- May 28, 2013
- 12
I have to start off by saying I am new to pool ownership and I am hating it so far.
I installed a SWG because everyone I talked to gave them so much praise. So I put salt in initially with a reading of about 3700ppm on the SWG and Stip indicating approx. 4000ppm. Close enough. My Free chlorine readings were 0 with super chlorination and Total chlorine indicating 1 using strips. Called the guy who installed it and of course he works for a pool service company so I spent the $100 to rid my pool of phosphates. Of course that was before I found this very helpful site and discovered what a waste of money it was.
I ordered the TF-100 test kit which I have not found to be that helpful. I'll save that for another post. I had my water tested at the local Leslies and was told that every chemical with the exception of Chlorine tested in the normal range and matched exactly what my strips said. Water started crystal clear and is still clear but still no Free chlorine on the strips or pool store tests.
So I spend $20 for non-chlorine shock. Again bad advise from someone trying to sell me something. So Free chlorine levels go up to approx. 1.5 per the strips. (didn't have test kit yet) So that was the end of the free chlorine. So I continued to review this sight for help.
I used bleach to shock my pool to try an bring the levels up as suggested and give the SWG the ability to keep the new normal levels stable. I was still waiting for the test kit but basic dropper tests showed Free chlorine greater than 5 and strips showed greater than 10. I am finally getting somewhere until. Bleach wheres off and the rain starts. I had to waste some water but maybe only 6 inches. Now the salt level on the SWG shows low. 1800ppm steady indication. Strip shows 2300ppm.
I used the pool calculator which indicated about 240lbs of salt. I put in 200lbs just to see what it would do. Now the generator indicates Salt to Hi so no generation. I test with the salt strips and get a reading of 4500ppm. So I let it recirculate for a couple of days to see if it had not mixed enough. Salt still indicates through the roof. So I dump approx. 9 in from the pool and fill with fresh water.
Now the SWG indicates HI for salt content and the strips show approx. 1900ppm. I don't know what to do at this point. I have added bleach to try and bring the levels up until I can get the salt right and start generating chlorine with the SWG. The same amount of bleach that was added the first time was added again and the TF-100 kit shows no free chlorine. At this point I am so lost I don't know where to begin.
I can't figure out how to know if my SWG is wrong or if the strips are wrong or why my chlorine levels are nonexistent after adding enough chlorine to shock the pool. Someone please help me. I am so frustrated and I wan't my kids to enjoy the first summer with a pool. I am working long hours right now so please be patient with me. I don't know where else to go. The Pros just want my money and the test results are all over the place. Sorry for the length but you need to know everything. The PH has always been normal 7.2-7.6.
Thanks in advance.
I installed a SWG because everyone I talked to gave them so much praise. So I put salt in initially with a reading of about 3700ppm on the SWG and Stip indicating approx. 4000ppm. Close enough. My Free chlorine readings were 0 with super chlorination and Total chlorine indicating 1 using strips. Called the guy who installed it and of course he works for a pool service company so I spent the $100 to rid my pool of phosphates. Of course that was before I found this very helpful site and discovered what a waste of money it was.
I ordered the TF-100 test kit which I have not found to be that helpful. I'll save that for another post. I had my water tested at the local Leslies and was told that every chemical with the exception of Chlorine tested in the normal range and matched exactly what my strips said. Water started crystal clear and is still clear but still no Free chlorine on the strips or pool store tests.
So I spend $20 for non-chlorine shock. Again bad advise from someone trying to sell me something. So Free chlorine levels go up to approx. 1.5 per the strips. (didn't have test kit yet) So that was the end of the free chlorine. So I continued to review this sight for help.
I used bleach to shock my pool to try an bring the levels up as suggested and give the SWG the ability to keep the new normal levels stable. I was still waiting for the test kit but basic dropper tests showed Free chlorine greater than 5 and strips showed greater than 10. I am finally getting somewhere until. Bleach wheres off and the rain starts. I had to waste some water but maybe only 6 inches. Now the salt level on the SWG shows low. 1800ppm steady indication. Strip shows 2300ppm.
I used the pool calculator which indicated about 240lbs of salt. I put in 200lbs just to see what it would do. Now the generator indicates Salt to Hi so no generation. I test with the salt strips and get a reading of 4500ppm. So I let it recirculate for a couple of days to see if it had not mixed enough. Salt still indicates through the roof. So I dump approx. 9 in from the pool and fill with fresh water.
Now the SWG indicates HI for salt content and the strips show approx. 1900ppm. I don't know what to do at this point. I have added bleach to try and bring the levels up until I can get the salt right and start generating chlorine with the SWG. The same amount of bleach that was added the first time was added again and the TF-100 kit shows no free chlorine. At this point I am so lost I don't know where to begin.
I can't figure out how to know if my SWG is wrong or if the strips are wrong or why my chlorine levels are nonexistent after adding enough chlorine to shock the pool. Someone please help me. I am so frustrated and I wan't my kids to enjoy the first summer with a pool. I am working long hours right now so please be patient with me. I don't know where else to go. The Pros just want my money and the test results are all over the place. Sorry for the length but you need to know everything. The PH has always been normal 7.2-7.6.
Thanks in advance.