- Jun 13, 2021
- 42
- Pool Size
- 13500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Turbo Cell (T-CELL-5)
I have had the worst time starting up my SWCG pool this season, with what seemed like just a slightly cloudy water situation in mid-May. Went through normal startup (pulled cover, filled with water from just below return jet to proper skimming level, added 2 gal liquid shock, ran for several days, etc.). Added 2 lb. of CYA, which I thought would be enough to bring the levels up to a measurable range given the approx. 1/3 pool refill. Along the way I added the startup dose of algaecide. I also use a Clarifier product added to the skimmer. After 2 days, measured < 30 CYA (K-2006 tester with new CYA and CL test refills), I added 2 lb. more CYA. Still nothing.
This year we have more maple tree pods and pollen than any year in a long time, which began to fall into the pool. Possibly also a little cottonwood fallout, but there are no nearby trees to produce a lot of that.
At one point in this process, the pool developed a significant amount of foam on the surface. As the foam subsided, it left behind a grey, greasy residue that accumulated a good 1/8 on the inside of the skimmer basket, inside wall of skimmer, etc. It felt like plumber's putty. I scraped that away and let the system continue to run. I've added about 4 gal of shock on each of two different nights with ~0 FC residual the next day at different points in that first couple of week's time.
On 6/3, I did my own tests and also had a pool shop confirm:
CYA <30 (pool place said 24)
FC 0.2
CC 1.4
TA 130
CA 130
pH 7.4
Frustrated ... and the pool place just as confused ... I was advised to stop throwing chemicals in the pool and just let the filter and SWCG run continuously at 80%. I ran the filter 24/7 continuously for about a week. Along the way it became obvious that the pool was cloudier than I had realized. I began to see piles of maple pods and their stems at the bottom. Vacuumed several times, bringing up a lot of maple pods and pod stems, trapping most of them in the filter pump basket, stop, empty, repeat. After cleaning the bottom of the pool and brushing from inside the pool, I backwashed, re-applied clarifier, and continued 24/7 filtration+SWCG@80%. As of 2 days ago, the pool is clear. No change in the CYA or FC behavior. CC was down. As described in the articles on this site, the SWCG was producing about 1ppm daily, but it was always gone the next morning. Everything is visually clean.
I continued to be suspicious of the greasy foam incident, so Yesterday, I took the sand filter valve off and scooped a layer of goo, 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, from the whole top surface of the sand (I use brown sand from the pool store) and removed about 2 in. of sand as well. I don't have any fresh sand, so I can't do a comparison, but it is possible the remaining sand has an oily residue ... I don't know if that's normal because I've never pulled a filter apart mid-season before. Could be the effect of the Clarifier, I don't know. Given that ... it was highly likely that all of the filtration and backwashing was running through some limited channels or on the outside edge of the chamber. Pressure has stayed consistently at 10-12 lb., so nothing to indicate a blockage.
Today, I found this site. Reading through the SLAM and CYA material, it looks like establishing proper CYA is the first step (after pH of course) to prepare for any successful FC accumulation.
This morning: pH 7.4 FC 0.2 CC 0.4
Mid day: Added 1.5 lb. CYA (running SWCG@80% all day)
Now: pH 7.4 FC 1.0 CC 0.4 CYA ... dot just disappears at the top of the tube, which is well below the 30 mark on the scale.
Most of the "Why am I not able to raise CYA?" topics here speculate about water loss, etc. I don't see any unexpected loss. No drips, water levels consistent, only a little rain this whole time. Topped off maybe 1"-2" earlier in the week.
My plan is to continue running the filter+SWCG@80% overnight and measure the basics again in the AM, just in case the CYA measurement is lagging for some reason. I'll share those number tomorrow.
If there are any other ideas this evening ... I'm all ears.
Thanks!
This year we have more maple tree pods and pollen than any year in a long time, which began to fall into the pool. Possibly also a little cottonwood fallout, but there are no nearby trees to produce a lot of that.
At one point in this process, the pool developed a significant amount of foam on the surface. As the foam subsided, it left behind a grey, greasy residue that accumulated a good 1/8 on the inside of the skimmer basket, inside wall of skimmer, etc. It felt like plumber's putty. I scraped that away and let the system continue to run. I've added about 4 gal of shock on each of two different nights with ~0 FC residual the next day at different points in that first couple of week's time.
On 6/3, I did my own tests and also had a pool shop confirm:
CYA <30 (pool place said 24)
FC 0.2
CC 1.4
TA 130
CA 130
pH 7.4
Frustrated ... and the pool place just as confused ... I was advised to stop throwing chemicals in the pool and just let the filter and SWCG run continuously at 80%. I ran the filter 24/7 continuously for about a week. Along the way it became obvious that the pool was cloudier than I had realized. I began to see piles of maple pods and their stems at the bottom. Vacuumed several times, bringing up a lot of maple pods and pod stems, trapping most of them in the filter pump basket, stop, empty, repeat. After cleaning the bottom of the pool and brushing from inside the pool, I backwashed, re-applied clarifier, and continued 24/7 filtration+SWCG@80%. As of 2 days ago, the pool is clear. No change in the CYA or FC behavior. CC was down. As described in the articles on this site, the SWCG was producing about 1ppm daily, but it was always gone the next morning. Everything is visually clean.
I continued to be suspicious of the greasy foam incident, so Yesterday, I took the sand filter valve off and scooped a layer of goo, 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, from the whole top surface of the sand (I use brown sand from the pool store) and removed about 2 in. of sand as well. I don't have any fresh sand, so I can't do a comparison, but it is possible the remaining sand has an oily residue ... I don't know if that's normal because I've never pulled a filter apart mid-season before. Could be the effect of the Clarifier, I don't know. Given that ... it was highly likely that all of the filtration and backwashing was running through some limited channels or on the outside edge of the chamber. Pressure has stayed consistently at 10-12 lb., so nothing to indicate a blockage.
Today, I found this site. Reading through the SLAM and CYA material, it looks like establishing proper CYA is the first step (after pH of course) to prepare for any successful FC accumulation.
This morning: pH 7.4 FC 0.2 CC 0.4
Mid day: Added 1.5 lb. CYA (running SWCG@80% all day)
Now: pH 7.4 FC 1.0 CC 0.4 CYA ... dot just disappears at the top of the tube, which is well below the 30 mark on the scale.
Most of the "Why am I not able to raise CYA?" topics here speculate about water loss, etc. I don't see any unexpected loss. No drips, water levels consistent, only a little rain this whole time. Topped off maybe 1"-2" earlier in the week.
My plan is to continue running the filter+SWCG@80% overnight and measure the basics again in the AM, just in case the CYA measurement is lagging for some reason. I'll share those number tomorrow.
If there are any other ideas this evening ... I'm all ears.
Thanks!
