Having a pool built and need advice

[mknauss]

I found this thread, which was enlightening: Winterizing in Gulf Coast Texas

Basically: Keep pool running 12 months a year. Which makes sense. This means I'll still be checking CL in the winter but not as often.

Preparing Pool for Cooler Months - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[voidpointer]

I noticed my Polaris Quattro cleaner not moving last night despite the booster pump being on and working. Based on my Google searching, looks like I might need to take it apart and see what is going on. Maybe some gears are jammed somewhere. If anyone has any advice before I start that process let me know...

EDIT: Fixed it. I had to take apart the whole dang thing. The wheels weren't turning, and it appears that the gears inside the engine assembly were stuck. I was able to wash it out and they started moving again. I noticed a lot of sand inside the unit. I definitely get a lot of sand in my pool. Visibly I get a lot of dust/sand daily. I guess there's a lot of it in the wind that gets blown in the pool. It seems like the sand gummed up the gears in the cleaner.

 

[voidpointer]

What's everyone's personal preference on pool temp before doing regular swimming? I tried 75 degrees and it's WAY too cold.

Also: Any tips on preventing sun burn? I try spray-on sunscreen but I don't have much luck with that. And there's, sadly, not a lot of shade in my pool.

 

[ajw22]

What's everyone's personal preference on pool temp before doing regular swimming? I tried 75 degrees and it's WAY too cold.

86F is the perfect pool temperature for me.

Also: Any tips on preventing sun burn? I try spray-on sunscreen but I don't have much luck with that. And there's, sadly, not a lot of shade in my pool.

Shade sails.

Misc Residential - Shade Sails LLC

Click any photo to enlarge…

shadesails.com

 

[voidpointer]

Shade sails

The WAF (Wife Approval Factor) of that must be in the negatives because I got instantly shot down

 

[kimkats]

There are swim shirt that also help with the sun burn.

The lotion needs to be put on about 15 or more mins before going into the water. Then you do NOT rub the towel to dry off. Just pat dry. I don't find the spray to work very well unless you rub it in a bit.

 

[voidpointer]

EDIT: I asked a redundant question about pH where the answer was given to me a few weeks ago, I just forgot about it.

The pH Further Reading page reminded me of the answer:

The age of the pool surface can affect pH - a newly plastered pool will often have rising pH and large acid demand for as long as 18 months after plastering and fill. It is critical to test pH on a very regular basis (sometimes daily) until you get to know your pool water.

It's unfortunate I have to add 32oz MA every 2-3 days but I guess it's going to be unavoidable for the next year or so.

 

[Newdude]

It's going to be this way the first 6-12 months, right?

It is for most people.

Your TA is slowly coming down and will help once it's a 60/70. I wouldn't speed that process up because at some point with fresh plaster having a high acid demand, you may be raising the TA once it's low. You might solve one issue and create a new one, putting you back to square one once you solve THAT. Lol.

So hang tight and keep doing what you're doing. Push the 2nd add until it tests an 8+

 

[voidpointer]

So hang tight and keep doing what you're doing. Push the 2nd add until it tests an 8+

I wrote my list a little weird but yeah that's what I'm doing. I test 8.2 every 2 days minimum.

Thanks for the info about TA.

 

[voidpointer]

Why put skimmer socks on skimmer baskets? What problem is that solving? Isn't that what the filter is for?

 

[Newdude]

GREAT question. That's *exactly* what the filter is for. But many people like to put off cleanings as long as possible. Especially those with smaller filters. (Looking at YOU Florida folks ) So they use the skimmer socks to help keep crud out of the filter.

Mine is large enough I can go all year so I don't see a need for skimmer socks.

 

[voidpointer]

My CV580 seems pretty big, but it's not like I have anything to compare with... I assume it should be fine. Running at 1800 RPM means my PSI with clean filters is around 6. I shouldn't need to clean unless it hits around 8 PSI right?

 

[Newdude]

Correct. When you do finally clean them, run the pump at full throttle after, and record that PSI for your baseline. It's much easier to judge how much longer you can go with the difference between 16 and 20 than the difference betwren 6 and 8.

Anytime you wonder, crank the pump and say Pfffffffft..... it's 17, I can go a looooong time still before I have to clean.

 

[voidpointer]

Correct. When you do finally clean them, run the pump at full throttle after, and record that PSI for your baseline. It's much easier to judge how much longer you can go with the difference between 16 and 20 than the difference betwren 6 and 8.

Anytime you wonder, crank the pump and say Pfffffffft..... it's 17, I can go a looooong time still before I have to clean.

Full throttle is absolutely necessary? Or can I use one of my already-configured pump speeds. I have a speed preset of 3000 RPM for skimming. That's pretty close to the max. The idea you're trying to get across, I assume, is to just have it running high enough to get a larger PSI range to work with.

 

[Newdude]

Exactly. I lowered my max to 3000 so I use that as my 'max'. It's about increasing the PSI for easier reading. Mine for example is a 4 at 1500 RPMs. At 1200 its a 2 or 3. There's no need to squint at it at low RPMs. Lol.

 

[voidpointer]

Jandy equipment kinda sucks doesn't it? I noticed randomly that the web UI for aqualink stopped recognizing that my SWG was working. A reboot of the panel at the breaker box fixed it, but I also noticed the filter pump doesn't come on anymore when switching from service back to auto mode. I have to go into the web UI after and turn it on again.

Everything's working fine now but it's just weird behavior like this that I'm starting to notice.

 

[dfwnoob]

That's not how it's supposed to work for any reasonably recent version of the Aqualink firmware (like in the last decade recent). Moving from Service or Time Out mode back to Auto should restart any typically scheduled program, definitely the pump at least.

The schedule is the schedule. Whatever is scheduled will happen when you schedule it. It is a 24 hour schedule. Nothing will override that. I do all my maintenance scheduling early in the morning before anyone would be in the pool. Schedule your spillover mixing for like 2am in the morning. The only way to "override" the schedule without changing the schedule would be to switch to the 2nd program group. And that is a PITA and you may forget to switch it back.

Nope, Aqualink is pretty dumb.

So schedule spillover times you are unlikely to be using the spa.

These posts are from a few weeks back, but this is not correct (again, at least for firmware that isn't ancient). Spillover scheduling will not override Spa mode. I tested on my side just to confirm.

 

[PoolGate]

That's not how it's supposed to work for any reasonably recent version of the Aqualink firmware (like in the last decade recent). Moving from Service or Time Out mode back to Auto should restart any typically scheduled program, definitely the pump at least.





These posts are from a few weeks back, but this is not correct (again, at least for firmware that isn't ancient). Spillover scheduling will not override Spa mode. I tested on my side just to confirm.

What on my post do you think is incorrect?

 

[voidpointer]

Auto should restart any typically scheduled program, definitely the pump at least.

My filter pump is not on a schedule. It's on 24/7

 

[dfwnoob]

What on my post do you think is incorrect?

The part about "Whatever is scheduled will happen when you schedule it." There are exceptions to this rule. If the system is in Spa mode with the Spa running, it will NOT activate the Spillover, even if it's scheduled to do so. This was OP's concern at the time.