More pump-speed and runtime questions

[Poiks]

This is our second summer with a new pool, and I still have the pump runtime and speeds set up pretty much as the setup company left them. The filter pump runs 12 hours/day, 10-10. The cleaner runs 2 hours, the waterfalls just 15 minutes. I'm attaching a pic of the pump settings from iAqualink.

I know this has been asked before and there are other threads, but I really can't figure out answer to the following:

1. How long should I run my filter pump?
2. What pump speeds should I use?

I get that it's trial and error, but I don't quite understand what the criteria for success are. How will I know if my pump is not running long enough? How will I know if my pump is running too fast, or too slow, for a given scenario? Is it better to run (for example) at 1500 GPH for 10 hours, or 3000 GPH for 5 hours?

Thanks for any tips!

 

[mknauss]

So the first reason to run your pump is to either create your chlorine (with a SWCG), or to distribute the liquid chlorine you add each day. As I do not see a SWCG in your signature, you must be adding liquid chlorine every day. So the pump needs to run about an hour after you add the chlorine.

Second reason to run the pump is to skim the surface. The RPM needed for that depends on your pool. I would suggest starting at 1500 rpm and 4-6 hours and see if that keeps the pool clean. Adjust as necessary (rpm and time) to achieve your desires.

 

[Poiks]

Thank you. Daily, huh? I've been checking and adding chlorine every four days. Sounds like that's not enough?
Thanks again for the info!

 

[mknauss]

Your FC must always be above minimum for your CYA - FC/CYA Levels

If you can go 4 days between chlorine additions and achieve that, good deal.

 

[Poiks]

Thanks, the is helpful. I've been testing daily, even multiple times per day since your post, and am starting to get a little nervous about how much chlorine I'm using. My CYA is currently about 53; my pool is 14.2K gallons. It's hot here, over 90 daily. My pool is clean and I've never seen algae in it.

Does this seem...normal?

Date	Note	Added (12.5% bleach)
7/18	FC at zero	88 oz
7/20	FC 0.4	84 oz
7/21	FC 2.0	58 oz
7/21	Recheck after 2 hrs, FC 4.4	25 oz
7/22	FC 2.6	50 oz
7/22	Recheck after 2 hours, FC 4.6	22 oz
7/22	Recheck after 2 hours, FC 6.0	-
7/23	FC 2.0	76 oz

 

[mknauss]

With a CYA of 60, your minimum FC is 5 and target is 9. You should be raising your FC to 9ppm every day when you add chlorine.

 

[Poiks]

With a CYA of 60, your minimum FC is 5 and target is 9. You should be raising your FC to 9ppm every day when you add chlorine.

Thanks, makes sense. The app has been recommending a range of 4-8, and at first I was shooting for 6--but I'm going to move my target to 8. I gather you don't find the 400 oz over 5 days alarming?

 

[mknauss]

80 oz of 12.5% is 5.6 ppm FC per day. That is high. Do a OCLT to see if something is starting.

 

[Poiks]

Will do, perfect timing. Thank you!

 

[Poiks]

I'm in the middle of the SLAM process now, and sadly found part of the problem when I opened my skimmer. Let's just say that some of what falls into your pool, even if it can swim, can't climb out.

 

[SDor]

A dead critter will definitely eat your chlorine

 

[Poiks]

Thanks all for your assistance here. Another question: Does it make sense to run the filter pump, cleaner, etc. in the middle of the night, when electricity rates are low?