Intex 16ft x 48" Ultra XTR Frame Round Above Ground Swimming Pool with Sand Filter Pump and Accessories

Choosing a pool is all about balancing your available space, your budget, and how you plan to use it. At Sunshine Pools, we specialise in high-quality above ground swimming pools from top brands like Intex and Bestway.

• Space & Planning: Always measure your intended area twice! You’ll need a bit of "buffer" space around the pool for the ladder and pump.
• Oval Framed Pools: Perfect for narrow gardens. They offer a great swimming length without taking up the full width of a round pool.
• Rectangular Framed Pools: The gold standard for those who actually want to swim laps. They are incredibly sturdy, snap together without tools, and utilise your garden space very efficiently.
• Round Pools: The classic "splash about" choice, ideal for families with younger kids who want to play.

Remember to check the footprint of your pool as the dimensions stated are the top of the frame, not the overall size required. The legs will stick out taking up more space. The total footprint required can be found in the images of each pool.

Yes, absolutely. This is the most important step of the setup. If your pool is on even a slight slope, the weight of the water (which is several tons!) will push against the "downhill" side, causing the liner to bulge and potentially leading to a collapse.

• Preparation: Remove all sharp stones and twigs.
• Levelling: If your lawn is uneven, use a layer of fine sand to create a level base.
• Protection: Always use a ground sheet or floor protectors to protect your liner from the earth and keep the bottom of the pool clean.

We specifically select pools from brands like Intex and Bestway because they are designed for easy, tool-free DIY assembly. Most can be ready for water in just a few hours. Every pool comes with a comprehensive setup manual for you to follow.

While many of our robust frame pools are designed to be durable and can be covered, we usually recommend draining and storing them during the winter months to keep them in peak condition for years to come.

Modern heat pumps and heaters are very efficient. We also stock a range of covers and chemicals that help keep your water clean and warm, significantly reducing your long-term maintenance costs.

This depends on your local water pressure and the pool's capacity. On average, a standard UK garden hose delivers about 9 gallons per minute (approx. 540 gallons per hour).

• Example: A 5,000-gallon pool will take roughly 9 to 10 hours to fill.
• Pro Tip: If you have a large pool, plan to start the fill early in the morning so you can monitor the "leveling" process (the first inch of water is the most important!).

To keep your water safe and crystal clear, you do need a santisation system. Without it, bacteria and algae will quickly take over.

• Starter Kits: We offer comprehensive pool chemical starter kits that include everything you need: Stabilised Chlorine Granules (to kill bacteria), pH Plus/Minus (to balance the water so it doesn't sting eyes), Algaecide (to prevent green water), and Test Strips.
• Testing: We recommend testing your water at least twice a week (more often in hot weather or heavy use).

Green water is caused by algae. This usually happens if the chlorine levels have dropped too low or the pH is out of balance.

1. Test: Use a test strip to see what's wrong.
2. Shock: Use "Shock Chlorine" to give the pool a massive boost of sanitiser.
3. Circulate: Keep your filter pump running 24/7 until the water clears.
4. Algaecide: Add a dose of algaecide to kill off any remaining spores.

Yes, a pump is the "heart" of your pool. It circulates the water, preventing it from becoming stagnant, and traps physical debris (hair, insects, dust).

• Cartridge Filters: Common in smaller pools; the paper filters need cleaning every few days and replacing every 2 weeks.
• Sand Filters: Much more powerful and efficient. They use special filter sand (or glass media) which only needs replacing every 5 years.

We have two main options depending on your pool size and budget:

• Elecro Engineering Heaters: They are incredibly reliable and range from single-phase 3kw (plug-in) up to 3-phase 18kw (which requires a qualified electrician to hard-wire).
• Poolex Heat Pumps: Coming soon.

For the best water quality, you should rinse your cartridge with a hose every few days. However, they should be replaced entirely every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, as the fine fibers eventually become clogged with oils and microscopic debris that a hose can't reach.

The media (sand) in a domestic filter should be changed approximately every 5 years to ensure effective filtration, although it can be cleaned with chemicals in this time to prolong its efficiency. It can also now be replaced with a crushed, treated glass media which does not need to be changed so frequently.

We accept all major credit and debit cards:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express

You can also pay using PayPal or Klarna.

If you wish to order for a business and need an invoice first, please contact us at sales@madfun.co.uk before making your purchase.

Yes - payments are 100% encrypted and secure.

We use Shopify Payments, a globally trusted payment gateway, to process all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express).

Our checkout uses the latest 3D Secure 2 (3DS2) technology. This is the industry gold standard for customer authentication, providing an extra layer of protection against fraud.

Yes! We offer flexible payment options like Klarna and PayPal Credit at checkout, so you can spread the cost of your garden fun.

We offer free and fast delivery to most of the UK. Most orders before 3pm are dispatched the same day for next-working day delivery. This means if you order on Friday by 3pm your delivery will be on Monday. If you order after 3pm on a Friday, your delivery will be on Tuesday.

We can also offer Saturday deliveries at an extra cost. Please contact us at sales@madfun.co.uk to get a quote.

• Surcharges: Some areas (Isle of Wight, Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland, etc) do incur a delivery surcharge which is calculated automatically at checkout. See our shipping policy for surcharge information.

If you are ordering from the Channel Islands, e.g. Jersey or Guernsey, please contact us before placing your order to get a delivery quote.

Please note that during busy times and over holidays, delivery timelines may be longer than usual. This is often out of our control due to global and regional seasonal demand.

We're sorry we can't ship directly to the rest of the world but we are happy to liaise with a UK freight forwarder to arrange delivery overseas. To do this simply enter your freight forwarder's details in the delivery address at checkout. If you have any queries please contact us.

Whilst we will make every effort to meet the delivery time given, we use a contracted third party courier to make our deliveries and therefore the actual delivery is beyond our control. As such please note that any date or period for delivery shall be considered as indicative only, although it is our policy to try to fulfil all orders as quickly as possible. We will not be in breach of contract if we do not deliver within the indicated time period. We ask that all information provided by you is accurate and that you include a daytime contact number, mobile telephone number and email address so we are able to contact you in the event of a delivery query. It is your responsibility to sign for the correct number of parcels received on the carrier's delivery note/electronic scanner. You should notify us of any shortages within 48 hours.

All stock information is real-time. If a product is out of stock, please refer to the back in stock date.

Madfun cannot be held responsible for delays in the delivery caused by the supplier, or any other third party. At no time will compensation be awarded should delivery take longer than anticipated due to unforeseen circumstances. Unless otherwise specified, all products must be signed for. The Customer must request any other delivery method at the time of the order, and goods will be shipped under Customer's responsibility as defined above.

Don't worry, we'll get it sorted. If you see damage to the box, please accept the delivery but make sure the driver notes the damage on their system. Then, take photos and email us at sales@madfun.co.uk within 24 hours.

Because our pools are self-assembly items, we cannot accept returns once the pool has been unpacked and assembled. We really recommend marking out the dimensions in your garden with a piece of string or a garden hose before you buy. This gives you a "real-life" feel for how much space it will take up and helps avoid any post-purchase regret!

For more information see our returns policy.