Hi! I am interested in converting our pool to a saltwater system soon. Our pool is a 24ft round. Any recommendations?
Saltwater Conversion
- Thread starter violet-mermaid
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 58,499
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
- May 3, 2014
- 58,499
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
- May 3, 2014
- 58,499
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
OK --- you will need to determine what it will take to go hard pipe on the return side. The SWCG needs hard pipe unless you use an Intex style.
For your pool, a 30K rated or higher SWCG would be advisable. A Circupool RJ series would be a good one to look at.
For your pool, a 30K rated or higher SWCG would be advisable. A Circupool RJ series would be a good one to look at.
As @mknauss said, you should hard plumb at least your return (and why not your intake while you are at it). That is not a hard job at all. Many people here can walk you through it. If you own a saw of just about any kind (hacksaw, miter saw, band saw, wood saw), a utility knife, and a tape measure you have all the tools you need.
The Hayward AquaTrol HP (for hose pipe) will adapt to your existing hoses.
As for the equipment itself, I have has a Hayward AquaTrol RJ with a T-5 Cell for 5 or 6 years now in my 27' pool and it works just fine. I would not go into a bigger than 27' pool with that cell, but for your 24' you should be fine. The RJ model is a Return Jet model and mounts vertically into a rigid pipe beneath the return jet.
The Hayward AquaTrol HP (for hose pipe) will adapt to your existing hoses.
As for the equipment itself, I have has a Hayward AquaTrol RJ with a T-5 Cell for 5 or 6 years now in my 27' pool and it works just fine. I would not go into a bigger than 27' pool with that cell, but for your 24' you should be fine. The RJ model is a Return Jet model and mounts vertically into a rigid pipe beneath the return jet.
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You guys are awesome- thank you!!! Looks like this will be our spring project 
Looking into buying this now. If I purchase the AquaTrol RJ, do I only need hard pipe aside from that? This is it, correct?
Where is the best place for pipe? What size and about how much? Thank you!!!
That one is only good up to 18k gallons. Look into Circupool series from discountsaltpools. Rj45 at least.
VinnyinNJ
Bronze Supporter
- Jul 20, 2022
- 815
- Pool Size
- 13500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Turbo Cell (T-CELL-5)
Hard piping is great! Our last pool was not hard piped and it was a pain whenever the piping sprung a leak, I even bought higher grade hoses and it didn't matter.
You can buy hard PVC piping from Home Depot/Lowes or whatever you have locally. Get "schedule 40" piping vs lower grade piping and make sure you get unions and elbows for everything. You may also need screw in fittings for certain areas like at the filter and pool. Make sure you account for the filter and pump. Our pool store hard plumbed the filter to the pump when there should have been a union between the two. I think AG pools are 1 1/2 inches in diameter. How much you need depends on where the filter is in relation to the pool, make sure you get the measurements for any angles; it may be so many feet as a straight run to the pool but any 90 degree angles need piping as well.
The RJ unit stands for Return Jet. It gets mounted vertically just below the return jet to your pool. It has to be hard piped. I think it comes with most if not all of the parts needed to attach it to the return jet.
The reason for this is that there is no flow switch on the RJ unit. If the water flow stops, it will not built up gas because it is mounted vertically just below the return, so the gas will vent.
The HP unit (for Hose Pipe) can be mounted in a hose because it has a flow sensor. It can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, in a dip, etc. since if the flow stops, the unit stops generating gas.
I stopped using unions. They seem to jam up on me, and when the seals fail, or they crack, they are not standard, so you have to cut the old fitting out and plumb in a new one.
Last season I switched to camlock fittings. I used these Polypropylene | Plastic | Poly Camlock Fittings and have been very happy with them.
For my simple above ground pool set up, I use these valves. Amazon.com Not quite as good as a Jandy valve, but they are rebuildable, full port, and head and shoulders above a valve from the big box store.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,775
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I just want to point out that the reason for the varying recommendations for swcg size are that @phonedave lives in a different environment/climate than @violet-mermaid .
What works ok for him in NJ may not cut the mustard in the Deep South Louisiana climate with long hot summers & she may find herself supplementing with liquid chlorine or having to run the unit around the clock which can get pricey with a single speed pump.
Ideally you want a swcg rated for at least 2x’s your pool’s volume so you are not beholden to running it on max% constantly. While some get away with less. The less you need to run it the longer it will live before depleting.
It is no more difficult to install a larger rated swcg with hard pipe near the output of the filter vs directly on the return jet. Just different.
The circupool rj 30 is currently about $100 difference in price from the aquatrol rj depending upon place of purchase but produces twice the chlorine.
Please post some pics of your current equipment setup to get some ideas on what would be the easiest way to accomplish your swcg install.
What works ok for him in NJ may not cut the mustard in the Deep South Louisiana climate with long hot summers & she may find herself supplementing with liquid chlorine or having to run the unit around the clock which can get pricey with a single speed pump.
Ideally you want a swcg rated for at least 2x’s your pool’s volume so you are not beholden to running it on max% constantly. While some get away with less. The less you need to run it the longer it will live before depleting.
It is no more difficult to install a larger rated swcg with hard pipe near the output of the filter vs directly on the return jet. Just different.
The circupool rj 30 is currently about $100 difference in price from the aquatrol rj depending upon place of purchase but produces twice the chlorine.
Please post some pics of your current equipment setup to get some ideas on what would be the easiest way to accomplish your swcg install.
Last edited:
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,775
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
One more thing- you probably already know but….
Before buying & adding salt be sure to test your current salinity! You may be surprised how much you already have.
If you don’t already have it the k1766 salt kit can be had on tftestkits & the annual sale is happening now so its good timing
Before buying & adding salt be sure to test your current salinity! You may be surprised how much you already have.
If you don’t already have it the k1766 salt kit can be had on tftestkits & the annual sale is happening now so its good timing
Ok! Will post pics soon. Is it this kit? TF-100 Salt Test Kit
I definitely can't add any liquid chlorine to the pool once we get the SWG- we are trying to get away from chlorine completely b/c of my son. So whichever system I go with definitely needs to be able to use only salt.
I definitely can't add any liquid chlorine to the pool once we get the SWG- we are trying to get away from chlorine completely b/c of my son. So whichever system I go with definitely needs to be able to use only salt.
We are starting an expensive 4 month treatment for my son and was wondering if I could get away with the Intex Saltwater System for at least this year? We had one on our last pool and it was great, but I don't have anything to compare it to. Thoughts?
The TF100 is a no brainer with 2.7X the supplies of the comp priced k2006.
I cannot reccomend a smart stir enough. It makes thing so much easier, and also improves accuracy such as the salt test that needs many drops. That's alot of swirling.
If you're spending + $44 on the SS, then strongly consider the TFPro salt. (Comp priced to K2006*C*) The cost different goes to the fancy case and you'll appreciate the organization every last time you use it. The TF100 case is functional but is a mess when you stuff the smart stir and salt test in there too. You're forever hunting for that one bottle hidden under another and yeah. It's frustrating.
I cannot reccomend a smart stir enough. It makes thing so much easier, and also improves accuracy such as the salt test that needs many drops. That's alot of swirling.
If you're spending + $44 on the SS, then strongly consider the TFPro salt. (Comp priced to K2006*C*) The cost different goes to the fancy case and you'll appreciate the organization every last time you use it. The TF100 case is functional but is a mess when you stuff the smart stir and salt test in there too. You're forever hunting for that one bottle hidden under another and yeah. It's frustrating.
Yes you do.
If the gallons between the two pools are similar, it will perform the same, and you were happy with it. If you're going with a bigger pool, it'll produce proportionately less FC per day and could be an issue if the new pool is much larger
Will do, thank you! Do you have any thoughts on the Intex System I mentioned above?
