Check Salt and Check Cell lights on

[wolfyj1]

I just acid washed my salt cell yesterday and it was working but the check cell light was flashing. Today the Check Salt light is red and the Check Cell light is yellow both on solid lights. My pool does have a lot of calcium in it but I got it down to 390. Does this mean my Salt Cell is dead and need to replace it? The SWG is the CircuPool Si45plus system. I think if I call the company they will tell me it is dead because the warranty was up last year. The salt level is 3200

 

[RJ-45]

Acid wash is frowned upon on this board, popsicle stick is the preferred method to loosen the build up and hose it off.

If both lights are on solid, the machine is stopped, you will need to add chlorine.

If after cleaning the lights are back on, you will need to get a new cell most likely.

 

[wolfyj1]

Any idea where can you get extra long popsicle sticks? That sounds like a better Idea. I thought that I read about the acid washing here and it was emphasized to not use any stronger than a 5:1 solution. Actually I have been using a 6:1 solution because the container is marked for that but will try using the popsicle stick method. I will try cleaning again tomorrow and see what happens. Thanks for the info.

 

[mknauss]

You should get very little to no scale build up in the SWCG if your water chemistry is maintained. CSI of -0.3 to 0.
If you still have issues, adding 50 ppm borates will reduce the scaling tendency.

 

[wolfyj1]

I cleaned the cell out with a homemade pine popsicle stick and it was full of calcium again. My FC=1 so added 2 gal chlorine throughout the day and will run the full test tomorrow. The lights are not on any more but the check cell is flashing still. How do I check the CSI?

 

[mknauss]

How do I check the CSI?

Enter your test results from your test kit into PoolMath. Be sure you have turned on Track CSI in settings.

 

[RJ-45]

I cleaned the cell out with a homemade pine popsicle stick and it was full of calcium again. My FC=1 so added 2 gal chlorine throughout the day and will run the full test tomorrow. The lights are not on any more but the check cell is flashing still. How do I check the CSI?

if only check cell light is flashing, you can clear it by hold down the button to reset the 500 hour timer.

 

[wolfyj1]

Ok, so I reset the flashing check cell light. After running for 5 hours today the check salt light was on. So I removed the cell and it was full of calcium again. After cleaning it the light went off. So I tested the water and turned on the track CSI and here is what I have.
FC= 7
pH= 7.4
TA= 110
CH= 450
CYA= 70
SALT= 3100
TEMP= 98
CSI= 0.05
Is replacing the water the only way to reduce the Calcium Hardness? That is why the cell keeps getting plugged up every day. Right?

 

[mknauss]

The CH is not all that high. Work to lower your TA - Lower Total Alkalinity - Trouble Free Pool

It is very odd you are getting calcium build up that fast.

 

[DeanP66]

You can control the CSI by keeping pH and TA on the low side. Those two plus CH are the 3 most dominant factors in controlling CSI. If you can get your TA down in the 60-70 range, that would put your CSI in the -0.3 to -0.2 range. That should help. Just be aware that pools with SWGs tend to push the pH up consistently so really keep an eye on the pH and add muriatic acid when it climbs some to drop it back down to 7.2-7.4 range.

If that still doesn't prevent the scaling, try adding 50ppm of borates with boric acid. I did that for a friend of mine this year who had scaling issues in her salt cell weekly all last season and it has really made a difference. The kicker is that her CH has climbed up to 750ppm from 600ppm last season and it's still keeping it clean.

 

[wolfyj1]

Well it has taken a couple days and constant testing to get where I am today. Here are my test results from today.
FC= 6.6
pH= 7.4
TA= 75
CH= 425
CYA= 75
SALT= 3200
TEMP= 92
CSI= -0.26
I added 1/2 gal acid today and doing some more aeration to try and get the TA down to 70. Also my salt cell has been working for 3 days or about 30 hours and is not full of calcium build up. I am still thinking about adding the boric acid to the 50ppm according to the poolmath calculator I need 71.5 lbs for my pool. I was going to add 70 lbs but do I need another test kit to check it? I need to get calcium build up on the tile cleaned first and repairs to the decorative rocks before I add the boric acid so I can order the proper testing supplies

 

[Chuckiechan]

Any idea where can you get extra long popsicle sticks? That sounds like a better Idea. I thought that I read about the acid washing here and it was emphasized to not use any stronger than a 5:1 solution. Actually I have been using a 6:1 solution because the container is marked for that but will try using the popsicle stick method. I will try cleaning again tomorrow and see what happens. Thanks for the info.

Try an Arts & Craft store.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I was going to add 70 lbs but do I need another test kit to check it?

"Guess" strips are really the only consumer level test for borates.

Borates Test Strips

tftestkits.net

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

FYI...

I ordered boric acid from Duda Diesel on Monday. They are expected Tuesday (8 days) via Fed Ex.

 

[wolfyj1]

Thanks for all the helpful info. I will probably order from Duda Diesel also and have the test strips on hand too.