- Jun 15, 2011
- 251
Hello Guys, this is my first time visiting your forum and I would like to say hi and thanks for having me. I just ordered a new filter, ideally it would have been nice to find this forum before I did that but I am where I am. I have been owning a pool, that came with the house about, for a few years. I put a Digital Pool Pilot on it after a while and went to the local pool supplier and blindly did whatever they told me to do and things went along pretty well till lately. I had the water tested about once a month and the pool stayed pretty nice. Just lately, the wheels on the pool equipment are coming off fast.
Current conditions:
Water is clear
No Algae
I am testing chlorine with miserable to read 6 way test strips and adding bleach to raise chlorine almost daily The results are almost some tests are unreadable to me so I just try to use the chlorine and disregard the rest.
Water conditions as tested by the local pool store:
Alkalinity 125 they recommend 80-120 yet told me to leave it alone?
PH 7.94 they told me to add 16oz acid
Chlorine .97 (The SWG is at 100% 8hrs/day and not keeping up, this was never a problem before)
Salt 3100
CYA 78 they recommend 40-100
Calcium Hardness 250 they recommend 100-400 yet told me to raise it?
I have not yet acted on their rocommendations.
I have several questions I'll try to prioritize next:
1: What should I do with the water now?
2: I have a new Hayward 244T sand filter being delivered tomorrow. In a couple of days, I have someone coming in to remove all the pool equipment that is on the ground and re-pour the slab under the equipment. I figure it will take 3-4 days to complete the work and get back on line.
What can I do to keep the pool from turning green while it is off line? Add a lot of chlorine before? Dump some in everyday? Both?
3: I ordered Zeobest or zeolite or whatever they called the stuff, from the people that sold me the filter recommended. Any comments or advice on this stuff?
4: The Digital Pool Pilot SWG, Manufactured in 2007 and was installed in 2008 needed a new tri-sensor under 50% warranty last summer. It is NOW OUT OF WARRANTY and intermittently gives check/clean cell error on power level 2, and low amp error on level 3. On power level 2, 100% it no longer puts out enough chlorine to keep up even though it always did at 50-60% in the past. I tried my friends cell on it and it makes no difference. From what I can see searching on-line, it needs a power supply board that sells for about $400. My question is should I repair the Pool Pilot or replace it with a more reliable model? I asked the pool store I have been using and he told me he would spend the $400 to fix it even though he won't be selling me the part. He also said the other brand he sells is Gold Line and it needs a similar part to the one I need now every 3 years or so and it costs $300. My friend and I bought identical units at the same time and his failed and was replace a couple of months ago. Are all SWG this unreliable or are there better ones than the Pool Pilot out there? All opinions on this one are welcome.
5: I obviously need some kind of test kit. Just from looking around it sounds like I need two, one cheap one for everyday use and one better one for periodic use. The pool store uses some kind of electronic reader that gives a digital readout. Is this available for a home use kind of price? The test strips are almost totally useless to me. Could you recommend exactly what test kits I should buy?
Sorry to come in and write a book full of questions and problems the first time I drop in. Now that I know you are here I'll drop in before things get out of hand.
Thanks In Advance
Current conditions:
Water is clear
No Algae
I am testing chlorine with miserable to read 6 way test strips and adding bleach to raise chlorine almost daily The results are almost some tests are unreadable to me so I just try to use the chlorine and disregard the rest.
Water conditions as tested by the local pool store:
Alkalinity 125 they recommend 80-120 yet told me to leave it alone?
PH 7.94 they told me to add 16oz acid
Chlorine .97 (The SWG is at 100% 8hrs/day and not keeping up, this was never a problem before)
Salt 3100
CYA 78 they recommend 40-100
Calcium Hardness 250 they recommend 100-400 yet told me to raise it?
I have not yet acted on their rocommendations.
I have several questions I'll try to prioritize next:
1: What should I do with the water now?
2: I have a new Hayward 244T sand filter being delivered tomorrow. In a couple of days, I have someone coming in to remove all the pool equipment that is on the ground and re-pour the slab under the equipment. I figure it will take 3-4 days to complete the work and get back on line.
What can I do to keep the pool from turning green while it is off line? Add a lot of chlorine before? Dump some in everyday? Both?
3: I ordered Zeobest or zeolite or whatever they called the stuff, from the people that sold me the filter recommended. Any comments or advice on this stuff?
4: The Digital Pool Pilot SWG, Manufactured in 2007 and was installed in 2008 needed a new tri-sensor under 50% warranty last summer. It is NOW OUT OF WARRANTY and intermittently gives check/clean cell error on power level 2, and low amp error on level 3. On power level 2, 100% it no longer puts out enough chlorine to keep up even though it always did at 50-60% in the past. I tried my friends cell on it and it makes no difference. From what I can see searching on-line, it needs a power supply board that sells for about $400. My question is should I repair the Pool Pilot or replace it with a more reliable model? I asked the pool store I have been using and he told me he would spend the $400 to fix it even though he won't be selling me the part. He also said the other brand he sells is Gold Line and it needs a similar part to the one I need now every 3 years or so and it costs $300. My friend and I bought identical units at the same time and his failed and was replace a couple of months ago. Are all SWG this unreliable or are there better ones than the Pool Pilot out there? All opinions on this one are welcome.
5: I obviously need some kind of test kit. Just from looking around it sounds like I need two, one cheap one for everyday use and one better one for periodic use. The pool store uses some kind of electronic reader that gives a digital readout. Is this available for a home use kind of price? The test strips are almost totally useless to me. Could you recommend exactly what test kits I should buy?
Sorry to come in and write a book full of questions and problems the first time I drop in. Now that I know you are here I'll drop in before things get out of hand.
Thanks In Advance