Pools and Products

To prepare the pool and keep the water sanitized, you need three essential structural and chemical components from the first fill.

• A filtration system consisting of a self-priming pump and a sand filter, such as the Starpool Ø450 mm pool sand filter with pump and multiport valve, to capture suspended particles.
• Disinfection chemicals, using an initial shock treatment followed by ongoing maintenance.
• Floor debris suction tools, such as floating hoses or manual pool sweepers.
• pH and sanitizer testers to adjust the levels to between 7.2 and 7.6 before swimming.

Having this technical foundation prevents premature algae growth and keeps settled debris from clogging the pump.

The right model for those pool dimensions depends solely on the usable flow rate supplied by your current filter pump.

If your system has at least 0.75 HP of power and you want coverage of the floor and walls, the Zodiac MX8 automatic pool cleaner features a mechanical track drive system and a suction turbine optimized for heavy debris. By contrast, for installations with pumps rated from 0.5 HP and simple rectangular pools, the Zodiac T3 automatic pool cleaner, with its finned disc and DiaCyclone diaphragm, ensures continuous cleaning with lower power consumption. Always check that the filter pump’s pre-filter is clean before connecting the hose to the suction port.

The filtration requirement is calculated by dividing the pool’s total volume by 4 hours to determine the minimum flow rate in cubic meters per hour.

For a 30 m³ pool, the equipment must circulate at least 7.5 m³/h in a continuous circuit. A 400 mm diameter filter loaded with silica sand or technical glass operates in hydraulic balance with a 0.33 CV to 0.5 CV motor. Installing an oversized pump on a narrow-diameter filter causes water to pass through the filter bed at an excessively high linear speed, sending fine dirt back into the pool through the return jets.

The solution is to alternate chemical dosing with precise electronic measurement systems or automated liquid dosing.

Continuous use of 250 g multi-action chlorine tablets adds stabilizer, saturating the water once levels exceed 70 ppm and blocking free chlorine’s disinfecting capacity. You can monitor this exact parameter with the Lovibond MD200 3-in-1 photometer for chlorine, pH and cyanuric acid before partially replacing the water. Another technical option to avoid cyanuric acid is to install a peristaltic dosing pump to inject liquid sodium hypochlorite, or fit a salt chlorinator with redox control.

In pools fitted with a PVC liner, never place chlorine tablets directly on the plastic pool floor.

• Floating dispensers or skimmer baskets to slowly dissolve the compound before distributing it.
• Pre-mix soluble chemicals in a plastic bucket with water before pouring them around the pool perimeter.
• Algaecides free of copper sulfate to prevent permanent grayish or greenish discoloration of the liner.
• Pool brushes with soft polyethylene bristles; avoid metal brushes that can scratch the synthetic lining.

Keeping the pH at 7.4 extends the liner’s elasticity and prevents creases caused by acidic water or limescale deposits.

A pressure increase of more than 0.3 bar above normal operating pressure indicates that the filter bed is clogged with trapped dirt.

Stop the motor immediately and move the selector valve lever to the backwash position for two or three minutes, checking the transparent waste sight glass. Then rinse for thirty seconds to settle the sand before returning to the filtration position. If the pressure remains high after repeated backwashing, it means the filter media has accumulated scale or suntan oils, requiring periodic media replacement or a specific chemical descaling wash.

The preservation procedure requires lowering the water temperature below 15 °C, adjusting the chemical levels, and protecting the plumbing.

First, thoroughly clean the pool and perform an extended filter backwash. Adjust the pH to between 7.2 and 7.4 and pour in a concentrated chemical winterizing product with the filtration system in recirculation mode to distribute it evenly. In areas with frequent frost, lower the water level a few centimeters below the skimmers, drain the pump’s drain plugs, and install an outdoor protective cover secured with elastic anchors. This will prevent algae growth and protect the pipes from freezing and bursting during the winter of 2026.