Leave SWG plugged in? Not sure

[proavia]

Usually one bag or less addition is okay to leave the cell running. If you feel better turning the cell off, then do it.

Since your TA is at 70, let your pH of 7.2 rise to the upper 7's to get the CSI in the 0.00 to -0.30 (negative 0.30) range.

 

[kul]

Power cycled it and the Aquapure showed 6800 PPM salt (did you know it can read that high?!), which quickly counted back downto 3000. Oops. I'm sure to close the main drain now.

Holy moly. Really appreciate this tip. I added the salt (maybe 20-25 pounds?) in the evening yesterday around 5pm and brushed it around followed by my robot doing a couple hours. Then in the morning my pump came on for an hour starting at 7am and then my SWG started 1 hour after that (8am) along with the robot also doing a second sweep. When I looked at my SWG around 830 it was all green lights so I don’t know if something might have happened. Whatever I did, it’s too late now. Hopefully all is ok.

 

[kul]

Since your TA is at 70, let your pH of 7.2 rise to the upper 7's to get the CSI in the 0.00 to -0.30 (negative 0.30) range.

Thanks. Yes, my ph usually sticks around 7.8+ because I run my spa. I usually let it get to 8.2 and then take it down to 7.2 and start over. My TA stays around 70-80.

 

[proavia]

Holy moly. Really appreciate this tip. I added the salt (maybe 20-25 pounds?) in the evening yesterday around 5pm and brushed it around followed by my robot doing a couple hours. Then in the morning my pump came on for an hour starting at 7am and then my SWG started 1 hour after that (8am) along with the robot also doing a second sweep. When I looked at my SWG around 830 it was all green lights so I don’t know if something might have happened. Whatever I did, it’s too late now. Hopefully all is ok.

The only thing you maybe should have done different - When adding ANY chemical (including SALT), the pump needed to be running. And in the case of salt, the pump should have continued to run to fully mix the salt in (so all night in your case). Too late now, next time.

Thanks. Yes, my ph usually sticks around 7.8+ because I run my spa. I usually let it get to 8.2 and then take it down to 7.2 and start over. My TA stays around 70-80.

When you are testing pH, add the result to PoolMath each time. This way, the CSI will be recalculated and it will be easier to keep the CSI in range.

 

[wireform]

I usually don't run the robot for 24 hours after the salt is dropped in. Why would you want the robot to suck up the salt and then have it run long enough to dissolve it via the the robot pump.

 

[kul]

I usually don't run the robot for 24 hours after the salt is dropped in. Why would you want the robot to suck up the salt and then have it run long enough to dissolve it via the the robot pump.

Good point. Whenever I add chlorine or MA to the pool, I do it with the pump running, but then I also run the robot after the pump goes off. So I figured since the salt looked like it had dissolved after I brushed it around a while, that it was fine to just run the robot.

If I add salt in the future, I’ll run the pump as well. Thanks everyone for setting me straight about running the pump for 24 hours after adding salt.

 

[kul]

When you are testing pH, add the result to PoolMath each time. This way, the CSI will be recalculated and it will be easier to keep the CSI in range.

Yes. I always add my results to pool math so that my logs are accurate.

 

[kul]

The danger is probably worst with main drains and large amounts of salt. Some here turn off the former (only skimmers on) when adding small amounts and say it's fine.

I will keep this all in mind next time I add salt. Though I don’t know how to close my main drains so need directions. Anyone know?

The only adjustment I do is pool mode or spa mode by turning the valves.

 

[wireform]

We like to drop the salt in the very shallow end of the pool far away from the MD.

 

[Newdude]

Though I don’t know how to close my main drains so need directions. Anyone know?

Went through your media and saw only 'pool' and 'spa' on the 3 way before the pump. Is there an extra hole in the skimmer ?

 

[kul]

There is an extra hole in the skimmer, but it doesn’t seem to do anything as far as I know. There is only one hole in the skimmer that suctions the water into the pump - when I needed to manually vacuum it’s the one I plug the vacuum hose into. Could it be that I just have 2 drains in the pool that do nothing?
I also have two drains in the spa. For those, the way to make them suction is to move both the input valve and return valve to spa only. If I make it go pool to pool maybe that has an effect on the main drains? I do not know how to figure this out.

 

[kul]

We like to drop the salt in the very shallow end of the pool far away from the MD.

My pool is deep in the middle (close to 6 feet) and shallow on each end (3.5-4 feet). Next time, I will be sure to pour the salt on each shallow end.

 

[Newdude]

Could it be that I just have 2 drains in the pool that do nothing?

It could be.

There is an extra hole in the skimmer, but it doesn’t seem to do anything as far as I know

Or this could be it.

Meh. For big adds, turn the unit to 0% or pull the power cord from the transformer.

For little adds (1 bag), dump it in the shallow end and return every half hour to brush, but brush side to side and not the push it into the deep end way.

 

[proavia]

The two main drains are plumbed into a single pipe that eith runs to your skimmer or to your equipment pad.
You pics seem to suggest your main drains are plumbed to your skimmer.

 

[kul]

Meh. For big adds, turn the unit to 0% or pull the power cord from the transformer.

For little adds (1 bag), dump it in the shallow end and return every half hour to brush, but brush side to side and not the push it into the deep end way.

Understood.

You pics seem to suggest your main drains are plumbed to your skimmer.

Yes I think this is likely the case because I don’t have any valve settings just for pool main drains. When I set the intake valve to suction from pool it sucks from skimmer to my knowledge. And when I set the intake valve to spa it sucks from the two spa drains.

 

[Darin]

If you ever get concerned again about adding salt, turn off the SWG, add the salt and use bleach for a day or two.

 

[kul]

Thank you to everyone who helped me through this transition. I might have more questions once my SWG stops working in winter, but for now I’ll keep checking my chlorine and testing the other things like usual. I guess I can relax now.

Also thanks to everyone who commented on my roof thread from a while back with some tips and things to look out for. That is also complete and I appreciate you all so much!

It’s been a busy month.

 

[Newdude]

So one week in and you're quiet. Everything good and going to plan ? Any hiccups ?

I can only speculate that with all your free time you've jettisoned off to travel the world, free of the Walmart runs that kept you chained down.

Either way, we appreciate pics.

 

[kul]

Hi! All seems to be going well. Though my 6 month filter cleaning is coming up during which I always turn my pump off. But how do I turn the SWG off without a bunch of hassle? I don’t see a 0%. Is unplugging it the way to go?

In other news, I had a party for kids birthday Saturday with water guns/water balloons. There were about 30 kids. By the end the water was so gross looking I used my (now) emergency liquid chlorine to bring up to slam for good measure. Aside from learning what this many kids can do to the water clarity, I also learned how they can help remove some Calcium/CYA etc with water guns

 

[Newdude]

Though my 6 month filter cleaning is coming up during which I always turn my pump off.

Kill power to the whole pad for one stop shopping.

I don’t see a 0%.

Press 'less' on the SWG remembering that the low scale blinks down 10%, 8%, 6%, 4%, 2%, 0% (if you ever need to besides this, like in winter).

I had a party for kids birthday Saturday with water guns/water balloons

SWEET. I often heard about friends going cloudy from extreme bather waste / sunblock and whatnot. I never experienced it with a large pool but finally did with a blowout party with 35 swimmers. It was at that point that I used my exact sample size of *one* to realize that 1000 gallons per swimmer (or less) made the pool respond more like a hot tub with 500 gallons and one user. As you know, I fondly refer to hot tubs as people soup, and 15 to 20 swimmers isn't a stretch to do the same with 15k gallons.

Dose to slam before next time to help preemptively. Then monitor after and correct as needed.