Is phosphate treatment my final answer???

[Meghanfoss]

My big question: is treating my salt water pool for high phosphates the answer?

Had a small algae bloom after a pool party a few weekends ago and my FC had dropped to zero. Performed a SLAM and passed all 3 SLAM requirements. I figured great! We are all set.

But my salt cell just can’t seem to keep up with FC production. It’s at about 6-8k hours of usage but it is CLEAN. No calcium buildup. I have a Pentair IC-40 and the pool is 22k gallon plaster. Even running it at 80% the FC just keeps dropping and can’t seem to maintain.

I typically test my own water chemistry with Taylor but I did take it to the pool store recently and apparently my TDS is 4600 and phosphates are 1560ppb.

Are these factors diminishing the effectiveness of my salt cell? Is that the final piece of the puzzle?

Thanks for any help!!!!

 

[Texas Splash]

My big question: is treating my salt water pool for high phosphates the answer?

Nope, and the pool store testing/advice will just bite you in the backside. Show us a full set of test results from your K-2006 test kit and we can help. But chlorine goes to two places - organics or the sun. So either your SWG isn't working properly or you still have a chemistry issue. We'll help though. Oh, and welcome to TFP!

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[ajw22]

Read Phosphate Removers - Further Reading

 

[Meghanfoss]

Nope, and the pool store testing/advice will just bite you in the backside. Show us a full set of test results from your K-2006 test kit and we can help. But chlorine goes to two places - organics or the sun. So either your SWG isn't working properly or you still have a chemistry issue. We'll help though. Oh, and welcome to TFP!

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks for reply!

Pool chemistry is attached. FC is little high as I added some liquid chlorine yesterday to boost until I figure out what’s going on. Even when in “boost mode” my FC steadily drops. The other day I actually took 2 samples to test FC. One sample from a stagnant step area, one straight from the wall return. Only a .2 difference!

 

[Texas Splash]

Those are very good numbers. Perhaps in-part because as you said you added some liquid to help. If the water is pristine and you don't suspect algae has returned, then the SWG may be having an issue in which case I'll tag @ajw22 for some assistance as I can't get to my PoolMath APP at the moment to confirm your expected cell FC production. If you do have doubts about the water, even though those numbers look good, you can do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test.

 

[Meghanfoss]

Those are very good numbers. Perhaps in-part because as you said you added some liquid to help. If the water is pristine and you don't suspect algae has returned, then the SWG may be having an issue in which case I'll tag @ajw22 for some assistance as I can't get to my PoolMath APP at the moment to confirm your expected cell FC production. If you do have doubts about the water, even though those numbers look good, you can do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test.

Did the OCLT!! Went from 8.8 last evening to 8.4. So definite pass. CC is only 0.2 and water is clear. Will wait to hear from @ajw22 !

Thank you

 

[Leebo]

Running the IC-40 at 100% for 8 hours will generate roughly 2.3ppm free chlorine in your pool. How much of a drop on average are you actually seeing? It’s possible your cell may just not be able to keep up.

 

[ajw22]

I have a Pentair IC-40 and the pool is 22k gallon plaster. Even running it at 80% the FC just keeps dropping and can’t seem to maintain.

For what pump runtime?

What pump do you have?

 

[Meghanfoss]

Running the IC-40 at 100% for 8 hours will generate roughly 2.3ppm free chlorine in your pool. How much of a drop on average are you actually seeing? It’s possible your cell may just not be able to keep up.

Now that you ask, I honestly probably need to see what happens with the FC over an extended period of time without adding any liquid chlorine. I just do NOT feel like SLAMing again so perhaps I jumped the gun?

Once my slam was complete, I let the FC drop to 8.5ppm and then kicked on my salt cell to run at 60% 24/7. Over the course of a couple of days at that setting it dropped down 6.5ppm, so then I kicked it up to 80% 24/7 and it went to 5ppm.

Once I hit 5ppm I panicked and added the liquid chlorine. Was that too hasty?

 

[Meghanfoss]

For what pump runtime?

What pump do you have?

24/7 pump run time. 60-80%. Pentair IC-40. See my most recent reply above to @Leebo for some more context.

 

[ajw22]

Start the other way. Run your SWG at 100% and then crank it down versus running at 60% and trying to crank it up and catch up. SWG is not good at catching up.

What pump do you have?

 

[ajw22]

Please create your signature with details of your pool and equipment.

What filter do you have?

 

[Meghanfoss]

Please create your signature with details of your pool and equipment.

What filter do you have?

Updated! Included here too:

22k gal, IG plaster, 1.5 HP WhisperFlo pump, Pentair FNSP60 DE filter, Pentair IC-40 SWG, Polaris360 cleaner, K2005 test kit + FAS-DPD test kit

 

[jedigrover]

I would:
1) Use LC to get to where you'd like to keep FC.
2) Crank up SWG to 100% and stop the LC.
3) Monitor FC for a couple of days to see how it trends over time & try to see how much loss you have daily.
4) Confirm & re-confirm your CYA reading.

 

[Meghanfoss]

Start the other way. Run your SWG at 100% and then crank it down versus running at 60% and trying to crank it up and catch up. SWG is not good at catching up.

What pump do you have?

Ok so…I’ve turned my SWG to run at 100%. What should I expect to happen with my FC pending the pool just kinda sits there without a lot of swimming or any other contaminants being introduced over the next few days? At what point would you say “your SWG is not working”?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ajw22]

Running your IC40 at 100% for 24 hours should generate FC of 7.6 ppm.

Do a FC test now and do a FC test 24 hours from now and let's see what the difference is.

Log it in PoolMath

Also use Add Chemicals - SWG and log when you make SWG % adjustments.

 

[jeffchap]

I know you said your IC40 has 6-8k hours on it. But I'm just curious, how old is it?

 

[Meghanfoss]

I know you said your IC40 has 6-8k hours on it. But I'm just curious, how old is it?

Unsure. We bought this house a year ago and being a newb, I didn’t think to ask!

 

[proavia]

Look on the cell for the serial number. Post all the info from there and someone will be avle to determine the manufacturing date.

 

[Newdude]

The unit has a built in hours meter. It's not exact of course, and other things like acid cleanings or improper chemistry can reduce the lifespan further, but it will give you a starting point of about how long the unit has run.