SWCG - FC PPM Goal?

[SplashDownCA]

Happy Friday Everyone: pool water is clear as usual thanks to TFP, just trying to dial in Free Chlorine goals. I have a SWCG.

As an example, if my CYA is 70 and the goal says min 3 goal 5, should my target heading into each morning be roughly at 6-8 PPM to allow for chlorine loss during the day before heading into evening when pump is running and begins producing more chlorine? I was wondering if I am heading into the morning at 3-5 and lose 2-4 during the day if I am allowing it to get too low at times putting myself at risk. I run my pump for 9 hours in the evening hours and yes it was mentioned by a wise man here at TFP that the PB probably should have given us a larger SWCG. As predicted, I have been adding liquid chlorine to keep up with the demand. Ha ha.

 

[mknauss]

Why not run your pump/SWCG 24 hours per day to generate your chlorine?

You should be able to run the pump at 1500 rpm or less.

Turn off the UV and ozone and your FC loss will decrease.

 

[SplashDownCA]

Why not run your pump/SWCG 24 hours per day to generate your chlorine?

You should be able to run the pump at 1500 rpm or less.

Turn off the UV and ozone and your FC loss will decrease.

Haven’t really considered the option of running the pump 24/7. I don’t mind having to add chlorine as needed at this time.

Turning off the U/V and Ozone doesn’t seem like a logical thing to do after spending money having them installed. I haven’t noticed any chlorine loss that is above and beyond acceptable averages so I don’t see how they are hurting anything at this point.

I really appreciate the suggestion given, but do you happen to have any answers/insight more specific to the question asked in the original post above regarding target free chlorine levels heading into each day?

 

[Jimrahbe]

sd,

If you look at this chart.. FC/CYA Levels

You will see, under the saltwater section, that for a CYA of 70 your target it 5 ppm.. this means you want your FC to always be 5 ppm.. It does have a minimum of 3 ppm, but I don't see this as a range of 3 to 5... I see 3 ppm as my "the world will end" if I go below 3 ppm.. I try to never, ever, let my FC get close to 3 ppm. My pools are run on the theory that I want my FC to be 5 ppm or higher... If I shut off my pump, for 12 hours, then when the pump comes back on, I would want my FC to be 5 ppm.. If this means that I have to have 8 ppm when the pump shuts off, so be it... This gives me room to drop below 5 ppm, if I have too, without getting close to 3 ppm.

From reading posts here, those people that try to run on the low end of the CYA chart are the ones that always end up with algae when it rains or when they go out of town for the weekend..

Edit... If you look at the non-saltwater section of the chart, you can see what I mean.. The target has a "range" where you want to stay, but it still shows an absolute low limit..
Going high is never an issue, going low means putting a sign in your yard saying "Algae Party Tomorrow"..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[SplashDownCA]

sd,

If you look at this chart.. FC/CYA Levels

You will see, under the saltwater section, that for a CYA of 70 your target it 5 ppm.. this means you want your FC to always be 5 ppm.. It does have a minimum of 3 ppm, but I don't see this as a range of 3 to 5... I see 3 ppm as my "the world will end" if I go below 3 ppm.. I try to never, ever, let my FC get close to 3 ppm. My pools are run on the theory that I want my FC to be 5 ppm or higher... If I shut off my pump, for 12 hours, then when the pump comes back on, I would want my FC to be 5 ppm.. If this means that I have to have 8 ppm when the pump shuts off, so be it... This gives me room to drop below 5 ppm, if I have too, without getting close to 3 ppm.

From reading posts here, those people that try to run on the low end of the CYA chart are the ones that always end up with algae when it rains or went they go out of town for the weekend..

Edit... If you look at the non-saltwater section of the chart, you can see what I mean.. The target has a "range" where you want to stay, but it still shows an absolute low limit..
Going high is never an issue, going low means putting a sign in your yard saying "Algae Party Tomorrow"..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Awesome and thank you. Truly appreciated. I just realized recently I was probably at risk when I was really only paying attention to levels at the time of testing rather than big picture and factoring in the daily chlorine loss, swim load, etc. I haven’t had any issues yet, thankfully. I am pretty certain I have spent some time below the minimums and further away from target levels than I should. I will make adjustments and raise my levels to stay where I need to be.

Have a great weekend!!

 

[Patrickoleary]

sd,

If you look at this chart.. FC/CYA Levels

You will see, under the saltwater section, that for a CYA of 70 your target it 5 ppm.. this means you want your FC to always be 5 ppm.. It does have a minimum of 3 ppm, but I don't see this as a range of 3 to 5... I see 3 ppm as my "the world will end" if I go below 3 ppm.. I try to never, ever, let my FC get close to 3 ppm. My pools are run on the theory that I want my FC to be 5 ppm or higher... If I shut off my pump, for 12 hours, then when the pump comes back on, I would want my FC to be 5 ppm.. If this means that I have to have 8 ppm when the pump shuts off, so be it... This gives me room to drop below 5 ppm, if I have too, without getting close to 3 ppm.

From reading posts here, those people that try to run on the low end of the CYA chart are the ones that always end up with algae when it rains or when they go out of town for the weekend..

Edit... If you look at the non-saltwater section of the chart, you can see what I mean.. The target has a "range" where you want to stay, but it still shows an absolute low limit..
Going high is never an issue, going low means putting a sign in your yard saying "Algae Party Tomorrow"..

Thanks,

Jim R.

This is very timely for me as well. I’m coming off of a slam and about to start my SWCG back up.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Like Marty suggested, I run my VS pump 24/7 for many reasons, but mainly I like to generate a little chlorine all the time... Not required, just something I like to do..

Just means I never have to worry about my FC getting too low.

Jim R.

 

[Msch99]

My understanding is your UV burns off chlorine just like the sun does? Or am I missing something?

 

[SplashDownCA]

My understanding is your UV burns off chlorine just like the sun does? Or am I missing something?

I decided to add both the U/V 3 and Ozone 2 products from Paramount during construction for additional protection. I’m not using them to replace SWCG. I don’t see noticeable additional chlorine loss that is being suggested here. If anything, knowing that I have inadvertently (reason for this post) spent fairly good chunks of time this summer with FC/CYA levels below targets I would have to assume these systems have helped protect my water from myself at the very least.

 

[Jimrahbe]

sp,

It is much more likely that you have not notice any difference in your FC consumption because you have never run with the UV and Ozone off...

But my theory is... If it works for you... then it works great for me!!

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[SplashDownCA]

sp,

It is much more likely that you have not notice any difference in your FC consumption because you have never run with the UV and Ozone off...

But my theory is... If it works for you... then it works great for me!!

Thanks,

Jim R.

Lol. Agreed. Not sure I would fix/replace when the time comes but for now I paid for them so I will have blind faith that they are doing some good.

Now it is time to enjoy some swim time and the cold spell in southern ca keeping temps below 88 degrees today!!!! ?