Having a pool built and need advice

[ajw22]

If your SWG is raising FC by 2.1 every 24 hours and your FC is going up by 1.0 each day then the sun is consuming the other 1.1.

Calculate the % setting that generates 1.1FC per day and see if your FC becomes stable.

You will need to increase the % every few weeks ad the sun gets stronger and more FC is consumed each day. So do the reverse calculation as you see your FC dropping by 0.5-1.0 every few days and raising the %.

 

[voidpointer]

I remember before I used the SWG and had to add liquid CL by hand, it was definitely down more than 1.0 per day. More in the realm of 3.0. So that's one reason why I'm confused by the calculated result.

 

[ajw22]

I remember before I used the SWG and had to add liquid CL by hand, it was definitely down more than 1.0 per day. More in the realm of 3.0. So that's one reason why I'm confused by the calculated result.

Daily FC consumption is going to vary based upon the weather. Best to look at week to week averages then any particular day.

Look at the trend - is it up or down? Make an adjustment and watch the trend. Repeat.

Don't get locked into a number.

 

[Newdude]

Don't micromanage. The name of the easy game is making enough FC. On low loss days you'll make a bit more than you need and that's OK. You're just looking to match or best the general loss of this/that point in the season. It typically follows a bell curve type swing from now until fall. If you find yourself particularly high, say, 10+ FC, then step in and turn the SWG down/off until levels fall within range.

 

[voidpointer]

Thanks guys. I know a lot of this is mindset... I still put too much importance on small numbers. Hopefully I can relax a bit about this as I get more experience. Just yesterday my wife asked me why I'm testing every day lol. I still don't have a good "feel" for my pool yet.

I turned my SWG down from 50% to 30%. That's what got me 1.2 in pool math. I'll just start moving it up/down depending on needs and not worry too much about calculations.

 

[PoolGate]

Thanks guys. I know a lot of this is mindset... I still put too much importance on small numbers. Hopefully I can relax a bit about this as I get more experience. Just yesterday my wife asked me why I'm testing every day lol. I still don't have a good "feel" for my pool yet.

I turned my SWG down from 50% to 30%. That's what got me 1.2 in pool math. I'll just start moving it up/down depending on needs and not worry too much about calculations.

Just don't chase the minimum chlorine level for your CYA reading. Target 10%. And keep in mind there is a fairly large range between the min and max. I have run 15ppm chlorine and it is perfectly fine with my CYA level of 70. I also prefer to run my pump 24x7 at just enough RPMs to keep the SWG happy. So always producing chlorine in small amounts.

 

[Newdude]

Hopefully I can relax a bit about this as I get more experience.

That's *exactly* it. You're learning and processing and by the time the daily loss spikes and you're playing for keeps, you'll be all Pfffffffffffft. FC's a 9. *takes a swig of beverage*

Just yesterday my wife asked me why I'm testing every day lol

Mine happened to see me testing mid summer last year and demanded to know what was wrong. Sweetie. Although it appears like it, the pool doesn't actually maintain itself. I'm just making sure we're good for another while.

 

[voidpointer]

So, I noticed a new problem just now. There's small bubbles coming out of only one return jet in the pool. And it doesn't happen 100% of the time. It comes and goes. Before asking here, I did a google search and found this thread:

Air bubbles out of one jet

I have air bubbles coming out of one of the three jets. The power of the jet is still strong but is pushing air out every few seconds creating bubbles. I am researching and finding that he pump basket has bubbles as well in it (thru the clear plastic where the basket is to collect large debri...

www.troublefreepool.com

I did the following:

• Pull the pump lid off, clean the basket, check the gasket on the lid and on the pump. Clean it all off with my hands and put it back on.
• Checked the pressure on the filter... seems normal
• Checked both skimmers to see if they are sucking air. They don't appear to. One skimmer seems stronger than the other, but it's always been that way.
• Checked water level. It seems to be maybe 0.5-1.0 inch lower than usual, but still high enough in the skimmers I think.

I'm not sure what would be causing it and why it only showed up all of a sudden today.

 

[Newdude]

Champagne bubbles are likely the SWG when it's on. It'll come and go with the cycle times. They often times pick the first exit into the pool.

 

[PoolGate]

SWG produces chlorine and hydrogen gas as a byproduct. You are seeing the hydrogen gas. Yes, it is flammable.

 

[voidpointer]

Oh, that's a relief. I thought I had a leak somewhere.

 

[voidpointer]

So my CL measured at 10 today. It's been going up pretty consistently, despite having changed my SWG from 50% to 30%. This morning I dropped my SWG down to 15% to see if that helps. I find it really weird that CL is going up seemingly just as fast despite lowering the percentage. My pool math logs are available if you want to see them.

I just want to make sure I'm not missing something.

 

[PoolGate]

So my CL measured at 10 today. It's been going up pretty consistently, despite having changed my SWG from 50% to 30%. This morning I dropped my SWG down to 15% to see if that helps. I find it really weird that CL is going up seemingly just as fast despite lowering the percentage. My pool math logs are available if you want to see them.

I just want to make sure I'm not missing something.

Are you doing the drop test? You aren't recording temp on most of your tests either. What is the water temp?

 

[voidpointer]

Are you doing the drop test? You aren't recording temp on most of your tests either. What is the water temp?

Yes. The drop test in the TF-Pro test kit. Water is 64F

 

[PoolGate]

Yes. The drop test in the TF-Pro test kit. Water is 64F

Your history shows a gradual increase of @1 every time you test. At that water temp you aren't using much. No real surprise. Just keep an eye on it so it doesn't drop too low.

 

[voidpointer]

I think the advice I read earlier was to make sure it doesn't go over 10ppm. The upper end of my target range appears to be 11. I'll keep adjusting down until I get a good feel for the behavior. Honestly I'm a little concerned that the SWG is going to be a constant maintenance burden. With all the variables that cause CL consumption (or not), it seems like there's no "set it and forget it" percentage. That I'll be constantly juggling the number based on the numbers.

What I had hoped for is that I could set it to a percentage and leave it alone, and see a consistent CL amount at that percentage. I know that's not the reality, though.

 

[PoolGate]

I think the advice I read earlier was to make sure it doesn't go over 10ppm. The upper end of my target range appears to be 11. I'll keep adjusting down until I get a good feel for the behavior. Honestly I'm a little concerned that the SWG is going to be a constant maintenance burden. With all the variables that cause CL consumption (or not), it seems like there's no "set it and forget it" percentage. That I'll be constantly juggling the number based on the numbers.

What I had hoped for is that I could set it to a percentage and leave it alone, and see a consistent CL amount at that percentage. I know that's not the reality, though.

Actually that is reality. Mine has been set for 52% (mostly) since I bought it 6 seasons ago. If I get too high (like 15) I turn it off for a couple days. Once dialed in you will be set. And again, you can go up to your SLAM level which is 31 for you. You are over-thinking this it is not rocket science just 2 numbers with a fairly large gap between them. Once pool season starts you'll get it dialed in. Would you prefer adding chlorine daily?

 

[voidpointer]

In fairness, it's not just two numbers. There's ideal range, target range, SLAM range (which I didn't even know because I haven't had to do it yet). You are right about me over thinking things. But that's not on purpose, that's just out of ignorance & inexperience.

Of course I wouldn't rather add CL daily. That wasn't the point of what I was saying

 

[PoolGate]

In fairness, it's not just two numbers. There's ideal range, target range, SLAM range (which I didn't even know because I haven't had to do it yet). You are right about me over thinking things. But that's not on purpose, that's just out of ignorance & inexperience.

Of course I wouldn't rather add CL daily. That wasn't the point of what I was saying

I assume you are not changing your pump runtimes, right? I run mine 24x7 because it is the best way to have consistent SWG chlorine production. You are also trying to dial it in off-season when chlorine depletion/usage is not consistent. Once the season starts it will become way more consistent.

 

[Newdude]

+1 to only reacting when FC is a teen. I've lost count of how many times I found it 15 or 17. I lol'd and turned the unit off for a couple of days and went about my way.