Having a pool built and need advice

[ajw22]

Thanks this is what I was looking for. How did you figure out the range? Is it based on the spec page for the VSSHP270DV2A?

Those are the minimum and maximum speeds your pump is run.

The more pertinent question is what speeds does your equipment need? This is where you need to do some experimentation and observation as each pools setup is unique...

What is the minimum speed that your SWG flow switch turns on? This RPM + 200 rpm in general is the minimum speed to run your pump while circulating the water. You always want to be generating chlorine while circulating water.

What speed do you get effective skimming of your pool surface? You will probably observe at the minimum speed for your SWG you don't get good skimming action pulling debris on the surface of the water into the skimmer. You need to increase your RPM to find a good skimmer setting and you can call that your pool cleaning speed.

What speed does your heater need? A gas heater needs at least 40GPM of flow. I don't think you have any flow display on your equipment. Too low a flow and the heater will not operate. A temperature difference between the input water and the out of the heater of about 13F will be about 50 GPM.

So your minimum pump speed is usually your SWG flow switch speed and the maximum speed to run your pump maybe your heater speed or your skimmer cleaning speed. There is no reason to run your pump faster then what any of your equipment needs.

On my pool my SWG speed is 1700RPM, skimmer speed is 2400 rpm and heater speed is 2600 RPM.

 

[voidpointer]

These are my settings....

Can you share some context for each of these? When do you use them, why did you choose the values that you did?

If this ends up being a complicated answer, feel free to send me some reading material and save yourself some headache...

It's from the setup for the pump

I haven't seen that yet. I'll see if the PB guy goes over it tomorrow.

 

[voidpointer]

There is no reason to run your pump faster then what any of your equipment needs

Only reason I wanted to make it go faster was to push more water over the spa spillover. I think it's a neat feature and at the speed they had it in the screenshot, it wasn't spilling over fast enough IMO. Maybe there's a separate/better way to control this?

What is the minimum speed that your SWG flow switch turns on

What speed do you get effective skimming of your pool surface

What speed does your heater need

My first question in response to all of these is going to be how do you measure these? Especially the skimmer. Just leave it running over night and see what collects in the skimmer basket? Maybe the pool school guides go over these things... I'll do some reading. I hate to have you repeat information that's already out there.

Thanks for the help as always.

 

[kimkats]

I am SO loving all of this learning and teaching!!! Well done everyone!

 

[ajw22]

Only reason I wanted to make it go faster was to push more water over the spa spillover. I think it's a neat feature and at the speed they had it in the screenshot, it wasn't spilling over fast enough IMO. Maybe there's a separate/better way to control this?

Your spillover speed is another setting for when you want a certain spillover effect.

My first question in response to all of these is going to be how do you measure these? Especially the skimmer. Just leave it running over night and see what collects in the skimmer basket?

Trial and error.

Let it run for a few days at a speed and see if you like the skimming. Raise or lower the speed and see if it improves, stays the same, or gets worse.

Maybe the pool school guides go over these things... I'll do some reading. I hate to have you repeat information that's already out there.

Use the TLAR method.

This Looks About Right.

 

[PoolGate]

Can you share some context for each of these? When do you use them, why did you choose the values that you did?

If this ends up being a complicated answer, feel free to send me some reading material and save yourself some headache...

I haven't seen that yet. I'll see if the PB guy goes over it tomorrow. I'd

Can you share some context for each of these? When do you use them, why did you choose the values that you did?

If this ends up being a complicated answer, feel free to send me some reading material and save yourself some headache...

I haven't seen that yet. I'll see if the PB guy goes over it tomorrow.

Mine is pretty simple.

Pool is the default that I run 24x7 in season. It's what the saltwater chlorine generator is happy with and my skimmers work.

Temp1 and Temp2 are keywords attached to the heater. When the heater runs that's what it needs to run effectively.

The rest are BS numbers that I entered randomly for the most part that are not attached to anything and I never use. Like I mentioned above; when I run my water falls I usually decide on the speed to be whatever mood suits me.

You can go into your Aqualink setup for the pump and you'll see those settings.

 

[voidpointer]

This is the CC part of the chlorine drop test after adding 5 drops of R0003. There's barely a hint of pink. Should I consider this a CC of 0 or 0.5? I actually get this result a lot.

 

[Newdude]

That's an acceptable testing variance. As long as 1 drop clears it, .5 and 0 are effectively the same.

It also may be a true .5 from normal sanitizing. If you have a big swim, and/or multiple people enjoying it, you may see some CCs from that too. Just verify some time later they everything is back to normal.

 

[voidpointer]

Today, pH is above 8 and Cl went up. CL went up I believe because the PB's maintenance guy has 3 chlorine tablets total in the skimmer baskets. Looks like all I need to do is add some MA to lower the pH again.

First question: What is my target pH when I add? I assume I want to target the lower value in whatever range I use, since pH naturally rises. Assuming that's correct, should I aim for 7.2 of the recommended range, or 7.6 of the ideal range? I'd normally assume that the 7.6 is what I want, but if I do the 7.2, I might not have to add MA as often right? I'm just spewing my own uneducated assumptions at this point, but what would you folks recommend?

For adding MA, should I buy a dedicated measuring cup? I'm assuming it would be foolish to share a measuring cup with anything else (especially something I use to cook food). And when I add it, I believe someone said to slowly pour it over a return jet in the pool. Or was that chlorine?

Last question: The brand of MA I bought at Home Depot is called Kemtek and the percentage of Hydrogen Chloride is 31.45%. The PoolMath app's closest match is 29% Muriatic Acid. Will it be a problem that they are off a couple of percentage points?

 

[mknauss]

If there are pucks in skimmers, I hope you are running the pump 24/7. If not, get a floating dispenser at Walmart and put the pucks in it.

 

[mknauss]

The PoolMath app's closest match is 29% Muriatic Acid. Will it be a problem that they are off a couple of percentage points?

The app has 31.45%.

 

[voidpointer]

I hope you are running the pump 24/7

I think it turns off at night. I don't know how to check the schedule.

The app has 31.45%

I'm not seeing it:

 

[mknauss]

 

[voidpointer]

Ok I was just an idiot and missed the button. I found the schedule and deleted the one for the filter pump. Once the PB's pool guy stops visiting my property I will add one back as appropriate.

EDIT: Just curious, why is having tablets sitting in the skimmer basket an issue with the pump off? Is there a damage concern or just that it won't effectively distribute into the pool without the pump running?

 

[voidpointer]

View attachment 476331

Ok yeah I do see that. What is Baume? I never would have guessed that's the same as MA

 

[mknauss]

Acid - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[voidpointer]

Acid - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Ok so it's an old way of measuring. Baume isn't even on the box I bought. I just think it's confusing to newcomers (like me) that it doesn't at least have MA or Muriatic Acid next to the selection. It says MA for 29% but not for 31.45%. Maybe there's a reason, but it's still confusing

 

[Newdude]

I'd normally assume that the 7.6 is what I want, but if I do the 7.2, I might not have to add MA as often right?

One would think so but think of it like pushing a swing. If you wail on it hard, it comes back with a vengeance. Your PH wants to be in the high 7s and it will go better if you use that as your operating range.

For adding MA, should I buy a dedicated measuring cup?

You can, but by the 10th time you've measured it out, you'll just start to eyeball it. It doesn't need to be exact, diluted in 20k gallons. If you're a skootch over/under, it's close enough.

And when I add it, I believe someone said to slowly pour it over a return jet in the pool. Or was that chlorine?

That's for both. Brush well after because they are heavier than water and may puddle up on the bottom.

Will it be a problem that they are off a couple of percentage points?

No. But scroll through the acid options for 31.45/ 20 Baume.

 

[voidpointer]

One would think so but think of it like pushing a swing. If you wail on it hard, it comes back with a vengeance. Your PH wants to be in the high 7s and it will go better if you use that as your operating range.

So then if I am for 7.6 that should be ok right?

 

[PoolGate]

So then if I am for 7.6 that should be ok right?

I don't bother measuring either. Just pour it in the deep end and shoot for any orange tint to the pH sample. I'm putting about a gallon a week during pool season.