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Mar 29-30, Adelaide Showground

Start Up & Maintenance

Our Outback Pools are made from a beautiful sustainable building material, high resistant liner and paired with a fantastic low chlorine equipment solution. However, it is not invincible and will require a little maintenance.

It is your responsibility as the pool owner to maintain your pool. Failure to comply with any of your responsibilities may result in damage to your internal lining, pool shell surface, structure or components and will adversely affect your manufacturer warranty. We may request information regarding maintenance you have completed at any time.

Outback pool shells are made from 316 Stainless or COLORBOND®, which allows them to deal with harsh elements in coastal and other Australian environments. While the shell is durable, you still need to take care of it and doing so will prolong the life and keep it looking beautiful for years to come.

The internal liner in your Outback pool is made from a either an Aqualux in-ground commercial-grade vinyl liner or a quality above-ground liner. While this is extremely hard-wearing, you will still need to ensure the pool water chemistry is balanced according to the specifications.

We combine our pools with the latest in freshwater UV sanitisation and/or mineral/salt chlorinator systems. Just because your pool is freshwater or low chlorine and rust-resistant doesn’t mean you can be too complacent about its chemical balance and condition. The pool requires regular wipe-downs to prevent rust, scum, and oils from building up.

Outback Pools must be set on an even surface, as an uneven surface could cause water collection in one area of the pool, resulting in underside corrosion. The surface should also be well drained.

Your Volume (L)

 1.08 High1.3 High1.52 High
2.2 Wide4,2604,8305,400
2.4 Wide5,0705,7506,420
2.6 Wide5,9506,7407,540
2.8 Wide6,9007,8208,740
3.0 Wide7,9208,98010,040
3.2 Wide9,01010,21011,420
3.4 Wide10,17011,53012,890

Start Up

Starting up you new Outback Plunge Pool involves several key steps to ensure the pool is ready for use and properly maintained:

  1. Install Equipment: Ensure the equipment is correctly installed according to the instructions. Tighten all the nuts around the equipment.
  2. Fill the Pool: Fill the pool with water to the recommended level, roughly 100mm down from the top ring.
  3. Check for Leaks: Open up the valves allowing the water to flow into the system. Release the air bleed on top of the filter. Check all the nuts for slow drips. Tighten if necessary. It’s not unusual for leaks to be caused by vibration and transport.
  4. Balance Water Chemistry: Test the water and balance its chemistry. Adjust pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness to recommended levels. Note when visiting a pool shop quote the pool as a ‘Vinyl Liner Plunge Pool’.
  5. Add Salt: Calculate the amount of salt needed based on the pool’s volume and the chlorinator’s requirements. Spread the salt evenly around the pool and brush to help it dissolve. Wait 24 hours before activating the salt chlorinator.
    Width Salt (Kg) Mag (Kg)
    2.2 Wide 5 20
    2.4 Wide 6 20
    2.6 Wide 7 20
    2.8 Wide 9 30
    3.0 Wide 10 30
    3.2 Wide 11 30
    3.4 Wide 13 40

    * Use either Salt or Magnesium. Test after 24hrs and add more accordingly.

  6. Prime the Pump and Filter: Turn on the pool pump to circulate the water through the filter. Check the filter pressure and ensure it is within the normal operating range.
  7. Activate Salt Chlorinator: Turn on the salt chlorinator and set it to the desired output level if Base or Cruise system. The Smart system will set automatically. Refer to the manufacturer’s guide for settings and operation. Monitor chlorine levels, aiming for 1-2 ppm.
  8. Monitor and Adjust: Over the next few days, test the water daily to ensure all levels remain within the ideal range. Adjust the chlorinator output and add balancing chemicals as needed.

Runtime

If you have selected the Base Equipment then consult your local pool shop for the appropriate run time for your area and use case.

As for the Cruise and Smart solution, because it uses UV as a primary sanitiser with the mineral/salt chlorinator as a backup, it is a good idea to have the pool run for as long as possible.

Essentially, the way the system works is as long as the system is running, the water is flowing, filtering and sanitising. Every time the equipment is off, the water returns to still water and can become a breeding ground for bacteria.

We ideally recommend 24 hours per day at 1500 rpm (depending on the distance from the pool), treating it like a fish tank or pond. The aim is to slow the water down to create maximum exposure to the UV globe while still creating enough turbulence in the water.

If this is unachievable, then the minimum time to run the equipment is for 12 hours during daylight hours.

Weekly Tasks

Check water balance – ph, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and chlorine.

The recommended levels are:

  • Salt 1000-2000 ppm
  • Chlorine 1-2 ppm
  • pH 7.4-7.8
  • Total Alk 100-150 ppm
  • Calcium 200-300 ppm
  • Free Chlorine 0.5-1 ppm
  • Stabiliser 30-50 ppm
  • Copper 0.0 ppm
 

Scoop any leaves off the top, scoop or vacuum the debris on the bottom, and wipe down the walls and water line with a microfibre sponge or broom.

Check the pump basket and empty if required.

Check the filter pressure gauge. If it is high, you’ll need to take the filter cartridge out and rinse.

Check the water level. It should be approximately 100mm lower than the top of the pool. Top up if required.

Monthly Tasks

The pool structure is similar to your car, the external wall needs to be washed regularly with warm soapy water and hosed off. Please do not use harsh chemicals.

With external Stainless walls, if you notice any surface metal stains or rust, these can be easily treated with Ranex Rustbuster and a wipe-down of WD40. Do not use steel wool! If a scourer is required for stubborn stains use a plastic based Scotch-Brite pad.

With external COLORBOND® walls, if you notice any chips or scratches, wash and dry the area throughly then treat with a touch up pen of the same colour. Note, not doing so will accelerate rusting in that spot and may lead to a hole in the wall.

Check all equipment. Check for leaks, seals, and any strange sounds.

Clear the area of any leaves and debris.

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