Hi,
I'm a new pool owner, pool was filled about 5 weeks ago. Up until last week I was manually adding dichlor and dry acid to keep the pool balanced, and didn't have any issues.
Last week I added salt to 4000 ppm in preparation for the installation of a SWG, after adding the salt I had issues with FC dropping much faster than usual, and a few times it had dropped to zero before I got more dichlor added.
Mid week I noticed the water also started to look a bit dull, not being sufficiently familiar with the pool, I didn't think it could be algae, but instead added a 'clear tab' to the skimmer, the next day the water started looking better, so I thought it was just dust or something.
The SWG was installed Thursday , and the installer set it to 20% output as we have a cover on the pool at all times it is not used. Friday evening FC had dropped to 0.6, so I cranked the SWG up to 100% and increased the pump run hours a little to ~7 hours a day. Over night after the pump running for 5 hours FC had increased to 1.6 Saturday morning.
We're out of town for a family event over the weekend, but reading TFP yesterday I got really worried if we have the start of an algae outbreak, especially as we're going away on Tuesday evening. Not being there to look myself, or do a water sample I had a friend drive by and put the pump on manual so it and the SWG runs 24 hours a day until we're back Sunday evening - while the SWG probably cannot raise the FC enough to do a SLAM, it has got to help - PoolMath says running it at 100% for 24 hours should raise FC by 17, which of course will be offset against any drop due to FC being used.
We will be back Sunday evening and I have until Tuesday evening to do something, before being away for 12 days, what do you suggest I do ? Specifically
1) What should I do between Sunday and Tuesday, I guess I need to SLAM - but 2 days is likely not enough to get any kind of conclusive result.
2) What do I do after Tuesday, keep the pump and SWG running 24 hours a day at 100% SWG output while we're away ? I didn't have enough time between the SWG being installed and us going away to get an idea of what setting I need it on to keep FC at a known level.
3) Are there any risks if I end up with very high FC levels due to running the SWG at 100% whilst we are away ?
4) Do I close the cover whilst we are away ? If possible, I'd like the cover closed, it is a safety cover and I would feel much better knowing that nobody can fall into the pool whilst we are away.
5) I have an automatic pH system with a pH probe and an acid dosage system, it came with the SWG. I've read in the SLAM thread that pH tests aren't reliable during SLAM'ing, so I'm concerned if the automatic system might overdosage the acid if the pH probe yields incorrect results due to high FC levels. Should I turn it off ?
Saturday morning before we left the test results were
FC 1.6
CC 0.2
pH 7.4
TA 110
CH 425
CYA ~20
SALT 4000
Temp 31 Celcius / 88 Fahrenheit
(edited to provide more information)
- The pool is an in ground pool with beadcrete plater and marble covered steps, it is 2.8m x 8.5m with an average depth of 1.6m (9.2 feet x 28 feet x 5.2 feet ).
- The SWG is an BSV EvoLink25 with pH automation (probe & acid dosage system).
- The cover is an opaque PVC cover with rails by the side of the pool, resting on the water. Covering the surface of the pool completely, so I should lose very little FC due to sun exposure.
- Got a 1HP pump with a sand filter, backwash last done 6 days ago, filter pressure just after backwash was ~16 psi, it was ~18 on Friday.
Sorry for the long post, but I'm very confused and concerned.
thanks
Jesper
I'm a new pool owner, pool was filled about 5 weeks ago. Up until last week I was manually adding dichlor and dry acid to keep the pool balanced, and didn't have any issues.
Last week I added salt to 4000 ppm in preparation for the installation of a SWG, after adding the salt I had issues with FC dropping much faster than usual, and a few times it had dropped to zero before I got more dichlor added.
Mid week I noticed the water also started to look a bit dull, not being sufficiently familiar with the pool, I didn't think it could be algae, but instead added a 'clear tab' to the skimmer, the next day the water started looking better, so I thought it was just dust or something.
The SWG was installed Thursday , and the installer set it to 20% output as we have a cover on the pool at all times it is not used. Friday evening FC had dropped to 0.6, so I cranked the SWG up to 100% and increased the pump run hours a little to ~7 hours a day. Over night after the pump running for 5 hours FC had increased to 1.6 Saturday morning.
We're out of town for a family event over the weekend, but reading TFP yesterday I got really worried if we have the start of an algae outbreak, especially as we're going away on Tuesday evening. Not being there to look myself, or do a water sample I had a friend drive by and put the pump on manual so it and the SWG runs 24 hours a day until we're back Sunday evening - while the SWG probably cannot raise the FC enough to do a SLAM, it has got to help - PoolMath says running it at 100% for 24 hours should raise FC by 17, which of course will be offset against any drop due to FC being used.
We will be back Sunday evening and I have until Tuesday evening to do something, before being away for 12 days, what do you suggest I do ? Specifically
1) What should I do between Sunday and Tuesday, I guess I need to SLAM - but 2 days is likely not enough to get any kind of conclusive result.
2) What do I do after Tuesday, keep the pump and SWG running 24 hours a day at 100% SWG output while we're away ? I didn't have enough time between the SWG being installed and us going away to get an idea of what setting I need it on to keep FC at a known level.
3) Are there any risks if I end up with very high FC levels due to running the SWG at 100% whilst we are away ?
4) Do I close the cover whilst we are away ? If possible, I'd like the cover closed, it is a safety cover and I would feel much better knowing that nobody can fall into the pool whilst we are away.
5) I have an automatic pH system with a pH probe and an acid dosage system, it came with the SWG. I've read in the SLAM thread that pH tests aren't reliable during SLAM'ing, so I'm concerned if the automatic system might overdosage the acid if the pH probe yields incorrect results due to high FC levels. Should I turn it off ?
Saturday morning before we left the test results were
FC 1.6
CC 0.2
pH 7.4
TA 110
CH 425
CYA ~20
SALT 4000
Temp 31 Celcius / 88 Fahrenheit
(edited to provide more information)
- The pool is an in ground pool with beadcrete plater and marble covered steps, it is 2.8m x 8.5m with an average depth of 1.6m (9.2 feet x 28 feet x 5.2 feet ).
- The SWG is an BSV EvoLink25 with pH automation (probe & acid dosage system).
- The cover is an opaque PVC cover with rails by the side of the pool, resting on the water. Covering the surface of the pool completely, so I should lose very little FC due to sun exposure.
- Got a 1HP pump with a sand filter, backwash last done 6 days ago, filter pressure just after backwash was ~16 psi, it was ~18 on Friday.
Sorry for the long post, but I'm very confused and concerned.
thanks
Jesper
Last edited: