First time start-up, AGP w SWG, my plan (feedback welcome)

[jmhawkins]

Okay, so first time pool owner, Intex ABP with an Intex SWG.

I filled the pool with well water. Test results after filling (before doing anything else);
TA: 130
pH: 7.6
TH: 130 (double-checked to make sure I hadn't just written the same number down twice)
Iron: 0ppm
Copper: 0ppm
Lead: 0ppm

Next I added HTH Cal-Hypo Shock. Possibly a mistake now that I've read more on TFP, but it's done. After circulating for a few hours, I added CYA and got to CYA: 80ppm. Salt in next and let circulate for 24 hours. Salt reading was 3320ppm.

I turned on the SWG. Here I made another slight mistake. I misread the manufacturer's chart for how many hours to run it - I read the line above which was for a considerably larger pool, so I had it set for twice the recommended run time. Plus I hit Boost. So next day my FC was over 30.

So anyway, FC is a bit high and TA is a bit high. QUESTION: should I just leave the SWG off until the FC levels get down around 10? (my target for cy CYA levels is 6 to 11 according to TFP charts).

For TA, my plan is I'll just leave it be and whenever pH gets up to 7.8 or so, I'll dose with Muriatic acid to get pH down to 7.3 - 7.4 and let that gradually pull down TA.

So far, the water looks fantastic, FC has been slowly falling, and pH is very slowly rising.

 

[HermanTX]

Okay, so first time pool owner, Intex ABP with an Intex SWG.

I filled the pool with well water. Test results after filling (before doing anything else);
TA: 130
pH: 7.6
TH: 130 (double-checked to make sure I hadn't just written the same number down twice)
Iron: 0ppm
Copper: 0ppm
Lead: 0ppm

Next I added HTH Cal-Hypo Shock. Possibly a mistake now that I've read more on TFP, but it's done. After circulating for a few hours, I added CYA and got to CYA: 80ppm. Salt in next and let circulate for 24 hours. Salt reading was 3320ppm.

I turned on the SWG. Here I made another slight mistake. I misread the manufacturer's chart for how many hours to run it - I read the line above which was for a considerably larger pool, so I had it set for twice the recommended run time. Plus I hit Boost. So next day my FC was over 30.

So anyway, FC is a bit high and TA is a bit high. QUESTION: should I just leave the SWG off until the FC levels get down around 10? (my target for cy CYA levels is 6 to 11 according to TFP charts).

For TA, my plan is I'll just leave it be and whenever pH gets up to 7.8 or so, I'll dose with Muriatic acid to get pH down to 7.3 - 7.4 and let that gradually pull down TA.

So far, the water looks fantastic, FC has been slowly falling, and pH is very slowly rising.

Good Plan.
Cal Hypo adds calcium which is not needed with your AGP. Turn off SWCG for a while but test daily. Keep FC on the high range of the FC level for CYA of 80ppm

Just curious - how are you testing? Do you have a recommended test kit?
Test Kits Compared

 

[Newdude]

should I just leave the SWG off until the FC levels get down around 10?

Yes.

my target for cy CYA levels is 6 to 11 according to TFP charts

SWG pools swing just like LC pools do. For some who only run a short time during the day with a large unit, it's less, but most will see at least some difference throughout the day. So no matter how FC is added, timing of the test is almost as important as how much is added today.

If you test a 6 ppm after the days loss occurred, you're golden. If you're testing 6ppm in the morning, you haven't experienced the daily loss yet and it may or may not be enough.

Always think of timing when you see the FC range. It's not that anywhere in there is fine. You start high, and end free and clear of minimum at the end of the day. How high is determined by the recent loss of that point in the season. 3ppm may be a week long dose in the early/late season, or it could be a 3 hour dose in August at lunchtime.

It looks like your SWG makes 22 FC per day. It's probably close enough to estimate 1 per hour. Road test it and see if that works.

 

[jmhawkins]

Good Plan.
Cal Hypo adds calcium which is not needed with your AGP. Turn off SWCG for a while but test daily. Keep FC on the high range of the FC level for CYA of 80ppm

Just curious - how are you testing? Do you have a recommended test kit?
Test Kits Compared

I am waiting for my TF to show up, so I'm using a kit I got at the local ACE hardware store and a set of strips that came with the pool in the meantime.

 

[jmhawkins]

If you test a 6 ppm after the days loss occurred, you're golden. If you're testing 6ppm in the morning, you haven't experienced the daily loss yet and it may or may not be enough.

I've been testing both in the morning and evening (hey, it's new! I'm having fun!). I was hoping to see what the drop during the day might be, but I'm still off the scale until it drops a little more, so I can't really tell (I have a TF test kit coming, but not here yet, so my accuracy is suspect). Once things level out, is evening the best time to run the SWG (it's an inexpensive Intex, no pct setting, just number of hours)? Let the sun burn off the FC then replenish it in the evening?

It looks like your SWG makes 22 FC per day. It's probably close enough to estimate 1 per hour. Road test it and see if that works.

As soon as I can test a little more accurately, I'll update with new numbers. Meantime, I'll leave the SWG off until I get FC a little lower. It hasn't been super sunny the last week (Puget Sound area), but we're supposed to have some nice hot weather later this week (plus the kids have a party planned), so I should start using some FC soon.

Thank you for the help.

 

[Newdude]

I've been testing both in the morning and evening (hey, it's new! I'm having fun!)

GREAT !!!! I've been testing my new pool way more than the old one for the same reason.

Wait till you see the real kit.

Once things level out, is evening the best time to run the SWG (it's an inexpensive Intex, no pct setting, just number of hours)? Let the sun burn off the FC then replenish it in the evening?

Totally up to you. There's probably as many opinions here as there are members, and nobody is wrong. If you produce only at night, as many do with tiered electric rates, then the pool is exposed to full FC swing like a liquid chlorine pool. It's totally OK, but needs to be planned around.

Or you can run it mid day for a more level result while still considering the low point.

Thank you for the help.

We got you.

 

[jmhawkins]

Well, turns out I had my TF kit after all. I got to thinking "it should've been here by now" so I checked my account and it showed up as delivered. A few questions around the house and I discovered my wife had put the box in my office (which is also my maker space and has boxes and boxes of supplies) and forgot to tell me. So, found it and ran the Chlorine drop test. 23.5ppm FC and 0 CC this AM. I'll run again this evening (without running the SWG) to see what losses are (will also have a few kids in the pool today).

 

[HermanTX]

Well, turns out I had my TF kit after all. I got to thinking "it should've been here by now" so I checked my account and it showed up as delivered. A few questions around the house and I discovered my wife had put the box in my office (which is also my maker space and has boxes and boxes of supplies) and forgot to tell me. So, found it and ran the Chlorine drop test. 23.5ppm FC and 0 CC this AM. I'll run again this evening (without running the SWG) to see what losses are (will also have a few kids in the pool today).

While the SWCG is off, take the FC test in the evening (after dark and after swimmers have finished), then do another FC test early morning before sun hits the pool. Always good to have a confirmed Overnight Chlorine Loss Test test since you are doing the evening test regardless.