely down and reset it again as it is starting to lean slightly (due to a young person trying to climb over the side.) The main pump is still working fine, although I will tell you honestly that it doesn't have a lot of suction for the pool vacuum. I'm not really pleased about the 2-hoses-to-the-pump setup because of this. Even when you block off one hose, there just isn't a lot of suction power. We have a farm and the pool gets a lot of sand in it, so I'm thinking of getting a battery-powered or rechargeable vac. Ladder: We replaced the ladder with a better quality one as we're in our late 40s and not quite as spry or thin as a teen. Saltwater system: This ended up not working well for us. Maybe it's the Texas heat, but the pool seemed to stay green no matter how much it ran, never got a high chlorine amount, and I was having to shock it anyway. We took off the saltwater pump and just started using regular chemicals. It's honestly easier for us and the pool looks a lot better. Overall, we've been extremely pleased with this pool for the amount of money it cost. We were talking the other day how pools used to cost (and still do) thousands of dollars and were a luxury item, and I swear the rather expensive above-ground pool we had a decade ago cost a lot more to run. Maybe pool pumps, even cheapie ones, have improved. Anyway, this pool has some features I don't like, like the way the two hoses-from-the-pool are connected to the pump, and a DIY person probably would just replace these. Anyway, we've really enjoyed this pool. You can read more from our original review below.Original Review:We have now had this pool for a few days short of a month. While we've had a real learning-curve learning how to use the pumps and get the pool going, I'd say it's been a real success, though, and already given us hours of fun. Now, allow me to elaborate for those considering this pool. We are a family of 3, so this pool isn't getting a heavy swim-load. That may make a difference. We also had a knowledgeable friend help us set it up. We had a very level section of ground, but he still advised us to get a load of sand. I think this extra step really DOES help. It really takes 2 fairly strong people to unpack and put up the pool, although they had no real trouble doing it. The process of spreading the sand and putting up the pool probably took 2-3 hours by itself, but it's possible that you could do it more quickly. I (a 46-year-old woman with no experience) was able to figure out how to set up the pumps. We had purchased the salt-water/chlorine generator as well, so that was an added layer of complexity, but we got it done with a little patience. If you were using a different brand of pump or pool, you might have to use some adapters, but connecting the Intex pool with Intex pumps was easy once you figured out which pump needed to go where. The instruction manual really COULD be a little more clear in some areas, but there's also a video you can watch (which I didn't) that might make it even easier. Again, expect a learning curve. We are on a farm-well, so it took well over a day to fill the pool. The salt cost less than $30, and we also bought a test kit and some chlorine stabilizer at a local store. (We had bought a pool vac & net from Amazon with the pool.) Then came a time of experimentation. Here in Texas it's already in the mid to upper 90s some days, and one morning I discovered that the pool was as green as grass and looked like a witch's cauldron. That took 2 days of running the "boost" cycle (like shocking the pool. NOTE: on this size of pool, it takes about 48 hours, during which you're supposed to swim. In fact, you're not supposed to run the salt-water system while the pool is occupied, according to Intex), adding algacide, and changing filters every day (just hose them off unless they're really bad.) I've found that I have to run the main pump for 8 hours a day, and the salt-water/chlorine generator for at LEAST 7 hours a day to keep it reasonably clear. There is also one caveat that I have: that's the ladder. It's okay for a slim young person, but for us slightly older people it's a bit flimsy and we're going to look for a larger & stronger one. ALSO....I know this is a no-brainer, but face your pool's pumps in the direction of your electrical supply. Our friends didn't realize where the power was coming from, so we have to have the power cords running farther than they should have to. Other than that, it's a nice pool for a relatively small amount of money.

The reason for purchase:I purchased the Intex 15ft X 48in Metal Frame Pool Set to replace my Intex 12ft X 30in Easy Set Pool Set. If you have the space, I would highly recommend just getting away from the easy set pools in general. The inflatable ring always went flat and would change with the temperature not to mention I had to repair the holes in it constantly. Also would easily tip over and dump out at least half the contents if overfilled due to rain water if not completely level.The pool was fairly easy to setup once I had a nice flat base. I was able to accomplish this nearly by myself with no help. My wife assisted me with putting on the legs but i could have done it without her. I found it easier to only put one plastic pin in per t-fitting all the way around and then go back and put in the second pin after the circle was completed. One thing to note is that the instructions are terrible and that there is NO bottom rope as shown in all the pictures and documentation. That appears to be a feature that has gone away. Also the center belt has a loop for each leg that slides on the center belt instead of the legs going behind the center belt. Don't put the pool up on a windy day unless you are filling it that day because ours tried to run away with the wind. I was able to straighten the pool up and get rid of all the wrinkles but putting a few inches of water in the bottom and getting in and kind of scooting it outwith my feet. I was unsure of how sturdy it would be but after filling it, this is a solid pool. We have not yet used it as the water is still 45 degrees but i know it will far out perform the other Easy Set pools we have had.The pump that these pools all come with is sized for a smaller pool. Across the board. Just save yourself a headache and go for a sand filter right away. You will not be disappointed. Now I scoured these reviews for information regarding the size i bought since i had bought one way too big. I have a 15 foot pool and I bought the Intex Krystal Clear Sand Filter Pump for Above Ground Pools, 3000 GPH Pump Flow Rate, 110-120V with GFCI to go with it. After the fact, i noticed it was oversized for this pool so I recommend not get this big one and going for the Intex Krystal Clear Sand Filter Pump for Above Ground Pools, 2100 GPH Pump Flow Rate, 110-120V with GFCI instead. The pump i got works fine but you can tell that it is oversized for the job. I also purchased the Intex 120V Krystal Clear Saltwater System CG-28669 with E.C.O. (Electrocatalytic Oxidation) for Above Ground Pools to pair with the pump and for my pool size, I only need to run the saltwater for 3 hours and the pump for 4 hours once a day. Both are on on timers so I don't have to think about it. The sand filter required 100 lbs of sand to hit the minimum mark, 110-120 lbs would probably be the full mark. I put 80 lbs of salt in the water to start since the water was already treated when it arrived and have two more 40 lbs bags of salt on hand should i need it when the pump indicates it needs it. You will also need a couple adapters to make the 1.5 inch hoses work with the 1.25 inch fittings. I bought the Hose Conversion Adapters kit for Intex 1500gph and 2500gph pumps to adapt everything together.Total Costs:Intex 15ft X 48in Metal Frame Pool Set - $349.86Intex Krystal Clear Sand Filter Pump for Above Ground Pools, 3000 GPH Pump Flow Rate, 110-120V with GFCI - $157.23Intex 120V Krystal Clear Saltwater System CG-28669 with E.C.O. (Electrocatalytic Oxidation) for Above Ground Pools - $145.61Hose Conversion Adapters kit for Intex 1500gph and 2500gph pumps - $9.622 50 lbs bags Pool Filter Sand - $204 40 lbs bags Pool Salt - $204200 Gallons of treated pool water - $1402 Tons Crushed Gravel Delivered - $84Wooden Stakes and String - $10Total: $936.32The Base - The most IMPORTANT part:NOTE: This was all done by hand by one person over a weekend. I reworked the base my pool sat on this time to ensure a very flat and level surface. Previously i had tried to level it as best i could and I prepared a surface a foot bigger that the pool itself as was recommended which gives you a 6 inch buffer all the way around. The pool was placed in pretty much the same place as the previous pool but i took steps to ensure a solid base this year. To layout the size, i pounded a round metal spike about where i figured the center. I took a string and measured it for 8 feet and took 12 stakes and put them out like numbers on a clock in a circle all around at the end of the string. I checked the clearance around the circle and made the adjustments to the center point and reset the stakes. Next I removed all the vegetative material since the pool was larger than my previous pool. I took a flat shovel and did my best to visually flatten the whole area, checking occasionally with a 4 foot level to see how off i was. I tied string at 2 inches above the highest point and used a line level to level the string from stake to stake to make a circle, wrapping several times around each stake and pulling it very tight to make sure it was perfectly level. I then took the remaining 250 feet and went back in forth from stake to stake across to have multiple points for leveling purposes. I then brought in 2 tons (yes I said tons) of crushed stone dust to use as my base. My neighbor is a landscaper and had it delivered for $18/ton plus a $50 delivery charge. A total of $84. I had it dumped in my driveway and moved it to the pool area a wheel barrow load at a time. In hindsight, I should have had it dumped direct into the area or at least nearby as I was very very sore at the end of the day. I borrowed a plate compactor from my neighbor but could have rented from a local source for about $75 for the weekend. I tamped the area (right over top of the string) after several loads and used the string as a reference to what needed to be leveled still. I brought in additional loads until the string was level everywhere with the string. I lightly watered the area as I went and it was as hard as asphalt and didn't give. With this method, the pool was less than a half inch off all the way around and I can further level if i want by placing shims under the individual legs but I doubt that will be necessary. The water delivery driver praised me for my leveling efforts.