Toy Store: 10' x 30" Easy Set Pool

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The pool takes 30-60 minutes to set-up and an extra 30-60 minutes to fill the pool with water -- not the 10 minutes as advertised on the pool box! The set-up time assumes that you've already got a level place to set-up the pool -- if not, expect more time to add/remove sand or soil to prepare a flat area. To make sure your site is level, take a board and place it on the ground, then set a level on the board. Do this in a circular motion to ensure the site is level north-to-south, east-to-west.

I bought a 10mm tarp to put under the pool -- for the 10' pool, that's not strictly necessary, but the tarp provides an extra buffer between the pool floor and those small sharp rocks you didn't notice when you were preparing the site.

The pool is constructed like a bowl with an inflated air ring at the lip of the bowl. Some owners have complained that the air ring sprung a hole after short use. HERE'S A TIP: Inflate the air ring so it just barely inflates -- the ring will feel limp after filling it. THAT'S OKAY! When the sun comes out, you'll find that the air in the ring expands and the ring will be taut and pressurized. If you fill the ring with too much air, the pressure will be too great when the sun comes out and your air ring will burst.

Filling the pool with water is a cinch. Begin adding water and observe whether the water is evenly distributed on the pool floor. If not, STOP and take the trouble to empty the ground underneath the pool -- you won't be able to do anything once the pool is filled up.

Have kids step into a small bucket filled with water before entering the pool -- that helps remove debris from their feet and keeps your pool water clean.

While the pool is filling, be sure to smooth out any wrinkles on the floor. Kids LOVE jumping in the pool while the pool is filling -- let 'em! They'll have a blast and there's no harm done.

If your pool is uneven, you can still use your pool. My pool was about 4" uneven (eg, one side was filled to the brim, the opposite side had water 4" below the fill line), and yet I had no problem using the pool. My kids didn't notice or care that it was uneven.

Visit a pool shop and get chlorine, a water test kit and a hand net to keep your pool clean. Buy a pool cover -- it keeps your pool clean and the liquid chlorine lasts longer that way. Use 2 cups of chlorine to "shock" the pool once a week (don't swim in the pool for a day afterwards), and 1 cup of chlorine every other day to keep the water clean. Clean the pool filter every 1-2 weeks -- just spray it off with a garden hose to clean it, then reuse it.

Even though you'll use chlorine, plan on emptying half the pool water once a month and adding fresh water to the pool. That will help keep your pool water clean and remove impurities from the water.

I've been pleased with the pool's durability -- we've used it for a month now, and it gets heavy use from energetic children. Make sure that their pool toys have no sharp objects (no water pistols, for example). Don't allow children to wear jean shorts with rivets in them. The key to durability is caution that nothing pokes through the vinyl walls.

Use this pool to teach small children how to swim/float/hold their breath. Older children must be warned not to horseplay in such a way that they'll fall headlong into the pool.

Enjoy!

We've gotten a LOT of use from this pool, but I'm tired of making repairs to the ring. Beware of local wildlife. Note: raccoons are NOT frequently found in our neighborhood.