- Jul 17, 2013
- 4
We have a new SWG. We used one for 4 years with off and on success. The manufacturer of that unit is no longer building SWG's. We tried using chemicals and tabs (I am new and just read BBB which I LOVE and intend to try) but finally decided to buy a new SWG as we travel often and have algae problems frequently without a SWG. We installed the new one and everything was ok for about a month. Then, we started getting algae problems and noticed our pool FC was 0. We would put tabs and shock in, clear it up, run the system for 24 hours a day and then go back to normal. After running on just the SWG for 1 week, there would be no FC. Many calls back and forth to the manufacturer had them blaming everything from phosphates to nitrates to algae. We jumped through every hoop they asked us to, got all levels down to within normal ranges, verified chemistry at a pool store as they asked and still have 0 FC. We then installed a valve on the downstream side of the cell about 1 foot away from the cell itself. My theory is that even if algae is a problem or chemistry is out of balance, I should still read some FC if I test directly off the cell. Even with all chemistry normal and no visible algae in the pool and having cleaned our filters 3 weeks ago, the FC still reads 0 on the outlet valve. The SWG manufacturer claims that since you can see a 'cloud' in the unit, it has to be producing chlorine. But why can't I read any chlorine when testing less than a foot from the cell?
Latest chemistry directly from the valve next to the cell:
FC - 0
TC - 0
Salt - 4100 ppm (SWG manufacturer asked us to raise it to see if the unit would work better - we originally had it at 3500ppm)
Calcium - 220 ppm
CYA - 65 ppm
TA - 110 ppm
pH - 7.5
Phosphates - 0
Nitrates - 0
No visible algae. Water isn't crystal clear but the deep end is visible.
I don't know whether we are doing something wrong or the unit just doesn't work. They say it has to be working since we see a cloud but then what is consuming my chlorine that fast? Our pool is a 22,000 gallon pool. The SWG is rated for 30,000 gallons. We are running it 12 hours a day at 80%. Any advice is appreciated!
Latest chemistry directly from the valve next to the cell:
FC - 0
TC - 0
Salt - 4100 ppm (SWG manufacturer asked us to raise it to see if the unit would work better - we originally had it at 3500ppm)
Calcium - 220 ppm
CYA - 65 ppm
TA - 110 ppm
pH - 7.5
Phosphates - 0
Nitrates - 0
No visible algae. Water isn't crystal clear but the deep end is visible.
I don't know whether we are doing something wrong or the unit just doesn't work. They say it has to be working since we see a cloud but then what is consuming my chlorine that fast? Our pool is a 22,000 gallon pool. The SWG is rated for 30,000 gallons. We are running it 12 hours a day at 80%. Any advice is appreciated!