Astral Pool system problem

[eddiecox]

Hi all,

I've joined initially for support on my own system, but now I know you're here I'm happy to provide support for others if I can offer it.

I have had an Astral pool system for nearly 3 years. The pool itself looks clean and healthy/functional but as you can see, the pump/filter is having some trouble. I'm not too sure what this pump even does, as the other pump seems to pump the water in/out. This might just be another layer of filtering?


This is the Astral BX 2.0 pump. not sure what it does as we have another pump that seems to do everything else. But it has worked in the past.


This is our pump system, the main pump is between the heater and the sand filter. That seems to do everything.

 

[AUSpool]

Hard to tell really without more info. I guess you’ve got a spa, that pump looks like its connected to a spa controller so maybe a booster pump for the spa? How many inlets and outlets to the pool? I can see two inlets to the main pump with a three way valve. It looks like you have two returns from the heater/SWCG?

 

[Jimrahbe]

eddie,

I would "assume" the unknown pump is for a water feature.. Do you have a water fall or slide or ???

Jim R.

 

[eddiecox]

Thanks for your support both of you. I'll try to answer your questions as well as I can so I don't frustrate you. I have labelled the equipment as best as I could, but happy to provide more information if needs:

We do have a spa, which has one of the inputs and outputs to the left of the image. Not sure about the ones to the right of the page.

We don't have a waterfall/slide Jim. Thanks in advance guys,

 

[AUSpool]

That image doesn’t show anything for me, Ive got a stop sign. Does the pump in question run, I’m guessing if the basket is green there is probably a lot of muck and/or algae in the lines too.

 

[ajw22]

The pump in question just takes water from the input line and pumps it to the output line. No filtering or heating of the water and no connection to any of the other pool equipment. You need to find out where the input and output lines go to and then you will understand the purpose of the pump.

 

[eddiecox]

That image doesn’t show anything for me, Ive got a stop sign. Does the pump in question run, I’m guessing if the basket is green there is probably a lot of muck and/or algae in the lines too.

No it isn't running, but it once did. I put algaecide in it to see if that will help clear it. The basket was green, really bad. Cleaned it now. Thanks for your help guys.

 

[eddiecox]

The pump in question just takes water from the input line and pumps it to the output line. No filtering or heating of the water and no connection to any of the other pool equipment. You need to find out where the input and output lines go to and then you will understand the purpose of the pump.

Good advice, something that I am awaiting an answer from the builders. I think it's either: the pump for backwash, but that works without it at the moment so may not be. It could be booster pump - but not entirely sure what that means. Either way it has an inlet and outlet going to it, water is obviously getting in. I've seen it working but kicking myself for not remembering why. I've tried spa, pool regular filtering and backwash. None turning it on. The machine above it is the machine for the bubbles in the spa and when I turn that on it doesn't turn on the pump in question.

 

[AUSpool]

Geday Eddie, firstly where’s my manners, welcome to the forum, you’ll find a wealth of knowledge here. A bunch of people with plenty of experience who are able and willing to help and the principles followed are based on sound chemical principals.

The pump in question appears to be connected to the box next to your chlorinator, a spa controller? Try plugging it in to the PowerPoint directly. I’m assuming that pump runs your spa jets, sucks water from the bottom of the spa somewhere and returns it to the jets in the spa but without more info its hard to tell for sure. If the pump runs when plugged into the power point be careful to run it only if water is running freely. There is an inlet (40mm) to the main pump that is closed off. I don’t think it comes from your second pump but I cant tell for sure. You will damage pumps if running with closed or blocked outlets. It would be a good idea to get someone out to figure out how it all works.

Austral is an Aussie brand and those power points are definitely Aussie. I had a read of the instructions for your chlorinator. It has an acid feeder controlled by a pH probe and I believe the chlorinator cell is controlled by an ORP probe. Neither of which I would use in that fashion. The probes need to be calibrated and replaced as necessary. From Astral the pH probe will be affected by cyanuric acid (CYA) and the ORP probe is affected by calcium hardness (CH), CYA and pH. The acid feeder is configured to dose 2 - 1 diluted acid.

- - - Updated - - -

Good advice, something that I am awaiting an answer from the builders. I think it's either: the pump for backwash, but that works without it at the moment so may not be. It could be booster pump - but not entirely sure what that means. Either way it has an inlet and outlet going to it, water is obviously getting in. I've seen it working but kicking myself for not remembering why. I've tried spa, pool regular filtering and backwash. None turning it on. The machine above it is the machine for the bubbles in the spa and when I turn that on it doesn't turn on the pump in question.

Its not for backwash. Backwash is done with the main pump with the sand filters multi port in the backwash position. Never change the multi port selector with the pump on and never run the pump with the multi port in the closed position.

 

[AUSpool]

If thats Thornlands, QLD, near Cleveland I can stop by and have look if you’d like. Ill send a PM.

One of the basic principals here is self testing with a reliable drop test. I avoid pool shop testing and use Taylor but they are hard to get in Aussie. A lot of the Aussie’s use the kits from Clear Choice Labs.

https://clearchoicelabs.com.au/

 

[eddiecox]

Thanks for all your help Steve. I called my builder and it's all under warranty, and they've contacted Astral. So hopefully I'll hear from Astral soon It is Thornlands near Cleveland Thanks for your kind offer, I may take you up on it should things not move with Astral.