So far this forum has saved me hundreds on my latest project. I just replaced my old wore out cartridge filter with a jacuzzi 24in sand filter, and finally ran out of chlorine tablets so I converted to a jacuzzi 40k salt system. (Both were on sale at Leslie’s and I couldn’t resist, between the sale and mailer coupons I paid $1100 out the door for the pair!) so anyways I half drained my pool, scrubbed and pressure washed my tiles, and refilled. Then I installed the salt system (wired to my timer), and sand filter. I filled my filter with 250lbs of the HTH Pool sand from ace, and dumped 12 40lb bags of diamond crystal salt pellets (used the pool calculator) in the pool. I’ve run the pump now for about 15 hours and have yet to turn in my salt system. My water test kit has not shown up in the mail so I just went to lassoes with a sample and here’s the results.
free chlorine: 2
Total chlorine: 2
PH: 8.3
Total alkalinity: 104
Calcium hardness: 240
Cyanuric acid: 80
Iron: 0
Copper: 0
Phosphates: 500
Salt: 5200
so that being said I must be off on my pool volume. Maybe it’s more like 11-12k gallons because I overshot the salt like crazy. sooooo now what? I’m thinking muriatic acid to lower ph (3 cups), turn on the salt cell (40%), and what about my phosphates? The “no phos “ I had from Leslie’s was for a cartridge filter and the guy had no other recommendations. Will it work in a sand filter? Is there something else I can do?
here’s some pictures because everyone loves pictures lol
free chlorine: 2
Total chlorine: 2
PH: 8.3
Total alkalinity: 104
Calcium hardness: 240
Cyanuric acid: 80
Iron: 0
Copper: 0
Phosphates: 500
Salt: 5200
so that being said I must be off on my pool volume. Maybe it’s more like 11-12k gallons because I overshot the salt like crazy. sooooo now what? I’m thinking muriatic acid to lower ph (3 cups), turn on the salt cell (40%), and what about my phosphates? The “no phos “ I had from Leslie’s was for a cartridge filter and the guy had no other recommendations. Will it work in a sand filter? Is there something else I can do?
here’s some pictures because everyone loves pictures lol
Beautiful pool and view you have there. You seem like someone who is motivated to make that oasis the best it can be. You've already done a lot, but you're missing the most important final step - the proper test kit. You have to cut the cord from pool store testing and their overpriced weekly cupful treatments that will do nothing for your water. Skip the PhosFree, and any other such treatment potion. Get yourself a TF-100 (link in my signature) or Taylor K-2006C. See 
I’m worried it’s gonna spiral out of control while I’m anxiously waiting on the mail man. The last thing I want is my freshly cleaned pool and new filter getting loaded full of algae. I’m trying to get in the ball park here, then when my kit shows up I’ll Try and fine tune this sucka! I played around with the pool calculator app and put 2.5 cups muriatic acid in tonight, and kicked the salt cell on at 40%. I’ll recheck after work tomorrow
Gosh, I just drained it about 30% and refilled it. And no I just did all the tests on the sheet on the bottom of the lid on the test kit
