Startup SWG chlorinator salt for new pool

[FIESTA62]

hi, its been a month since i filled my 36000 litre / 10000 gallon pebblecrete pool and i have read not to start up chlorinator or put salt in for the first month, so i am at 1 month and have salt ready to go , my chlorinator says it runs at 4000ppm, the chart i read says put in 140 kg of salt, 7 bags, can i ask a few tips here
1 do i put all salt in or do it over days
2 do i run salt water thru filter while its dissolving or put it on re-circulate, i think that bypasses filter no sure
3 i know turn off swg cell but while salt dissolves , how long before i can switch on the swg chlorinator

if i am asking wrong questions or not asking enough sorry i am winging it here, but you guys got me thru the chemical process now its time to startup the swg , thanks

 

[Dirk]

No, all good questions! Read this entire post before you do anything.

1. Put it all in, into the shallow end. Use your pool brush to sweep it. Move around the shallow end and keep sweeping it into a pile. If you spread it all over the pool, or put it in the deep end, there's nothing wrong with that, but sweeping it into a pile in the shallow end is just less work. You're just getting it to dissolve more quickly. Try to sweep it back and forth a bit, to keep it off of one spot, but it's not really going to impact 30-day old plaster. It won't take long to dissolve it all, 10 or 20 minutes probably. Keep brushing until it is all gone.

2. Regular filter mode is fine. Run the pump non-stop, that will finish the mixing in.

3. Personally, I would run the pump for 48 hours, others will tell you less. Unless you're in a hurry for some reason, why rush it?

READ THE FOLLOWING!

Be very certain of your calculations (pool size, salt ppm, number of bags, etc). If you overshoot the salt level, you'll have to drain off some water to get rid of it. If you're not absolutely certain, then start with one or two less bags, run the pump for 24 hours, test for salt, then use Pool Math to calculate how much more to add. (So it might take 72 hours.)

Should have said first: before you do any calculations, be sure you test the existing salt level in the pool first! It very likely already has salt in it, likely more than you would think (from the chlorine and acid you've been using, and probably some from the fill water). If you skip this step, you will very likely overshoot the target level. You need a very good salt test kit for this whole process. If you rely on test strips for this, or even the pool store, you'll end up with too much or too little salt. We recommend the Taylor K-1766 salt test kit. Not sure if that's available over there.

 

[FIESTA62]

ok i have a salt test kit, one of the better one's available here, i will test first good point, my chart says 7 bags i will do 6 for starters, my kids are keen to swim no one has been in yet but today we got up to 19c so its getting warmer though i am waiting for 28c, i have a heater but as i read its not good to start it till all salt is in and fully dissolved, i want to learn to set the swg first then move on to the heater....getting there, thanks again

 

[aussieta]

RP9 has a 3000ppm salt to 4000ppm range
i would aim for 3000 as most people can taste salt at 3200ppm
and as usual sneak up on total amount
salt chlorinator will struggle in cold water
mine reports low salt when water is cold
even though i know salt is correct

 

[FIESTA62]

i would aim for 3000

ok so 3000 is 120kg 6 bags.....i will start with 5 then to sneak up on it.....thanks

 

[mgtfp]

19°C is balmy, I am very jealous. I had my first pre-season dip today at 14°C. I didn't last long...

Looks like Dirk and aussieta already gave you all the information you need, nothing really to add. I can second what aussieta said about the low salt light at cold temperatures, mine does the same. Runs fine all through winter, but the light won't go off until I hit about 20°C.

 

[revitup]

Leave the fiter off until all of the salt is dissolved. No undissolved slugs of salt should go through the SWG.

 

[FIESTA62]

Leave the fiter off until all of the salt is dissolved

so i will keep brushing till it looks like its all dissolved, then turn on filter, but leave swg cell off for a few days, just let filter run, after say 2 days i will turn on the swg cell.....thats the plan if i got it wrong let me know please....

 

[mguzzy]

The first time added salt to my pool I nearly over shot the mark... now I sneak up on it in halves.. if the testing says to add 7 bags, I add 4 and retest,. If testing says to add 3 more I add 1.5 and retest. Etc. The only way to back your salinity down is to drain and refill so i figure the extra precaution is worth it.
Also let the kids play while the is being added.. their splashing around will help dissolve it and dissolving salt is an endothermic reaction so it just feels cool

 

[FIESTA62]

ok watermaid says add 105kg to get 3000ppm for a 36000 litre pool, there chlorinator runs 3000 to 4000, so 5 bags to get 3000 ppm, i will do 4, and thats to get 3000 which is on the low end of watermaids recommended , so even if it overshoots 3000 i assume it will be still below 4000

 

[Dirk]

so i will keep brushing till it looks like its all dissolved, then turn on filter, but leave swg cell off for a few days, just let filter run, after say 2 days i will turn on the swg cell.....thats the plan if i got it wrong let me know please....

Ya gotta test for salt right before you turn on the SWG to be sure you have enough. That might have been implied. Otherwise, good plan.

 

[FIESTA62]

ok i will do, just put 80kg in shallow end brushed it dissolved in about 5 minutes easy, it will probably need more but i will run filter for a few days then test salt....

i just tested FC its 7.2 which is higher than i needed, 50 cya needs 6, i got a bit heavy handed with the chlorine yesterday, but i'm sure it will drop back soon enough, thanks

 

[Dirk]

Have another look at the FC/CYA chart. CYA 50 calls for a target range, 6-8, so 7 is dead on, for now.

But once you switch on the SWG, you use the other half of the chart, for SWCG Pools, and CYA 50 isn't even on that chart. You'll need to bump up your CYA. (And your FC target gets lower!) You could get started on the CYA bump now, while the salt mixes in. Use granules for that. Liquid CYA is the devil! More later if you need help with that...

 

[Dirk]

Oh yah, brand new pool? Stay away from the liquid CYA if you can find the granules.

 

[mgtfp]

But once you switch on the SWG, you use the other half of the chart, for SWCG Pools, and CYA 50 isn't even on that chart. You'll need to bump up your CYA. (And your FC target gets lower!) You could get started on the CYA bump now, while the salt mixes in. Use granules for that. Liquid CYA is the devil! More later if you need help with that.

Fiesta's got another thread on CYA:

Chlorine level for low and high water temp

hi, i think i have my pool water balanced pretty good at this point with all the help from you guys but wanted to confirm what i read in a pool book put out by a pool chemical guru, Bernie Skelton 30 year pool guy.... my main question here is he says Chlorine set at 1.5 if below 26 Celsius...

www.troublefreepool.com

He's already added 80ppm worth of CYA, but only 50ppm showing up so far. Thought it might be wise to take it easy and not risk overdosing.

 

[FIESTA62]

Have another look at the FC/CYA chart. CYA 50 calls for a target range, 6-8, so 7 is dead on, for now.

ok i have the chart but as i use my mobile phone at pool side when testing i been using the pool math, when i go to the FC on pool math i input the CYA at 50 as mine is now, it automatically updates the math to target 6, but the cya chart says 6 to 8, but i was going for 6 just following pool math, but as u said im all ok at this point
when i start up my swg i will update pool math to salt and use the chart on the salt section too

yep i been using powder cya not liquid, in a pool skimmer sock i let it sit in water overnight, next morning dragged it around pool on a stick, it left a trail of dust behind as is dissolved, i had to walk around pool about 10 or more laps but it all dissolved and spread evenly around , i was sure i put in 2.8 kg but as it is only showing 50 i am starting to wonder, but i have tested various times and always getting 50,

 

[Dirk]

Cool. I didn't connect that was you in the other thread, even though I poked my nose in over there, too! Sounds like you have a very good grasp on all this.

If I remember right, Pool Math defaults to a number in range, but also displays that range (in smaller grey text somewhere). You're always free to adjust the target to suit your pool and its needs. Not saying you're doing it wrong, not at all. Just pointing out the app is giving you a guide, you learn over time if that guide is right for your pool.

It can take a while for CYA to show up. Or maybe your water volume number is not accurate. Keep running the pump. Keep testing.

 

[FIESTA62]

Or maybe your water volume number is not accurate

i will keep testing, i defiantly got the water vol right i checked on my water metre when we filled, its 35700 litres.....i wasn't sure but figured i needed to put my questions in the correct sections on the forum, i realize its usually the same few guys like yourself helping me thru the maze, and appreciate it so much , i am a perfectionist and i know i tend to overthink things that's for sure....

 

[Dirk]

No worries. Sometimes keeping everything in one thread is best, other times keeping separate topics separate is best. Too bad the forum interface doesn't have more obvious indicators of semi-related threads started by the same OP. Like the "Similar threads" section below, but just the OP's threads. Maybe I'll pass that along to the Admins.

OK, so volume number is good. It's not all that critical. Keep FC up and CSI in range and everything else will work itself out. If your pool needs more CYA, it'll tell you. Doesn't ultimately matter if the CYA number agrees or not. Once you find your SWG sweet spot, you'll be able to calculate your FC loss per day. You can do the same while using liquid chlorine. If the FC loss is reasonable for your pool (based on sun exposure, swimmer load, etc) then your CYA is good. If you find that you're having to add more chlorine than you should, and there's no algae, then that is a sign that it's burning off too fast, which can mean your CYA is low. There are no hard and fast formulas for all this. It's part science and part art. And it's different for every pool. Eventually you'll be able to recognize the signs, and the trends. That's what I meant by "it'll tell you."

 

[mgtfp]

And well done on checking the water metre while filling the pool. Exactly knowing your pool volume is worth a lot.