New User Here- Trying to Pick a SWG

MorrisseyFan

Member
Jul 27, 2024
16
Bedford, TX
Pool Size
5000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Hi all, new user here, learning a lot already. Have the app and just balanced my pool in preparation for installation of a SWG.

As you all can tell by my information, I have a small pool - a little more than 5,000 gallons I think.

I'm looking at the CircuPool Core 15/35 series and that looks great. Also saw a Pentair iChlor at PaP today which looks nice. I just don't know what's best for my setup.

Any advice is appreciated.
 
Fan,

I am a big fan of Pentair products, be we almost never recommend the iChlor cells... I'd go with the CircuPool unit, or the Pentair IntelliChlor IC20..

CircuPool allows DIY installs, but Pentair does not.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Awesome, the owner at PaP said he'd warranty a DIY for 3 years on the Pentair.

As for CircuPool, any reason to go for the RJ Plus over the Core? Thinking of the Core 35 versus the RJ-30 Plus. The pricing is confusing on these.

The smaller units cost more, which is befuddling. My pool is only 5,000 gallons so the smallest of the Core and RJ series would work I suppose.
 
any reason to go for the RJ Plus over the Core

My pool is only 5,000 gallons so the smallest of the Core and RJ series would work I suppose.
With a 5k pool, I'd get the RJ-20+. The core has 20 or 25% output increments. The RJ has 5% increments. You will be dialing the core up and down a lot more, if you run your pump 24x7.
 
I should have said Core 15, not 20, but the increments are accurate. Core 15 is 25% increments, RJ is 5%.

If you don't run 24x7, then core would likely be fine.

In your pool,
7 hour at 100% with the Core 15 will generate 6FC. 75% = 4.6 FC. 50% = 3.1 and 25% = 1.6.

Would work fine, you would just increase or decrease your % output, then fine tune by adjusting pump time.
 
I should have said Core 15, not 20, but the increments are accurate. Core 15 is 25% increments, RJ is 5%.

If you don't run 24x7, then core would likely be fine.

In your pool,
7 hour at 100% with the Core 15 will generate 6FC. 75% = 4.6 FC. 50% = 3.1 and 25% = 1.6.

Would work fine, you would just increase or decrease your % output, then fine tune by adjusting pump time.
Thank you very much, this place is a fountain of wisdom. Just need to get my CYA up, at least per TFP's recommendations versus Circu's.

My numbers are all in line with Circu's recommendations, but I guess why we're all here TFP's recommendations are better. Need to get my CYA up and TA down if I'm to follow TFP!
 
TA down if I'm to follow TFP!
You don't have to chase TA. The implication of high TA is that it causes pH rise, and can cause an elevated CSI.

Manage your pH, keep it in the 7s. As you add muriated acid to lower pH, it will lower TA. pH will rise on its own. Over time, TA will come down.
 
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You don't have to chase TA. The implication of high TA is that it causes pH rise, and can cause an elevated CSI.

Manage your pH, keep it in the 7s. As you add muriated acid to lower pH, it will lower TA. pH will rise on its own. Over time, TA will come down.
Thanks again. My CYA is 50, and looks like I should get it up to at least 60-70 for my SWG install. That should lower TA a little as well.
 
Regular cyanuric will not raise or lower TA, but it will lower the pH. It lowers the carbonate alkalinity, but raises the cyanurate alkalinity by the same amount as the carbonate alkalinity is lowered. Therefore, the net effect is no change in the total alkalinity.
 
What is your pH?

You need to get your TA about 60 and pH about 7.8 and stable BEFORE you add borates.

Calculate the impact on pH of adding the borates, then take your target for "after pH" and add the impact. Start there with pH
 
What is your pH?

You need to get your TA about 60 and pH about 7.8 and stable BEFORE you add borates.

Calculate the impact on pH of adding the borates, then take your target for "after pH" and add the impact. Start there with pH
I haven't checked since yesterday morning, but it was at 7.6, TA at 100. Thank you very much, borates are very exciting and will add them when I get my TA down.

Additionally, I am thinking of getting the TF-Pro Salt Kit as that seems much better than my K2005.
 

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