I didn't close my vinyl pool over winter, and I ran my pump a couple of hours every morning to try to keep it clean. Last week, I ran the robot bottom cleaner three days to remove 3 months of dirt on the bottom. However, the IC40 showed Low Salt (water temp is 62), and no Status LED lit up. I measured 2400 ppm salt with the Taylor Salt Test; FC with the Taylor K-1000 color test measured <0.5.
So, based on Pool Math, I added two bags of salt and a pound of dichlor (BioGuard smart shock--first time I'd ever added chlorine to the pool), which should have raised the FC to ~9. (I figured more than usual wouldn't hurt after having added none for 3 months!) I waited 2 days and measured FC and Salt again: FC was still <0.5, but salt had increased to 3400 ppm. However, the IC40 still said Low Salt. I called Pentair Tech Support, which suggested I replace the IC40's flow switch. I did that today, and it seems to be working properly (Salt Level, Cell, and Flow all read Good)!
But, since my pool's FC was essentially 0 from having none made in 3 months, I need to raise FC up to ~4 ppm. Both Pool Math and the SWCG spreadsheet say if I want 4 ppm FC, and run the SWCG at 100%, I need to run the pump for 4.635 hours for my estimated 8100 gal pool. This sure seems like a short run time to raise FC from 0 to 4! Is this correct? Also, does it matter whether I run the pump at low (1150 rpm) or high (2350 rpm) speed? I understand the IC40's %Output is percent of run time. I'm just trying to understand what matters and what doesn't. Other than running more water through the sand filter, does a higher pump speed contribute anything? My plan, after I get the chemistry established at good levels, is to run the pump at Low speed (1150 rpm) for two 2-hour sessions/day, with IC40 at 60%; this would give a daily FC replenishment of 2.07 ppm. Last summer (my first with a pool), I ran my pump only 2 hours/day, at 1500 rpm, but I had to run the IC40 at 80% or 100% a lot, to keep up.
I welcome your comments and suggestions.
So, based on Pool Math, I added two bags of salt and a pound of dichlor (BioGuard smart shock--first time I'd ever added chlorine to the pool), which should have raised the FC to ~9. (I figured more than usual wouldn't hurt after having added none for 3 months!) I waited 2 days and measured FC and Salt again: FC was still <0.5, but salt had increased to 3400 ppm. However, the IC40 still said Low Salt. I called Pentair Tech Support, which suggested I replace the IC40's flow switch. I did that today, and it seems to be working properly (Salt Level, Cell, and Flow all read Good)!
But, since my pool's FC was essentially 0 from having none made in 3 months, I need to raise FC up to ~4 ppm. Both Pool Math and the SWCG spreadsheet say if I want 4 ppm FC, and run the SWCG at 100%, I need to run the pump for 4.635 hours for my estimated 8100 gal pool. This sure seems like a short run time to raise FC from 0 to 4! Is this correct? Also, does it matter whether I run the pump at low (1150 rpm) or high (2350 rpm) speed? I understand the IC40's %Output is percent of run time. I'm just trying to understand what matters and what doesn't. Other than running more water through the sand filter, does a higher pump speed contribute anything? My plan, after I get the chemistry established at good levels, is to run the pump at Low speed (1150 rpm) for two 2-hour sessions/day, with IC40 at 60%; this would give a daily FC replenishment of 2.07 ppm. Last summer (my first with a pool), I ran my pump only 2 hours/day, at 1500 rpm, but I had to run the IC40 at 80% or 100% a lot, to keep up.
I welcome your comments and suggestions.
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I let the pump run at low speed (1150 rpm) 2 hrs last night and 2 hrs this morning, and then measured FC a few hours later. The level had risen to the predicted level!