I an in-ground salt water pool with a Caretaker in-floor cleaning system. Water flows from the pump to a cartridge filter, then to the chlorine cell and then to the Caretaker 5-port valve. On top of this valve is dome-shaped coarse screen. I am getting a lot of mineral buildup on this screen, significant enough to cause my in-floor cleaners to not work and trigger the no-flow alarm on my chlorine generator panel. This buildup almost looks like coarse, flaky salt, see pics. This happens in less than 8 hours - I am running pool motor and chlorine generator constantly after shocking my pool due to green algae two days ago. I had not noticed the chlorine generator was shut down due to no water flow. I tested the water with test strips and everything looks ok. What can I do about this and why is my cartridge filter not catching it?
HELP - SCALE/MINERAL BLOCKAGE??
- Thread starter cookrd1
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 58,749
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Welcome to the forum!
How are you testing your pool water chemistry? You need to maintain your CSI - Calcium Saturation Index (CSI) - Trouble Free Pool between -0.3 and 0 to lessen the amount of scale build up on your SWCG. A lower TA of 70 or less also helps this.
Let us know your water chemistry from your own test kit.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
How are you testing your pool water chemistry? You need to maintain your CSI - Calcium Saturation Index (CSI) - Trouble Free Pool between -0.3 and 0 to lessen the amount of scale build up on your SWCG. A lower TA of 70 or less also helps this.
Let us know your water chemistry from your own test kit.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,749
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Also - if you have algae, you need to follow the SLAM Process. The SWCG will not clear algae. You need liquid chlorine for that.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 53,446
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Please create your signature with details of your pool and equipment.
You need better control over your water chemistry. You need your own test kit. Either the TF-100 Test Kits or the Taylor k-2006C.
Your SWG creates scale on its cells and it is designed to shed that scale. On most pools it flows out of the return lines with no problems. Because of your IFCS system and screen the scale is getting trapped there.
As Marty said, better water chemistry can reduce the scale buildup in the SWG.
You need better control over your water chemistry. You need your own test kit. Either the TF-100 Test Kits or the Taylor k-2006C.
Your SWG creates scale on its cells and it is designed to shed that scale. On most pools it flows out of the return lines with no problems. Because of your IFCS system and screen the scale is getting trapped there.
As Marty said, better water chemistry can reduce the scale buildup in the SWG.