Given Monaco’s thrilling win in Dortmund, to say nothing of the events that surrounded it, one could be forgiven if Lyon’s Europa League quarterfinal against Besiktas slipped the mind. Les Gones have displayed indifferent form in the league of late, failing to win against ten-man Rennes and losing to relegation scrappers Lorient, but their followers will be in a rather more forgiving mood if they can continue their European adventure.

Tonight’s opponents, Besiktas aren’t quite on the level of Roma, but have displayed their potential, albeit in flashes this season. They top the Turkish league, and a win at Napoli in the Champions’ League group stage should serve ample notice of their ability. Discipline has been an issue, as a draw against bottom side Dynamo Kiev would have seen them progress to the knockout stages, but they finished with nine men in a 6-0 loss.

Team News:

It is that discipline which will leave Besiktas slightly blunted in this first leg, as Vincent Aboubakar, formerly of Lorient and the team’s leading scorer in Europe, will miss out after being sent off against Olympiakos in the round of 16. Cenk Tosun, with 17 goals in the league, is no slouch as an alternative to the Porto loanee, though, and also provides a more physical alternative to Aboubakar.

The Cameroonian will be joined on the sidelines by Ricardo Quaresma, the veteran Portuguese winger who has been the creative fulcrum for Senol Günes’ side. Forced off with a back issue against Trabzonspor at the weekend, his place will likely be taken by former Liverpool man Ryan Babel, who arrived from Deportivo La Coruna in January.

In the rest of Günes’ 4-2-3-1, the team picks itself to a large degree. Benfica loanee Anderson Talisca plays off the striker, making up for Tosun’s relative lack of height with a 6′ 3″ frame and pace to burn, while former Barcelona man Adriano will be pushed forward on the left, with Babel, normally deployed on that side, switching flanks. In central midfield, the veteran Atiba Hutchinson and Oguzhan Ozyakup make an assured pairing, rarely joining the attack (1 goal and 1 assist between them in Europe) but providing the attackers a solid base.

In defence, the veteran Serbian centre back Dusko Tosic will likely shift to left back to allow Adriano to play on the wing. Another winter signing, the Croatian youngster Matej Mitrovic, will partner the Brazilian Marcelo in central defence, giving Besiktas a physically imposing, but not especially quick back line. Turkish international Gökhan Gönül will line up at right back, with Fabricio, impressive in his first season in Turkey, getting the start in goal.

Lyon will also enter this match with a handful of absences; Memphis Depay is cup-tied, and Maxime Gonalons is suspended. Jérémy Morel remains a doubt, but is in the matchday squad, with Rafael potentially ready to play at left back if the veteran is unavailable. If Morel does pass fit, Rafael is the favourite to start ahead of Christophe Jallet at right back, with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa partnering Mouctar Diakhaby in central defence as Emanuel Mammana continues to recover from a thigh strain, having looked off the pace at the weekend. Even with Morel a doubt, the defence was always fairly simple to predict for Bruno Génésio, but how he aligns the rest of the team remains to be seen.

Click Here: baby knitted accessories

The smart money is on a 4-2-3-1, with Corentin Tolisso lining up alongside youngster Lucas Tousart in midfield, but a 4-3-3 with Tousart at its base and Jordan Ferri or Sergi Darder in central midfield remains a distinct possibility, not least for the freedom it would afford Tolisso.

If Génésio does opt for the 4-3-3, Mathieu Valbuena and Alexandre Lacazette would start, with Nabil Fékir or Maxwel Cornet on the right. In a 4-2-3-1, Fékir would play off Lacazette, with Cornet or possibly Rachid Ghezzal on the right. Mindful of a tricky trip to Bastia on Sunday afternoon, Génésio might be tempted to rest Fékir, but with third place no longer in the realm of possibility, this competition must take priority as Lyon’s potential route to a Champions’ League return.

Danger Men:

Alexandre Lacazette, Olympique Lyonnais

The striker, likely to be named captain in Gonalons’ absence, has a massive opportunity to prove his value as a leader. He was imperious in the home leg against Roma, scoring a stunning goal and working hard to will his team to a 4-2 victory after twice falling behind, suggesting he may be on his way to rebutting claims that he is poor in big matches. A strong performance here will go a long way towards not only burnishing his reputation but also potentially raising his transfer fee, should he, as expected, depart in the summer.

Anderson Talisca, Besiktas

The lanky attacking midfielder doesn’t boast the most eye-popping statistics, with ten goals and five assists in 25 matches, but absent Vincent Aboubakar and Ricardo Quaresma, the Brazilian will have to influence the match if the Turkish side are to have any hope of progressing. He has gained some level of notoriety with his free kick delivery, but he’s no slouch in open play, either, having scored several impressive goals from a mix of headers and long-range efforts.

Prediction: Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 Besiktas JK

E.D.

We love the original and unique design of this Panda Hoodie Pilot. Ideal for those who love aviation and pandas. you will love this panda dressed as a pilot.

You too are a fan of aviation and pandas. We’ve got just the thing for you with this beautiful hoodie and its lovely print of a panda wearing an aviation helmet and a red scarf around his neck.

Very versatile, it is suitable for all seasons as well as summer or winter, offering you the comfort and warmth you need to spend a pleasant day in the company of your passion and your favorite animal.

• Cotton / Acetate
• Long sleeves
• Animal print
• Kangaroo pocket
• Hood with drawstring
• Machine washable
• Do not bleach
• Use tmble dryer at low temperature

Astro Machine Works, located in Ephrata, Pa., is excited to announce the launch of its new website. We have been working to make our site more user-friendly, with information for our customers and prospects on our full capabilities including CNC Machining and Custom Machine Design, Fabrication and Build.

In addition, please check back for news and monthly blogs for what’s happening here at Astro Machine Works and in our Made in America following. We also post regularly on our social media accounts, bringing important news in the industry to our followers.

Our new site is responsive, meaning that you can view our website on your phone or tablet for easy navigation to what is important to you.

Check it out… www.astromachineworks.com.

About Us:

Astro Machine Works Inc. is a custom machine builder and a leader in prototype machining and CNC machining of Metals and Plastics. Astro covers a wide range of industries including Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical, Medical, Aerospace, Food Processing, Government & Telecommunications. We are constantly upgrading our machining capabilities and quality to provide exceptional value to our customers. We will continue to provide superior solutions through our dedicated people and innovative technology. For more information, visit www.astromachineworks.com, call 717.738.4281 or email Brian Hess

[email protected].

Categories: Press Releases

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？Angelababy出生1989年2月28日差不多快成为90后的她，中文名杨颖，出生于上海，13岁时移居香港，有四分之一的德国血统，现主职为电影演员、时尚名模，Angelababy可谓是当下被时尚潮物界追捧的娇娇者，可爱、甜美、优雅、美丽这些标签统统都有，在巴黎只要是有周迅、范冰冰的影子就少不了Angelababy，完全凭美貌打动粉丝们可不少见哦，相信很多宅男们特别是喜欢玩游戏的男生一定很喜欢Angelababy吧，而更另女生们也茨慕与喜欢爱的是Angelababy特别懂得享受生活与享受美丽，除了会吃以外，Angelababy的打扮与周迅一样被很多女生们效仿。

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？

很多8090后女生们追捧的时尚偶象就是Angelababy，中国第一混血美女，Angelababy不只有完美的外貌更有让女生们都喜欢的时尚观，不论是搭配出街、生活、工作、还是旅行度假，基本上Angelababy的眼光就带表着万千女生的眼光，Angelababy最喜欢香奈儿包包、不论是出街购物、还是片片场以及回家路上，一款香奈儿链条包是必不可少的，除了穿着百变的时尚装容与搭配时髦的包包以外，Angelababy也是出了外的吃货哦。

Angelababy黑色打扮秀英伦范个性十足，Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？

很多8090后女生们追捧的时尚偶象就是Angelababy，中国第一混血美女，Angelababy不只有完美的外貌更有让女生们都喜欢的时尚观，不论是搭配出街、生活、工作、还是旅行度假，基本上Angelababy的眼光就带表着万千女生的眼光，Angelababy最喜欢香奈儿包包、不论是出街购物、还是片片场以及回家路上，一款香奈儿链条包是必不可少的，除了穿着百变的时尚装容与搭配时髦的包包以外，Angelababy也是出了外的吃货哦。

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？Angelababy不只喜欢chanel香奈儿的衣服同样也喜欢香奈儿包包

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？除了会打扮，Angelababy同样也是个不折不扣吃货哦，Angelababy在香港吃寿司

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？一款甜美的桃红色chanel cf香奈儿包包

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？白色蕾丝衫优雅甜美

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？可爱的一面

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？一款限量版黑色秋冬款香奈儿包包https://meilibaobao.com ，配以貂免毛非常时髦吧

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？Angelababy巴黎秀秋冬粉红撞色打扮，很甜美吧

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？

香奈儿亚麻绵女装是秋冬季非常流行的单品，不论是周迅还是Angelababy都是非常热衷与这种香奈儿女装，Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？

Angelababy也爱学院范，Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？

Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的？

秋冬女生搭配是很麻烦的事情，不只是秋冬季单品价格很贵，想要打扮出甜美、优雅、时髦的搭配更是很难哦，不如看看Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的吧？

秋冬女生搭配是很麻烦的事情，不只是秋冬季单品价格很贵，想要打扮出甜美、优雅、时髦的搭配更是很难哦，不如看看Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的吧？

秋冬女生搭配是很麻烦的事情，不只是秋冬季单品价格很贵，想要打扮出甜美、优雅、时髦的搭配更是很难哦，不如看看Angelababy甜美百变造形是怎么练成的吧？

很多8090后女生们追捧的时尚偶象就是Angelababy，中国第一混血美女，Angelababy不只有完美的外貌更有让女生们都喜欢的时尚观，不论是搭配出街、生活、工作、还是旅行度假，基本上Angelababy的眼光就带表着万千女生的眼光，Angelababy最喜欢香奈儿包包、不论是出街购物、还是片片场以及回家路上，一款香奈儿链条包是必不可少的，除了穿着百变的时尚装容与搭配时髦的包包以外，Angelababy也是出了外的吃货哦。

If you have a Diatomaceous Earth (DE) pool filter, congratulations. There is no better type of pool filter to have working to keep your water clean and healthy. But D.E. filters require a little more maintenance than sand or cartridge filters. This is due to their more complicated design, with twice the number of internal parts as compared to sand or cartridge. They are also more complicated in operation, requiring the operator to maintain the ‘cake’ of filter powder on the grids, and flush out the grids with a hose at least once per year.

Let’s take a look at some common DE pool filter repairs, all of which you can do yourself, with the help of our pool filter parts.

DE Pool Filter Repairs: Leaks

Leaking Clamp Band

The first DE pool filter repair is one of the most common, a leaking clamp band. Start with a clean and lubed belly band o-ring. Dirty, dry o-rings don’t seal very well. When tightening your clamp band, make sure it’s centered over both tank halves, and tighten the clamp with a socket wrench, until the springs touch. If the clamp band leaks, shut off the pump right away, loosen and reposition the clamp band. Tighten up again, using the handle of the socket wrench, or other heavy tool, to tap the clamp band around the edges, as you tighten. This tapping will help to seat the clamp over the tank halves. If it still leaks, inspect the o-ring and clamp band or filter tank halves for damage.

Leaking Drain Plug

The drain plug for your filter tank should be wrapped 3x with Teflon tape (wrap the threads in a clockwise direction). Some DE filters also have a large o-ring on the drain plug. Using a pool lube will prevent it from dry rotting, and can help in sealing up a leaking drain plug.

Leaking Air Relief

The air bleeder on top of the filter tank (sometimes automatic, sometimes manual), is meant to release air from the tank during start-up. It’s an important safety measure to open it before turning the filter pump back on. If it drips water, there is usually an o-ring that is missing from the air relief stem. If the assembly is cracked around the pressure gauge, this is usually caused by having years of Teflon tape built up on the gauge, expanding and cracking the plastic housing. Super glue can sometimes effectively repair this little crack. Squirt in while open, then unthread the pressure gauge.

Leaking Valve

The filter valve on a DE filter is unique, and different from side mounted sand filter valves. If your valve is leaking, either around the lid, around the handle, or where the pipes come in and out of the valve, there is probably a need for some valve parts (not considered filter parts). Water leaking out of the backwash port while the valve is in the filter position, would indicate a need for a new spider gasket, or piston o-rings, if you have a push-pull slide valve.

DE Leaking from Manifold

In the video, Rob replaces the DE filter manifold on cousin Joe’s Pentair DE pool filter. The manifold had cracked around the air bleeder assembly, probably from running too long at high pressure, or a return side valve could have been closed, causing a water hammer effect to crack the plastic. Manifolds can also crack if the grid assembly falls over hard while it’s out of the filter tank being cleaned. A common cause of DE in the pool is a missing or damaged manifold air bleeder ‘sock’ or ‘screen’, which are used as strainers for the air bleeder on top of the manifold.

DE Leaking from Grids

Over time, DE grids will develop small holes in the fabric, or the stitching on the grids can begin to unravel. A loose grid assembly, with the thru-bolts not fully tightened, or from incorrectly spaced grids, can allow DE powder to bypass through small holes where the grid inserts into the manifold. Chemical damage can burn holes through the fabric, or a severe water hammer effect can crush grids. Grids can also be crushed if you store them in the garage during winter, from an SUV! You can usually find holes in grids by hosing them clean and inspecting thoroughly. DE grids with holes or other damage can be replaced individually, or you can buy the entire grid set.

DE Leaking from Standpipe

Most DE filters have a PVC standpipe, where the manifold connects, and on top of the standpipe is a small o-ring to seal-up the manifold to the standpipe. If this o-ring goes missing or breaks, you can pass small amounts of DE and dirt back into the pool.

DE Passing Through Valve

If DE powder passes through to the pool mainly when you add new DE powder, this could indicate a problem with the gaskets or o-ring inside of your filter valve (Multiport or Slide valve for backwashing), which also means that your filter valve is bypassing some water without being filtered.

DE Around the Main Drain

If you notice DE powder spilling out of your skimmers, or a cloud of powder around the main drain, this means that the filter is back-draining through the pump, and spilling DE powder back into the pool. FInding the air leak on the filter, or installing a check valve will fix this problem, and keep the water in the pump and filter, so it doesn’t drain out through the skimmers or drain.

High Filter Pressure

You’ve backwashed and added new DE powder, but the filter pressure stays high, or it drops only for a few hours. First, check that the pressure gauge is accurate and not stuck. Also confirm that nothing downstream of the filter is causing the high pressure, like a closed valve or a pipe obstruction.

Next, pull out the grid assembly and hose off completely. Reassemble and add the recommended amount of DE for your pool filter, which is usually 1lb of DE for each 5 sq. ft. of filter surface area (a 1 lb. measure for DE powder is the size of a 1 lb coffee can). If you still have the issue, clean the filter grids with a DE filter cleaner, to remove oils and minerals that are clogging the grids.

Your new pool pump is an extremely vital piece of equipment; it is the “heart” of your swimming pool. Just as your heart circulates the blood throughout your body, a pool pump circulates the water throughout your pool.

A pool pump consists of an electric motor and wet end assembly. The motor spins an impeller inside an air tight housing which creates suction, to pull water from the pool, and push it through a filter and back to the pool. Pool water needs to be regularly and fully circulated to stay clean and clear. Without a pool pump circulating your pool water, or a filter to remove contaminants, a swimming pool quickly becomes stagnant and unpleasant.

First, water is drawn from the pool through a hose or pipe called the influent line. The influent line leads into the pump where water is passed through a strainer basket and on to the impeller. The impeller, a rotating turbine that is attached to the electric motor shaft, creates centrifugal force as it spins. This centrifugal force, meaning the outward movement of the water caused by the impellers rotation, is what forces water out through the effluent hose or pipe, leading to the filter.

Inground pools require self-priming pumps as the pump usually sits above water level. Priming refers to the pool pump being able to lift water up vertically, from the pool. Conversely, above ground pool pumps are not self-priming. These types of pumps usually sit below the water line; therefore they rely on gravity to prime. In some cases, on aboveground pools, the pump needs to be located above the waterline. In these types of applications, a self-priming (inground) pool pump should be used.

Is Bigger Better?

American’s have a V-8 mentality; we like big engines. It’s common for pool owners to buy a pump larger than they need, and even some dealers of builders are guilty of being horsepower hogs. Many 2hp pumps have been installed when a 1hp pump could deliver the same flow volume, with greatly reduced energy usage. Larger pumps not only produce larger electrical bills, but having an over-sized pool pump can lead to poor filtration when matched with smaller pool filters.

Luckily, the industry is working its way out of this blind assumption that bigger is better, and sizing pumps accurately has been improving. And now, with the need for efficiency in our energy poor states, Two-Speed pumps have becom more popular and Variable Speed pumps were developed, to provide even greater energy savings. Many states have now mandated that new or replacement pumps over 1 HP must be either two speed or variable speed. California, Arizona, Florida and Texas have such laws already, and by 2021 Variable Speed Pumps will be required in every state in the U.S..

A single speed pump is going to run at one speed (3400 rpm) every time it’s on, until it is off. A two-speed will have the option to run at a high or low speed. A great advantage to these is that when you are vacuuming or skimming, the pump can be running at a high speed and once that is completed you can revert down to the low speed.

Is it Horsepower, or RPM’s?

Larger horsepower pumps “draw more amps” – and that’s what you really pay for on your electric bill, Amperes. If you can reduce the size of the horsepower on a replacement pump, you will definitely see savings. This can be accomplished by using a High Head pump, or a pump that produces more water volume. For instance, a 1hp Whisperflo pump will produce the same flow rate as a 2hp Superpump, at a greatly reduced amperage requirement.

Variable speed pumps are a bit different. They are definitely High Head pumps, but have the ability to control the RPM’s of the motor. But variable speed pumps aren’t sold by horsepower – that’s because they are All horsepower, and they dial in the amount of horses needed, to produce the lowest amount of motor revolutions, to get the job done.

As the chart shows, reducing the speed at which the motor turns, saves an almost equal amount of electricity. Variable speed pumps are configured to your pool’s specific needs, and therefore will offer the most energy savings. Most variable speed pumps offer pre-set speeds, or are fully programmable, allowing you to select the rpm of the motor. Slow the Flow ~ and you reduce the amperage draw or power to run the pump. Speeds can be as low as 400 rpm, to a full 3450 rpm, capable of flow rates equal to a 3hp Whisperflo pump – if needed, for water features or spa jets, for example.

With two speed and variable speed pumps you will see a higher initial investment, but in energy savings alone you can recoup that money in a short time. Payback, in electrical savings, can be in as little as 2 seasons. Variable speed pumps also have the added benefit of being extremely quiet, cool running, and the unique motor design is built for a long-life of outdoor, continuous duty.

If you need to meet the new pool pump law requirements in your state, or just want to save hundreds on your energy bill, look to the full rated, energy efficient Whisperflo pump. Compare the flow charts of your existing pump with the Whisperflo chart (look in the Owner’s Manual), and buy a smaller horsepower. Or, install a 2 speed pump and you can operate high speed for just a few hours per day, then low-speed (1/8hp) for 12-18 hours daily. If you really want to save the most money, and you already are using a big pump, look to the variable speed pumps by Pentair or Hayward.

If you are not looking to improve energy consumption and are satisfied with your pump’s performance, then there is nothing wrong with getting an exact replacement. This option will usually be the easiest installation since you will not have to move plumbing around. Just don’t be tempted to “drop-in a V-8” when it comes time to replace the pump. Bigger is not Better when it comes to pool pumps!

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about pool pumps and why they are so important to your pool.Whether you are looking for Standard, 2-Speed or Variable Speed pool pumps, we have them here at In The Swim. For questions on sizing a pool pump, or just much more info about pool pump selection – see this post aptly titled “What’s the Best Pool Pump?”.

Vermiculite is the usual choice of floor material for inground vinyl liner pools. it is not the cheapest option for your floor, but it is long lasting and one of the easier floor materials to install. This article covers the necessary steps and supplies for installing your own vermiculite and cement pool floor.

Where to Buy Pool Vermiculite

Finding it locally in your area can sometimes be difficult. First, I would check with nearby hardware stores and also local pool dealers. Concrete supply stores and even commercial lawn and garden places.

Buy pool floor vermiculite at the time you purchase your pool, and it can be delivered along with the pool kit, or you can buy local, just make sure that you use coarse grade vermiculite for your pool floor – as shown in the image above. it is much easier to mix and work with than fine or medium grade vermiculite.

Another option is to call the two largest manufacturers of the product to see where it can be purchased in your area, they are Whittemore at 978-681-8833 and Schundler at 732-287-2244. These two companies are the major suppliers of vermiculite in the US.

There is another product that can be used, one of which is Perlite, a volcanic glass that has similar properties to vermiculite and can be installed instead of vermiculite. If you are having trouble finding vermiculite in your area, call a few large garden centers in your area, to see if they stock Perlite. Stone Dust (crush-n-run) also makes an excellent pool base.

When is the Pool Floor Installed?

The time to install the pool floor is after the walls have been secured with the concrete collar, poured around the base of the walls. After that, you put on your pool coping and wall foam and face plate gaskets for skimmer and light and then install the pool liner.

How Much Vermiculite Is Needed for Pool Floors?

It depends on the size of your pool; I have created this small chart to help you order the right amount of material to cover the floor areas with a layer that is 1-2″ thick. Vermiculite is sold in a common size of 4 cubic feet, and you may be surprised at how light it is . Portland cement comes in 94 lb bags, and you may be surprised at how heavy these are! If storing your product outside, be sure to wrap it tightly with plastic or tarps, to keep any rain from touching the bags.

How is Pool Floor Vermiculite Mixed?

Vermiculite is mixed on site and in a cement mixer called a paddle mixer, which can be rented at any rental shop. You will need Portland cement on hand to complete the mix. The ratio is 2 bags of Vermiculite to 1 bag of cement. The Vermiculite and cement go into the mixer and then you’ll add about two and a half 5-gallon buckets of water, until you reach an oatmeal consistency that you can trowel easily.

Leave it in the mixer for about 20-30 seconds and that should do it. If it seems to loose and runny, add less water and if it’s too stiff, add more water to the next mix. In the picture below, the fellow on the right is dumping from the mixer into the wheelbarrow, and then moving the mixture to the areas where it’s needed. In the middle picture, they are bringing in buckets full of the mixture and in the left side picture, these guys are taking the easy route. They are using a combination cement mixer and pump, and are spraying the mixture down before troweling it smooth – faster and easier!

What About Pre-Mixed Vermiculite?

There is another product that I know as PreMix, which is a mixture of vermiculite and cement together in one bag. Just add water! This is the same product and will give you the same results, just without the need to mix two products together. Pre-mix product is sold under such names as Pool Base or Pool Mix. If you can buy it locally, it may be worth the extra expense, but if you have to pay large shipment fees, it can end up costing 30-40% more than buying both Portland and Vermiculite locally and mixing it yourself on-site.

How to Install Your Pool Floor

Before troweling in the vermiculite you want to have your pool bottom approximately 2″ below the finished level. This is done with string lines throughout the pool bottom to the finished grade or depth of the pool floor. To install your vermiculite pool bottom you will need:

• Cement Mixer
• Wheel barrows
• 4 to 6 five-gallon buckets
• Garden hose or water source
• Shovel, a steel bullnose trowel and a wood float

Mix up for 20-30 seconds, dump the mix into the wheelbarrow underneath the mixer, then shovel into the 5 gallon buckets, and hand them down into the pool. Bring the buckets to the deep end back wall and start dumping them in place, ready for troweling from the bottom of the hopper pad, up to the wall panel. it is easier to go from bottom of the side slopes, and work your way up to the top. Use the wood float for support and tamping, as you trowel the mixture smooth and level with the bullnose float.

After the back wall is complete work on the side slopes. After these are complete, you can start on the hopper pad and then work up the slope from deep end to shallow floor. The last area to do is the shallow area and either back yourself into the walk-in step or into a corner so you can easily get out without stepping on the troweled bottom. See picture at top of page.

You want your finished product to be right up to your string lines and nice and smooth like concrete. Allow the pool bottom to completely dry and harden up before you walk on it. I generally let it dry overnight and continue the next day with the pool project. There are other parts of the pool that can be done while this is drying.

After the bottom is dry, and before installing the liner, sweep the pool bottom and remove any loose vermiculite or other debris so there is nothing on the bottom that will show up under the liner. Any divots can be filled, and raised lips can be smoothed. The smoother your vermiculite pool bottom is, the better your liner will look, so this is one part of the pool installation to take your time and do it right.

I had a customer 2 years ago purchase a large Full L shaped pool, probably the largest pool I have sold through Specialty Pool Products. The size of the Full L pool was 26′ x 35′ x 60′ and they were looking to create a practice area for their kids that are on the high school diving team.

Originally this customer wanted the pool to be 12ft deep in the deep end diving area of the pool but our manufacturer will not provide Dig Specs for any pool deeper than 10ft deep. This customer also wanted to order a commercial dive stand and a 12ft long diving board. I told them about the very strict standards on what can be a diving pool and that a 12′ diving board would not be a possible selection because it did not meet code. I was able to get them an 10ft diving board with a steel stand which they are very happy with.

When it comes to a diving pool for a residential pool the diving stand and board must meet the minimum specification requirements for a residential inground diving pool. The governing body of the residential pools is ANSI/APSP/ICC-5 2011 and all residential pools must meet these requirements. Please see detailed requirements below for a residential diving pool; these dimensions can be very confusing. To help explain the minimum requirements the pool must be a minimum of 16ft wide and 32ft long and have at least an 8 ft hopper. The hopper is the area in the deep end which the water is deeper.

ANSI/APSP/ICC-5 2011 Standard for Residential In-Ground Swimming Pools

It is VERY important to ensure that the stand and board meet the minimum specifications for in-ground residential swimming pools.

Diving Board Safety Envelope – Depth/Distance

All of the options below must meet the ANSI/APSP/ICC-5 2011 for installation requirements. Check with chart above to figure what what class pool you have or are installing so you can figure what options are available for a diving pool. There are typically 4 classifications for a residential diving pool.

• Dive Rocks – Provides an elegant diving board base option for customers that want to have the natural rock design in their backyard. This unique looking diving board base adds beauty and functionality to your backyard swimming pool. One of the Dive Rocks is called Boulder Springs from Interfab, this is available as a 6ft or 8ft option. As a rule of thumb a 16’x32′ pool can only install the 6ft option and our standard 18’x36′ & 20’x40′ can have either the 6ft or 8ft options installed on their pool.
• Jump Boards – as with all diving boards you must classify the type of pool you have 1-5 to determine the proper size jump board for your backyard. When installing this jump board you must follow manufacturer’s requirements. One popular jump board which is especially recommended for a pool that has a salt water chlorine generator is the SR Smith Saltwater diving board. This diving board is available in 6ft or 8ft sizes. This is manufactured out of composite materials and guaranteed to resist rust often caused by salt water in pools. This diving board has composite springs with active spring feature which gives you a lot of spring when jumping off the diving board into the pool.

• Diving Boards – We have many different diving boards to choose from our most popular is the style with the fiberglass diving base with either the 6ft or 8ft diving board. The sleek appearance and strong construction of the SR Smith Flyte Deck II Stand or the Interfab La Mesa make these two our most popular diving boards for vinyl pools.
• Competition boards are typically used only on commercial pools or very large residential pools. Depending on depth of the pool and the slope to the shallow end, a vinyl pool could safely install a 1/2 meter board, but not a 3/4 meter or 1 meter board. The Interfab Techni-Beam 10 ft board could be a suitable practice board for

Installation of a dive stand and dive board

When installing a diving board or dive stand it is VERY important to follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions. There are certain requirements with installing a diving board such as how far the base of the diving board is located from the edge of pool water, how far board extends over the pool, and height above the pool water see instructions for very detailed guidelines and it is mandatory to follow these specifications in order to properly install your diving board. A properly installed diving board will help eliminate a careless injury.

Please make sure you pay very close attention to the technical information in regards to the installation there is a minimum distance from the edge of the pool to the stand on the diving board that is required. There are also requirements for bonding the diving board stand in many parts of the country, or connecting it to the electrical bonding wire that runs around the pool. Understanding the requirements for a diving board can be very confusing so give one of our experts at SPP a call and we can help make sure you get what is needed for your particular pool.

Seeing the kids’ smiles on their faces is priceless as they cannonball into the pool so keep those kids happy and install a diving board with your new inground swimming pool.

Q: Can I use Bromine on my Outdoor Pools?

The question above (“Can I use Bromine”) came from a manager of several outdoor pools in Northern Virginia. Over the summer, their accountants had raised a flag, shocked at the chemical expenses this year, and suggested the company begin to look for alternatives.

One of them undoubtedly stumbled across Bromine online, and noticed that Bromine has some distinct advantages over chlorine for pool and spa sanitation.

1. Bromamines continue to be ready sanitizers, unlike chloramines
2. Bromamines don’t gas-off the surface as readily as chloramines
3. Bromine is pH balanced, unlike very high pH of liquid chlorine
4. Bromine remains stable at higher temperatures
5. Bromide ions can be activated into Free Bromine, by shocking
6. Bromine is gentler than chlorine on the skin, hair and eyes

…OK, but Can I use Bromine in Swimming Pools?

A: Yes, with the following Caveats

1. Bromine cannot be stabilized from the sun, and slowly depletes in bright sunshine
2. Bromine is more expensive, expect to pay 25% more than chlorine sticks
3. Bromine must be dispensed in a brominator, and never in a used chlorinator

Bromine tablets are a good option for indoor pools or outdoor pools with automatic covers or solar blankets. Pools which receive little sunlight during the day could also be a good candidate.

Bromine doesn’t burn off as fast in the sun as unstabilized chlorine, due to its lower molecular activity. If your pool is shaded for most of the day, with just 1-2 hours of direct sun, you may not notice much sunlight degradation.

Shocking a Bromine Pool: Shocking for the removal of bromamines is not needed under most circumstances, however, all swimming pools should be shocked periodically for the removal of bacteria and break down of contaminants. Shocking a bromine pool is done the same way as a normal pool, only you needn’t worry about ‘breakpoint chlorination’. Chlorine shock or non-chlorine shock can be used.

An interesting thing happens when you shock a bromine pool. The addition of hypochlorous acid reactivates bromide ions, converting them into bromine. Once you build a bank of bromide in your pool, you can continuously reactivate it, and it begins to take fewer bromine tablets to maintain your residual.

Speaking of residual, bromine pools test at a higher level of bromine than chlorine pools. This is due to the weight of bromine being twice as heavy as chlorine, so when using a chlorine test kit (DPD or OTO), the equivalent measures are given. Generally, a 2-4 ppm residual of bromine is sufficient. It’s not that there’s twice as much bromine in the water, but that it tests differently than chlorine.

Use Bromine Tablets for:

1. Indoor Pools and Enclosed Pools.
2. Pools with automatic covers or (blue) solar blankets.
3. Pools that receive less than 2 hours per day of direct sunlight.

Spas and Hot Tubs, covered most of the time, should use bromine. One should never use pool chlorine tablets in a spa or hot tub.