I have a pentair intellicenter system for pool automation. Has anyone figured out a solid way to automate muratic or cya acids to pools? The pentair intellichem has horribles reviews everywhere including this forum.
Automating chemical addition to pools?
- Thread starter Macmann
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 58,517
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
For the addition of muriatic acid, you can use a Stenner pump and tank and add so much each day. You do need to test the pH and TA regularly to be sure you are adding the correct amount of acid each day.
No method to add CYA as far as I know. Test the CYA each month and add as necessary.
No method to add CYA as far as I know. Test the CYA each month and add as necessary.
I will just input my experience with the intellichem (connected to intellicenter) I've had for about 3 years to balance out the negatives a bit. Its really very good at maintaining pH when dosing is setup right. I havent done anything to mine for over a year other than adding acid to the tank.
I use a SWG and ORP to control chlorine. After much experimentation, I now have a system working pretty well but not perfect, based on ORP control. The key is low CYA, like 15.
Some folks have used liquid chlorine dosing with the intellichem with great success.
Intellichem is far from perfect. There are things I'd like to be able to do remotely that you just can't, but once dialed in it really does work. The pool I maintain is not in my backyard and intellichem has basically reduced my visits to the pool to once every few weeks.
FWIW
reggiehammond
Gold Supporter
- Oct 4, 2020
- 1,509
- Pool Size
- 30000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Curious about this - aren't you just causing much more wear and tear on your SWCG by needing to run that much harder? Most SWCG owners in warm climates like yours run much much higher CYA, which allows the SWCG to work less.
reggiehammond
Gold Supporter
- Oct 4, 2020
- 1,509
- Pool Size
- 30000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Are you trying to target really low FC?
With proper CYA, I adjust my SWCG 2-3 times per year. I don't see any inconvenience there...
- Jun 24, 2021
- 7,509
- Pool Size
- 30000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60
The basic problem is that an ORP sensor does not know how much CL is bound with CYA that can be freed as needed. As a result ORP system with high CYA will think that CL is low when it is not. An ORP system cannot work as designed with high CYA levels.
No real issue running CYA at 15 and using SWCG as @scottts is doing. It also doesn't run the cell "harder." A cell is on or off. If you mean running the cell longer, you are correct...it will run longer. Sounds like the convenience is worth the price to @scottts.
Enjoy the pool!
Instead of the IntelliChem there is also the IntellipH from Pentair.
The member below has a Stenner pump and tank for sale and you can look at the REM Chem controller for DIY automation.
For Sale: Stenner Pump and Tank
Hi all, I have a Stenner E20PHG 71S7 peristaltic pump with a 15-gallon tank that was in use inside for about a year as part of a hydrogen peroxide dosing system to remove iron from well water. I ended up switching to an ozonation system which was worked much better for that purpose, and now...
www.troublefreepool.com
jimbethesda
Gold Supporter
- Jul 2, 2018
- 648
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I have IntelliPH without IntelliChem. IntelliPH requires you to test PH and then adjust the acid output manually. It doses every hour at the % you set in the control panel. As others have pointed out, the IntelliChem sensors have issues. I recommend IntelliPH or making your own. It’s made my pool maintenance much easier.
Last edited:
Similar threads
