Hello everyone!
I joined TFP years ago and asked a couple of questions last year about pump size, I think. What a wonderfully helpful site!
Here's my issue. I did a lot of research about whether to use a SWCG V chlorine and last year opted for saltwater due to all the usual factors (it's less effort, it's cheaper (once you've bought the SWCG), saltwater feels nice, etc...). I did have concerns about saltwater getting in the ground, because our half acre is full of fruit trees and has two huge pecans. But I rationalized my choice by deciding I wouldn't drain my pool, it would be a one-off fill up and, if I ever needed to drain the pool, I had a spot where I could drain it just the once without affecting anything too much (and then I'd douse the ground with well water to wash the salt away...).
As you're all a lot more informed and experienced than I am, you will have noticed I forgot about backwashing, which we have had to do quite regularly because of all the tree debris and bug debris that gets in the pool, and that the vacuum misses.
Until the other day I didn't make the connection that we were backwashing saltwater regularly, and that the water was not draining where I was expecting, which was supposed to have been out onto some scrubby grass and concrete, but instead was travelling down the slight incline to an orange tree, and possibly a pecan. Very bad news. I just can't run a saltwater pool anymore because I can see the backwashing's going to kill our fruit trees, if it hasn't already.
My realization coincided with our SWCG dying, despite our best efforts at CPR, which then got me thinking 'Maybe I should not replace it and just go with a regular, chlorine pool?' That way backwashing won't be an issue for my beloved yard plants and trees.
The thing is, my Intex pool's water is still salty. Can I just switch to doing the chlorine thing with the salt in there? I realize that over time the salt will leave the pool as I backwash some more and replace the water with fresh.
Is there going to be anything fiddly to do or consider if I just switch my pool maintenance regime to chemical, whilst having a salty pool?
I have the TF100 but haven't used it yet. I've just been using 6 way test strips because I'm lazy and the pool looked and felt nice and I couldn't be bothered to do more detailed testing. Since the SWG died a few days ago I've been dumping 7 cups of bleach in the pool every night, to shock it, while I decide what to do. I have no stabilizer or anything else in the pool yet. By the time the Florida summer sun has shone on the pool for a few hours every morning, the chlorine is all but gone, but the water is absolutely clear and feels good for now. However, I need to move onto the chemical maintenance regime asap, once I know it's OK to do so with the salt.
Any advice or thoughts are most welcome!
Thanks everyone!
I joined TFP years ago and asked a couple of questions last year about pump size, I think. What a wonderfully helpful site!
Here's my issue. I did a lot of research about whether to use a SWCG V chlorine and last year opted for saltwater due to all the usual factors (it's less effort, it's cheaper (once you've bought the SWCG), saltwater feels nice, etc...). I did have concerns about saltwater getting in the ground, because our half acre is full of fruit trees and has two huge pecans. But I rationalized my choice by deciding I wouldn't drain my pool, it would be a one-off fill up and, if I ever needed to drain the pool, I had a spot where I could drain it just the once without affecting anything too much (and then I'd douse the ground with well water to wash the salt away...).
As you're all a lot more informed and experienced than I am, you will have noticed I forgot about backwashing, which we have had to do quite regularly because of all the tree debris and bug debris that gets in the pool, and that the vacuum misses.
Until the other day I didn't make the connection that we were backwashing saltwater regularly, and that the water was not draining where I was expecting, which was supposed to have been out onto some scrubby grass and concrete, but instead was travelling down the slight incline to an orange tree, and possibly a pecan. Very bad news. I just can't run a saltwater pool anymore because I can see the backwashing's going to kill our fruit trees, if it hasn't already.
My realization coincided with our SWCG dying, despite our best efforts at CPR, which then got me thinking 'Maybe I should not replace it and just go with a regular, chlorine pool?' That way backwashing won't be an issue for my beloved yard plants and trees.
The thing is, my Intex pool's water is still salty. Can I just switch to doing the chlorine thing with the salt in there? I realize that over time the salt will leave the pool as I backwash some more and replace the water with fresh.
Is there going to be anything fiddly to do or consider if I just switch my pool maintenance regime to chemical, whilst having a salty pool?
I have the TF100 but haven't used it yet. I've just been using 6 way test strips because I'm lazy and the pool looked and felt nice and I couldn't be bothered to do more detailed testing. Since the SWG died a few days ago I've been dumping 7 cups of bleach in the pool every night, to shock it, while I decide what to do. I have no stabilizer or anything else in the pool yet. By the time the Florida summer sun has shone on the pool for a few hours every morning, the chlorine is all but gone, but the water is absolutely clear and feels good for now. However, I need to move onto the chemical maintenance regime asap, once I know it's OK to do so with the salt.
Any advice or thoughts are most welcome!
Thanks everyone!
