When should a Salt cell be cleaned?

[Bill1974]

I converted last year and have been enjoying not having to lug gallons of chlorine.
I installed a CircuPool RJ-60 PLUS and it's been working fine.
Over the winter I stored the cell out of the weather. Hooked it back up a couple of weeks ago.

Should I be doing any maintenance on it periodically? Or just wait for the maintenance light to come on and clean with the recommended muriatic solution?

The plate looks about the same as when it was installed (beginning of last season).

 

[drsipe]

I have had the RJ-60+ for four seasons and I have never done an acid wash of the cell, just install in the spring and remove and store indoor for the winter. From my understanding, you only do the acid wash when you have buildup on the plates. Performing an acid wash when it's not needed is detramental to the plates.

 

[PoolStored]

Should I be doing any maintenance on it periodically? Or just wait for the maintenance light to come on and clean with the recommended muriatic solution?

On the RJ, you can see if scale builds up visually.

Maintain your CSI between -.3 and 0 and you should not get scale.

If you do get scale DO NOT use acid. Here is our cleaning guide:
SWG Cleaning

 

[pjt]

When should a Salt cell be cleaned?

Ideally never. If you maintain a slightly negative CSI (zero to -0.3) the scale buildup will be minimal to none. My cell has seen five years of almost continuous use with no cleaning and has zero buildup.

 

[Uhhello]

What they said. Prior to implementing TFP practices, I wasn't aware of CSI. Fill water was very hard. PH and CH weren't managed. I was seeing flakeoff in the pool very often and was having to clean cell every couple months with large buildups. Since managing on the lower end of CSI, I haven't had to clean the cell in almost two years.

 

[Bill1974]

What is the impact if the CSI is lower than -0.3? Put my guesses of pH (7.4), TA (60) and CH (100) and Temp (65°F) into poolmath and CSI is -1.14. I guessed at the CH level from what it usually is, can't say I check it regularly since I have a vinyl liner and everything else is okay.

 

[PoolStored]

What is the impact if the CSI is lower than -0.3? Put my guesses of pH (7.4), TA (60) and CH (100) and Temp (65°F) into poolmath and CSI is -1.14. I guessed at the CH level from what it usually is, can't say I check it regularly since I have a vinyl liner and everything else is okay.

Nothing in a vinyl liner pool. CSI is used to predict calcium erosion/leaching from plaster pool (low CSI) or scaling (high CSI). A low CSI in a vinyl pool just means the chance of scaling is low

 

[Bill1974]

Nothing in a vinyl liner pool. CSI is used to predict calcium erosion/leaching from plaster pool (low CSI) or scaling (high CSI). A low CSI in a vinyl pool just means the chance of scaling is low

I was fiddling with the pH, TA, CH and temp values in Poolmath to see what I would need to change to get to a -.03 or 0 CSI, and I would need to raise the CH a lot get there. Just wanted to make sure a low CSI would not erode the salt cell sooner or something

 

[PoolStored]

Just wanted to make sure a low CSI would not erode the salt cell sooner or something

It will not. It will keep your cell clean!