New above ground swcg build

[mentallyinert]

I’ve got a new 13,500 gallon above ground with fresh water and the recommended level of salt (actually 50lbs short of 400 just in case it would go too high) added 3 days ago. I’m not near a pool store and won’t make it for two days and my salt test/k-2000 kit won’t arrive till after that.

The PH is balanced at 7.6 and I went ahead and superchlorinated to 4ppm (oto tested) with 2 pounds of 50% calcium hypochlorite because it was the only thing I could get my hands on. Water is clear and it’s a high of 82 and 86 tomorrow. I’ve got a couple 93% trichloro tablets I could add as well.

I have zero cya, but again no way to test, just assuming it’s not in city water. I do have a jug of Dr Drydens enchance summer which says it eliminates the need for cya but I’m totally unfamiliar with it

Should I turn my rj45+ on and see if it wants more salt or just sit tight with pucks until I can get to the pool store for cya and a proper salt test?

 

[Newdude]

I do have a jug of Dr Drydens enchance summer which says it eliminates the need for cya but I’m totally unfamiliar with it

This is a post from @JoyfulNoise that crummy cell service isn't letting me link at the moment.


As for replacing CYA, that’s not possible. The Dryden Aqua products come from Scotland. They are designed for use in pools with a very different configuration than US pools. Because the EU restricts the use of CYA in pool water, Dryden has developed a line of products and equipment that works with a zero CYA and low FC (FC < 0.8ppm) protocol. It involves the use of advanced filtration techniques (zeolite sand and granular activated carbon), flocculation & coagulants, discharge of agglomerated particles and post filtration injection of small amounts of chlorine. Their UV blocking compound is titanium dioxide nanoparticles suspended in water as TiO2 absorbs UV strongly.

The Dryden system works when ALL of the components are in place just as an automobile only runs properly when all of its parts are in place. Picking and choosing random parts of the system will not work or will have sub-optimal performance.

I say save your money and stick with what works here rather than buying into a fanciful line of products not designed to work with standard US based residential pools.

 

[Newdude]

I have zero cya, but again no way to test,

Fill water has none. If none has been added by tabs or powdered shock, you can add 0 to 30 per PoolMath

If some has been added, calculate how much per poolmath and use that as your starting level.

 

[mknauss]

until I can get to the pool store for cya and a proper salt test?

You can get CYA/stabilizer off Amazon. A proper test kit at TFTestkits.net.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! while you don't want to do too much without your test kit, there are a few things you can rely on:
1 - New water has no CYA, so you should have a sock soaking with granular stabilizer right away. With no CYA in the water, FC will disappear very fast. Pucks will take too long.
2 - New water has no salt, so you should be able to add 3,000 ppm worth of salt now. It needs 24 hrs to fully acclimate before you turn on the SWG. Once the RJ is on, the module will provide its own salt reading. It's not 100% accurate, but will let you know if there's enough salt for the cell to operate.
3 - A pH test is fairly easy and shouldn't be a problem.

I wouldn't worry about the TA right now, even though in IL it's commonly very high. CH should be N/A.

 

[mentallyinert]

This is a post from @JoyfulNoise that crummy cell service isn't letting me link at the moment.


As for replacing CYA, that’s not possible. The Dryden Aqua products come from Scotland. They are designed for use in pools with a very different configuration than US pools. Because the EU restricts the use of CYA in pool water, Dryden has developed a line of products and equipment that works with a zero CYA and low FC (FC < 0.8ppm) protocol. It involves the use of advanced filtration techniques (zeolite sand and granular activated carbon), flocculation & coagulants, discharge of agglomerated particles and post filtration injection of small amounts of chlorine. Their UV blocking compound is titanium dioxide nanoparticles suspended in water as TiO2 absorbs UV strongly.

The Dryden system works when ALL of the components are in place just as an automobile only runs properly when all of its parts are in place. Picking and choosing random parts of the system will not work or will have sub-optimal performance.

I say save your money and stick with what works here rather than buying into a fanciful line of products not designed to work with standard US based residential pools.

Yeah this was just given to me when a friend shut down their pool. I’ll toss it but wasn’t sure if it would work in a pinch

 

[mentallyinert]

Welcome to TFP! while you don't want to do too much without your test kit, there are a few things you can rely on:
1 - New water has no CYA, so you should have a sock soaking with granular stabilizer right away. With no CYA in the water, FC will disappear very fast. Pucks will take too long.
2 - New water has no salt, so you should be able to add 3,000 ppm worth of salt now. It needs 24 hrs to fully acclimate before you turn on the SWG. Once the RJ is on, the module will provide its own salt reading. It's not 100% accurate, but will let you know if there's enough salt for the cell to operate.
3 - A pH test is fairly easy and shouldn't be a problem.

I wouldn't worry about the TA right now, even though in IL it's commonly very high. CH should be N/A.

Is it worth it to drive to town to get cya today or am I good to wait a day or so until I have other errands? It’s about a 50 mile round trip

I’ll go ahead and add the last 50 pounds but I remembered seeing someone say that you should do half what it calls for so you don’t overdo it so I initially held back a little

Ph test I do have and it’s at 7.6

 

[Texas Splash]

Is it worth the drive to get cya added today?

Your call really. Just understand you might need to check FC a couple times throighout the day to ensure it didn't completely disappear. As Marty noted above, there's always Amazon who can deliver to you.

I remembered seeing someone say that you should do half what it calls for so you don’t overdo it

Absolutely. So if you wish to only add about 2,500 ppm worth of salt, that's fine. After 24 hrs the module for the cell will let you know if it's too low for the cell to operate.

 

[Newdude]

Is it worth it to drive to town to get cya today or am I good to wait a day or so until I have other errands? It’s about a 50 mile round trip

That depends on which inconvenience you'd rather have. With no CYA, any FC you add will burn off in an hour or two, so you'll need to add more as it depletes.

It would probably be easier for me to babysit the FC than to take the trip today.