Switching from perma salt system to chlorine

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BoogaBear

New member
Feb 20, 2024
2
Birmingham
Last year was our first year with an above ground pool. It is 17,500 gallon 18x33 oval pool, sand filter. The pool came with the Perma Salt system with the pre measured chemicals you add each week, etc.

We are on well water and had a lot of iron in the pool, I was able to take care of that with polyfill. Throughout the summer it was a constant battle with algae blooms, and green water. It seemed the recommended chemicals did not have enough chlorine to keep the algae at bay. Being my first time with a pool, I would add small amounts of pool shock from Home Depot until the water clarity returned to normal. The perma salt chemicals also seem very expensive compared to a traditional chlorine pool.

I want to take the time this season to transition over to chlorine using the TFP method and calculations. The pool is currently crystal clear sans some debris on the bottom that needs to be vacuumed up. I have ordered a test kit, but used a test strip to get a general idea of where things are currently.

FC - 0
TA - 80
PH - 7.2
CYA - 0

What can I expect getting this up and running and rid of perma salt this spring? Anything different chemical wise for above ground vs in ground?
 
I'm not familiar with the Perma Salt, but think it is just a mineral system. I'm not familiar with their chemicals, but typically those "proprietary" chemicals are just rebranded normal chemicals at a very premium price.

Good job on ordering the test kit. Read up on the link and get some chlorine in your pool ASAP, followed by 30 ppm of CYA.
 
The permanent system uses a copper ionizer to add copper to the water. There’s a good chance you could have enough copper left that it would cause staining once you start using the TFP method because the chlorine will oxidize the copper. There really isn’t easy or accurate way to measure copper. It might be best if you can drain a good portion of the pool and either let rainwater fill it back up or use your well water and just deal with the iron issues.

But once you get some of the pool water exchanged, it should be fairly quick and easy to get the levels adjusted properly.

Eventually, manually chlorinating the pool everyday is going to become a pain in the rear and a nuisance. You’ll want to switch over to a salt water chlorine generator as soon as it is feasible. SWGs make pool care stupid-simple and boring. They are a big upfront cost because you are basically purchasing all of your chlorine for years to come, but the initial investment is well worth it in the long run for ease of use and peace of mind when you can’t always be by the pool everyday.
 
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I don't believe there is any elevated levels of copper in the pool. I did change about a quarter of the water at the end of the season. When I attempt to measure copper with the strips they provided it doesn't register.

Once I figured out that I had been bamboozled I knew I wanted to get away from that system so I turned the copper chamber all the way down.

I would love a SWG, unfortunately that may not be in the budget for this coming year. Any issues with those on an above ground?
 
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