Pool people, need your advice/opinions on companies to go with

[Mike 01Hawk]

We're wanting an in-ground.  We already have two quotes (company names withheld for now) so I'm slightly less than stupid but still have a long way to go on crash course educating myself on pools

Our wants:
Shooting for as little hands on maintenance as possible with cleaning (leafs will be a big problem I'm thinking) and water treatment
Quiet
Energy efficient
Willing to spend premiums up front for the above requirements.
Hold off on heating for now (assuming it can be added on later with little fuss)
No spa
Want a waterfall (grotto (fake cave) would be nice)
Slide of some sort, either built into waterfall, or the G-Force
Not too huge size wise, but big enough for a small game of 4on4 volleyball
Must have amazing LED with many different colors.  None of this 3 color white/blue/green only crap.

With that said, which companies have you used and would recommend?

TIA

[Conan71]

Having lived in two houses with pools, I'll share my experience as far as maintenance and sanitation.  I've not worked with a contractor having one built, so I can't relate experience there.

If you want a sanitation program you can pretty much "set and forget", I've heard great things about ozonation for sanitation, though I've not personally used it.  I've also heard great things about salt water pools with chlorine generators.  difference with salt water is it makes you more buoyant.  There are also very good automated ways to deal with leaves.

In the Tulsa area, a chlorine shot feeder for 3" pellets is very efficient.  You also really don't need to play with pH and alkalinity adjustment once you've filled the pool.  The kid at the local Leslie's will try and talk you into it because there's great profit in pool chemicals.  Chlorine tabs, some powdered shock for periodic use, and some clarifier are all you really need with NE Oklahoma water.  Maintain the free chlorine between 1 and 5ppm and you will have very few problems.  You can also devise a "Cadillac" system using an ORP controller and a motorized ball valve to modulate your chlorine intake based on actual demand/need.

Pool pumps are pretty standardized.  To my knowledge there are no real tricks in motor efficiencies amongst the major manufacturers and they are all about equally quiet.  Main issue with noise is making sure the piping is well engineered so you do not have cavitation problems.  That's where noise and higher pump maintenance issues come in, along with flow issues which can create headaches for the filtering system as well.

Pool heat can be expensive to purchase and operate, but you can add it at any point in the future, it's simply a matter of adding a loop to your pump circuit.

[Oil Capital]

Look into automatic cleaning systems.  The kind that have popup jets throughout the walls and floor of the pool.  We had one and loved it.  Never had to vacuum the pool.  If you look at on-line discussion boards you'll see complaints about them causing systems to break down.  We never had that problem at all, but only lived with it for about 3 years... 

Make sure you have at least 2 filter baskets (although all of our leaves ended up in one of the baskets anyway).  I keep thinking someone will invent a built-in leaf grinder/disposal system for pools.

[RecycleMichael]

I got a pool.

It is a daily chemistry experiment. We have to constantly tinker to keep the water pristine and clear.

The chemicals cost, but not as much as the annual restocking of cheap inflatable pool toys and floaties. Add in the price of continually running the dryer full of towels after parties and you will be broke.

Last year we spent $350 on chemicals and opening closing the pool and $500 on toys, swimsuits, goggles and laundry. Our pool was too cold to swim until late May and too cold by mid September. It worked out to about $8 a day.

$8 a day. I told the kids, "dammit, you're swimming."

[Townsend]

  I keep thinking someone will invent a built-in leaf grinder/disposal system for pools.

That needs to exist.