Water flow logistics

[DuaneR]

New to the community! We have a new 6000 gallon pool with a small 500 gallon spillover spa with good chemistry and clear clean water. Doing 4 x 1 hour pool filtering, 4 x 30 min spa filtering per day. Also use spillover mode a couple times per day to mix water between the 2 water bodies. First mistake I made was to toggle the return flow Jandy valve to split between pool and spa. I knew I had to manually switch it back… but then came the day I forgot and my spa filter program kicked in and drained the spa, IYKYK why that happened. Luckily I caught it right when it happened so pump is ok. I have ordered the Jandy smartJVA module to hopefully automatically put filter mode in 50/50 return but then revert back to full pool or spa return when I use the heater to heat the pool or spa.
So the question is this. I have 2 separate bodies of water using 1 heater, filter and circ pump. Should I filter separately or use the spillover to mix the 2? Will this keep chemistry more balanced? The reason I am filtering separately and not using spillover all the time is because I don’t have a variable speed pump - don’t ask- and the spillover is very loud and way too much flow, it’s a 24” waterfall drop into the pool and very noisy. I’m hoping this smart JVA module will slow down the volume over the spillway by allowing me to split return pool and spa in filtering mode, then I don’t need to use spillover mode on the iAquaLink. I have an issue with Spillover mode but that’s another discussion.

 

[ajw22]

I think you are making things more complex then they need to be.

One pool run of whatever length for filtering and skimming daily is sufficient.

Then running your spa spillover twice a day, morning and early afternoon, to refresh the spa water.

How do you chlorinate your pool?

 

[HermanTX]

Welcome To TFP.
First - your total volume is 6500 gals because the spa spills over to the pool so when you treat water with chlorine or Muriatic Acid you need to consider total volume.

Since you are currently running it separately is your SWCG positioned before the valve directing return to either pool or spa? If so, do you have your SWCG for % output set lower for spa then for pool?

Using the spillover will help keep the total system balanced. Run it for 15 mins in morning and another 15 mins in afternoon.

You can adjust the stop on the current valve to be open 10% to spa and balance to pool but his would be constant spillover flow. That is not what you want.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Duane,

The idea that you have to "turnover" your pool water X times a day is just a big myth and not at all true.

Normally, Pools with Spas, rely on the spillover to keep fresh chlorinated water in the Spa.

I also suspect that your "Good Chemistry" is not at all what we would call good, even if your water is currently clear..

Living in California, and not have a VS pump, is a huge, huge mistake. I have a 3 HP IntelliFlo that runs 24/7, mostly at 1200 RPM, for way less than $20 bucks a month... I just notice that you have a SWCG.. this makes not have a VS pump 2 x worse...

You should check out our Pool School and see what we are all about...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[DuaneR]

Duane,

The idea that you have to "turnover" your pool water X times a day is just a big myth and not at all true.

Normally, Pools with Spas, rely on the spillover to keep fresh chlorinated water in the Spa.

I also suspect that your "Good Chemistry" is not at all what we would call good, even if your water is currently clear..

Living in California, and not have a VS pump, is a huge, huge mistake. I have a 3 HP IntelliFlo that runs 24/7, mostly at 1200 RPM, for way less than $20 bucks a month... I just notice that you have a SWCG.. this makes not have a VS pump 2 x worse...

You should check out our Pool School and see what we are all about...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Yes I know and will look into a VS soon. Our pool builder wouldn’t budge with us about wanting a VS. Pentair sent us new DOE reports on smaller pools can use single speed under 1.15 HP… so on the cheap he used the 1.1HP. I know everyone will jump that CA requires anything 1 HP and over has to be VS but there are interpretations of that with new DOE efficient pumps. I found out the hard way, so for now stuck with a single speed. We are in the IID also, little less expensive power. I have the Taylor 2006 salt kit so pool chemistry is good. Still learning and will check into pool school, appreciate your comments!

 

[DuaneR]

Welcome To TFP.
First - your total volume is 6500 gals because the spa spills over to the pool so when you treat water with chlorine or Muriatic Acid you need to consider total volume.

Since you are currently running it separately is your SWCG positioned before the valve directing return to either pool or spa? If so, do you have your SWCG for % output set lower for spa then for pool?

Using the spillover will help keep the total system balanced. Run it for 15 mins in morning and another 15 mins in afternoon.

You can adjust the stop on the current valve to be open 10% to spa and balance to pool but his would be constant spillover flow. That is not what you want.

Correct, my pool is probably little under 6000 so was using round numbers. My return is after the SWG, but cannot change unless I manually change % output. Same generation going to pool and spa, it is not on the IAqualink. If I set cams
to 10% spa, what happens when I call for heat for pool or spa only? Won’t I be returning to both? Thanks for the input on using spillover to mix, made sense to me. Thank you!

 

[ajw22]

If I set cams
to 10% spa, what happens when I call for heat for pool or spa only? Won’t I be returning to both? Thanks for the input on using spillover to mix, made sense to me. Thank you!

In POOL mode 90% pool/10% spa.

In SPA mode 100% to spa.

When you heat in POOL mode you would heat 10% more water which will spillover into the pool. Really should not be a big impact in heating the pool with 90/10.

 

[HermanTX]

My return is after the SWG, but cannot change unless I manually change % output. Same generation going to pool and spa, it is not on the IAqualink.

What do you mean by “…. It is not on the iAqualink“
See my screen shots

 

[DuaneR]

I think you are making things more complex then they need to be.

One pool run of whatever length for filtering and skimming daily is sufficient.

Then running your spa spillover twice a day, morning and early afternoon, to refresh the spa water.

How do you chlorinate your pool?

SWG

In POOL mode 90% pool/10% spa.

In SPA mode 100% to spa.

When you heat in POOL mode you would heat 10% more water which will spillover into the pool. Really should not be a big impact in heating the pool with 90/10

What do you mean by “…. It is not on the iAqualink“
See my screen shots
View attachment 537010View attachment 537011

I have the RS PS4, doesn’t have salt chlorination capabilities.

 

[HermanTX]

I have the RS PS4, doesn’t have salt chlorination capabilities.

So how do you have the SWCG connected? Is it an independent box?
Do you use a RS485 control wire?

Show a screen shot of your menu for the iAquaLink, similar to what I showed

 

[DuaneR]

So how do you have the SWCG connected? Is it an independent box?
Do you use a RS485 control wire?

Show a screen shot of your menu for the iAquaLink, similar to what I showed

Yes, separate box. Manually dial in %. No control wire. Photo of the iAquaLink I have pool/spa no salt control, top line.

 

[ajw22]

What model SWG do you have?

 

[DuaneR]

What model SWG do you have?

Hayward AquaRite 900

 

[ajw22]

Hayward AquaRite 900

Read Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading for how you can hookup your Aquarite to be controlled by your iAqualink.

 

[DuaneR]

Read Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading for how you can hookup your Aquarite to be controlled by your iAqualink.

Wow! Glad I reached out. Should have known a module would be out there somewhere. Thank you for the link.