Proper Water Chemistry Guide to use (Hayward vs TFP)

[SpykeYs]

Good day,

I am a new member of TFP and so far I really enjoy browsing this forum.

I am a new owner of a 15' round above ground pool and just filled it up with water. I have a Hayward Low Salt Water Generator (Hayward Aqua Trol RJ Low Salt).

In the manual they recommend the following:

Salt: 1200 to 1800 ppm (I am currently at 2000 ppm)
FC: 1 to 3
ph: 7.2 to 7.6
CYA: 20 to 30 ppm (if necessary)
TA: 80 to 120 ppm
CH: 125 to 250 ppm
Metals: 0 ppm


I have been reading a lot in the pool school and TFP recommend the following:

FC 4-6 ppm
PH 7.2-7.8
TA 60-80
CH

• 50-300 for vinyl (Do Not Add)
• 220-320 for fiberglass
• 350-450 for plaster

CYA 70-80
Salt 200-400 ppm ABOVE recommended optimum level
Borates 30-50 ppm (optional)

So should I be going with what Hayward suggests or should I follow the recommendation from TFP ?

I just want to make sure that I can follow the TFP recommendation with my SWG.... It seems that the values are much higher for the FC and CYA with TFP vs Hayward.

Thanks for all your feedback

I haved ordered a K-2006 test kit and hopefully I will be able to start testing and making adjustments tomorrow.

Pierre

 

[Jezza]

Welcome to TFP,

The advise often given by the pool industry/equipment manufacturers are at odds with what we teach here. Often the two don't mix too well together and so whilst we would recommend you stick with our guidelines it's best not to try to work with both. It just leads to confusion.

The other problem is that running a pool with such a low FC and/or CYA will generally lead to problems.

Well done on taking control of your testing. Good move on the K-2006.

 

[drharris]

My main disagreement is with their TA numbers - SWGs tend to push up the pH on their own, and a higher TA makes this effect more noticeable. So TFP recommends a slightly lower number here to keep a better total balance on the water. If you find pushing it to 80-90 works for your pool without causing trouble, feel free.

The main difference between those sets is the FC recommendations. Review the Pool School - Chlorine / CYA Chart, and you can see that if you maintain the recommended CYA level of 20, then the 1-3ppm FC recommendation isn't really all that silly. But the combined experience of TFP combined with actual scientific research papers read by this community have distilled a different set of recommendations that keep the pool better maintained. Higher CYA is especially important for an SWG, since you're getting a steadier "drip" of sanitation throughout the day, rather than dumping a higher level all at once. This higher CYA recommendation in turn requires a higher FC to maintain proper sanitation at that level of stabilizer. So by maintaining a slightly higher minimum FC than the manufacturer's recommendation, you prevent cases where FC would drop low enough for some kind of growth to take over.

Plus, keep in mind that pool equipment/chemical manufacturers have almost a doctor's view on pool maintenance. You have a problem, solve it with this chemical. This creates a new problem (side effect) so use this other chemical. So on, so forth. FC of 1 isn't bad because you can always use algaecide. Only that adds copper, so use this sequestrant. It's all fixable, after all. TFP methodology is more like preventative medicine - have a holistic view of the situation so that you can hopefully prevent problems before they occur with small, incremental changes. It's a different mindset, and one that's up to you which you prefer to adopt.

 

[BasicTek]

I have another Hayward SWCG and that's not even close to what mine says so I pulled up a manual for yours and it's way different than what you posted. Where did those #'s/manual come from?

I see
salt 2700 - 3400
FC 1 - 3
ph 7.2 - 7.6
cya 60 - 80
TA 80 - 120
CA 200 - 400
on page two of the linked document above..

Regards,

Tim

 

[SpykeYs]

I have another Hayward SWCG and that's not even close to what mine says so I pulled up a manual for yours and it's way different than what you posted. Where did those #'s/manual come from?

I see
salt 2700 - 3400
FC 1 - 3
ph 7.2 - 7.6
cya 60 - 80
TA 80 - 120
CA 200 - 400
on page two of the linked document above..

Regards,

Tim

I have the Hayward Aqua Trol "Low Salt" version: http://www.hayward-pool.ca/shop/en/canada/aquatrol-low-salt-anzcaquals

Here is the link to the manual : http://www.hayward-pool.ca/pdf/manu...nd-pool-chlorine-generator-092588RevA-can.pdf

Now, is it possible that because this is a LOW SALT model that the pool chemistry are different, especially for the FC and CYA ?

I'm confused why the regular version of the Hayward Salt generator has completely different pool chemistry numbers than the low salt version.

Thanks!

 

[BasicTek]

I'm confused why the regular version of the Hayward Salt generator has completely different pool chemistry numbers than the low salt version.

That's why I posted it, having a hayward it does seem strange they would have such a variance...