So we’ve had the pool for about a year now and we started with new liner and converted to salt. Had the same guy who installed liner to balance and get us going. Never closed the pool this winter just slowed pump speed and reduced hrs of filtering. As the water started to warm I didn’t add salt all I did was filtered while I waited on dolphin to arrive. Now that I have everything I started work on it and I shocked and floc “my wife later read on here that floc isn’t the best option”. Just got the slim vacuumed up and adding salt I’ve been told that adding a little shock with the salt will kick start the salt generator. I’ve also bought a new Hayward sand filter and sand to replace the worn out one we have. I guess I’m looking for advice on getting the pool balanced and swim ready asap without using pool store etc. add shock with salt?? Can I change out the filter before it’s balanced “water is clear”. Best pool testing kit for salt water pools? Pool is 33,000 gallon L shape. Pump, filter and control panel are all Hayward
Need advice
- Thread starter Tyler2593
- Start date
- May 11, 2021
- 973
- Pool Size
- 7000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-30
Welcome to TFP.
As for test kit your options are:
- TF-Pro *Salt with SmartStir-for pools with SWG
- TF-100 Test Kit ™ PLUS K-1766 Taylor Salt Test (the speed stir is game changer)
- Service Complete™ kit for Chlorine, pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, CYA, Salt (FAS-DPD–high range) (2 oz bottles)
Do you pool a favor and don’t ever add Floc again.
For the SWG you need your pump running, salt in the range for your cell and water above minimum temp for your cell. That is it. You will likely need to add some Liquid Chlorine to jump start your FC, but no need to shock.
As for test kit your options are:
- TF-Pro *Salt with SmartStir-for pools with SWG
- TF-100 Test Kit ™ PLUS K-1766 Taylor Salt Test (the speed stir is game changer)
- Service Complete™ kit for Chlorine, pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, CYA, Salt (FAS-DPD–high range) (2 oz bottles)
Do you pool a favor and don’t ever add Floc again.
For the SWG you need your pump running, salt in the range for your cell and water above minimum temp for your cell. That is it. You will likely need to add some Liquid Chlorine to jump start your FC, but no need to shock.
Can I use the shock instead? I live far off from anywhere that sells pool supplies. What about replacing the filter before I add salt? I have everything to do the job just didn’t know if I should wait. Like I said the water is clean and clear just not balanced
an1vrsy
Bronze Supporter
- Jul 10, 2018
- 1,240
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Liquid chlorine is your pool’s friend. Advertisement may call it liquid shock but LC or even plain ol’ bleach, you can use to raise the FC level that the SWG can then maintain. Walmart, big box stores, Ace hardware, etc. You can use bleach from the grocery store, it must be plain bleach no additives, splashless stuff like that. Bleach is sold at like 6% strength so you have to use more of it but works just as well.
MITBeta
Gold Supporter
- May 28, 2020
- 1,240
- Pool Size
- 13000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
It depends on what kind of shock and what's already in the water. Dichlor adds stabilizer with chlorine. Calcium hypochlorite adds calcium with chlorine. If you know your pool can afford either, go for it. Otherwise, follow the advice above.
It doesn't matter either way, as long as you do it fast enough that you can circulate chemicals as necessary.
All I’ve added in the past few months is about 10lbs of shock “not at once” and the floc. Lost a lot of water vacuuming so I’ve added water in from hose. It’s calcium shock
MITBeta
Gold Supporter
- May 28, 2020
- 1,240
- Pool Size
- 13000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
- May 11, 2021
- 973
- Pool Size
- 7000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-30
That is actually a good thing. Pool stores don’t have the best reputation possible around here.
Cal-Hypo (calcium shock) is the least evil. It will increase your CH every time you use.
Depends what you get… 6.5% bleach and 10% pool liquid Shock will add different amount of chlorine. Use PoolMath to help you.
- May 11, 2021
- 973
- Pool Size
- 7000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-30
You really need a test kit. There is no way to balance the water and keep it sanitary and safe without knowing how you pool chemistry looks like.
Orion7319
Bronze Supporter
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,442
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Use one of the recommended test kits to see what your chemical levels are, then use the pool math app to figure out how much chemicals to add!
PoolMath
www.troublefreepool.com
Orion7319
Bronze Supporter
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,442
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I’m gonna order the one you suggested but what’s the best advice while I wait for it to come in? Last water check said 400lbs of salt and I’d like to get something going
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
You didn't really say what the issue you were having was, just how you were trying to resolve it.
What's the problem with the water? Do you have a photo to share? Is it green, cloudy, both, something else...?
Orion7319
Bronze Supporter
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,442
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Your going to need to add liquid chlorine to the pool before your test comes in. Add 5ppm a day until it comes in. Then test and figure out your levels and then use pool math to figure out how much to add. With salt you don’t want to overshoot as you have to drain the pool and add fresh water to remove it. The same is true for CYA, and calcium. You want to creep up on those, add a bit of a time until the numbers are right, so as to not overshoot. You don’t want to turn on your salt cell while the salt is dissolving. Run the pump for a few days until the salt is mixed in well. If you don’t the salt water generator will get all confused as to how much salt is in the pool and could be way off. In addition to the Tf-100 you will need to pick up the Taylor salt test kit as it’s not included and is the most accurate salt test out there.
PoolMath
www.troublefreepool.com
As of now my problem is maintaining clarity while I wait for the test kit to come in. I’m replacing my sand filter now and plan on running it on filter mode afterward. Just want to avoid it turning green or cloudy. I’d like to swim asap “my kids want to swim” What do I do to keep it clean until I’m able to add chemicalsYou didn't really say what the issue you were having was, just how you were trying to resolve it.
Attachments
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
OK, so pool is currently clear. You should be fine adding about 3ppm of FC using liquid chlorine daily until the kit comes in and you can do a full battery of tests. Should be OK to swim, so long as you can see the bottom of the deep end clearly. Way to be proactive - better to get in charge of your pool's chemistry now, before there's a problem, then after.
Way to be proactive - better to get in charge of your pool's chemistry now, before there's a problem, then after. I’ll have to get some liquid chlorine tomorrow. I wish I knew more about this pool so I could already be way ahead of everything.OK, so pool is currently clear. You should be fine adding about 3ppm of FC using liquid chlorine daily until the kit comes in and you can do a full battery of tests. Should be OK to swim, so long as you can see the bottom of the deep end clearly.
Orion7319
Bronze Supporter
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,442
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Safe thing to do is add 3-5ppm of chlorine to the pool everyday until the test kit gets to you. Use pool math to figure out how much that will be. You enter in your pool volume in the app and it will calculate it for you. It’s a free app, the paid version just tracks your logs is all. You can buy the liquid chlorine at Walmart or home depot or lowes or ace. I buy mine at Homedepot cause that’s where I always go and they charge around $20.00 for four gallons of 10% bleach. When your kit comes in and you get your numbers folks here will help you get your pool balanced.