I don't think it'll make a big difference black side up.
Regarding the Permasalt system - to each their own, but here at TFP we advocate maintaining your pool by learning how to test your water and then use the test results to maintain your water balance using common chemicals found at your grocery store (for the most part). There is a definite relationship between the amount of stabilizer (cyanuric acid, or CYA) in your water and the amount of chlorine needed to properly sanitize your pool. As the stabilizer level goes up, so does the amount of free chlorine needed. Unfortunately, most low chlorine systems don't take this relationship into account, and as a result you underchlorinate your pool. Since the system is underchlorinating the pool, it must use minerals (copper and silver) as an algaecide, and usually weekly doses of some type of oxidizer to burn off combined chloramines. This might keep the water clear, but doesn't keep it sanitary. I find that is one item we tend to overlook in our zeal for killing or preventing algae - killing and preventing algae isn't the only thing that chlorine does. It also kills pathogens and bacteria in the water as well.
I used to have the Aquasmarte system that was part of the pool package I bought from Watson's. I dutifully changed bacpac's, mineral cartridges, and dumped a weekly dose of MPS in the pool. Everything worked great (or so I thought) until the third or fourth year - then I fought the pool all summer long. I found this forum, read through it, and it all made sense. I've since switched to a saltwater chlorine generator for my pool, and the only thing I've added to my pool this summer was some salt, some CYA, and some borax initially, and some muriatic acid later on when my pH crept up a bit. That's it. Nothing added weekly, no shocking, nada. My SWCG generates the chlorine I need.
As I said earlier, to each their own. I hope that the permasalt system continues to work for you. Unfortunately, given that it's low chlorine mineral system, I can't recommend it's use to forum members.
Regarding the Permasalt system - to each their own, but here at TFP we advocate maintaining your pool by learning how to test your water and then use the test results to maintain your water balance using common chemicals found at your grocery store (for the most part). There is a definite relationship between the amount of stabilizer (cyanuric acid, or CYA) in your water and the amount of chlorine needed to properly sanitize your pool. As the stabilizer level goes up, so does the amount of free chlorine needed. Unfortunately, most low chlorine systems don't take this relationship into account, and as a result you underchlorinate your pool. Since the system is underchlorinating the pool, it must use minerals (copper and silver) as an algaecide, and usually weekly doses of some type of oxidizer to burn off combined chloramines. This might keep the water clear, but doesn't keep it sanitary. I find that is one item we tend to overlook in our zeal for killing or preventing algae - killing and preventing algae isn't the only thing that chlorine does. It also kills pathogens and bacteria in the water as well.
I used to have the Aquasmarte system that was part of the pool package I bought from Watson's. I dutifully changed bacpac's, mineral cartridges, and dumped a weekly dose of MPS in the pool. Everything worked great (or so I thought) until the third or fourth year - then I fought the pool all summer long. I found this forum, read through it, and it all made sense. I've since switched to a saltwater chlorine generator for my pool, and the only thing I've added to my pool this summer was some salt, some CYA, and some borax initially, and some muriatic acid later on when my pH crept up a bit. That's it. Nothing added weekly, no shocking, nada. My SWCG generates the chlorine I need.
As I said earlier, to each their own. I hope that the permasalt system continues to work for you. Unfortunately, given that it's low chlorine mineral system, I can't recommend it's use to forum members.
