Nature 2 Question

[Burfcr]

Morning,

I have a 45 yr old 30,000 gallon gunite pool that has been a chlorine pool from day 1 with a sand filter. My filter is shot and so I am in the process of switching to a Jandy CV580 filter. The pool store has suggested that I also install a Fusion Nature2 combo chlorinator/mineral sanitizer (up to now I usually keep the CYA low (30-40 range) and just add the odd puck to my skimmer basket (I know, I know). I figured since the pool store was coming to install the filter, why not get an inline chlorinator too.

So my question:

- Fusion Nature2. Y/N for the install?
- If N, do I still get a chlorinator installed (or just continue with puck in the basket)?
- If N to the Fusion and Y to the chlorinator, do I get an offline or inline chlorinator?

Thanks,

 

[tim5055]

No to the Nature2. You don't want the "minerals" it adds to the water.

I assume you are not using "the odd puck to my skimmer basket", so how do you normally chlorinate?

The big question is how much water exchange do you get? TFP is not against using pucks as long as you understand the CYA they are adding and compensate for it with higher FC levels as the CYA rises. Pools that get a lot of water exchange and that are drained down for winterization are candidates for puck usage.

Again, TFP is about the knowledge, not the product.

We generally recommend new members read these articles to get the basics of our recommendations.

ABCs of Water Chemistry
Recommended Pool Chemicals
How to Chlorinate Your Pool

 

[Burfcr]

Thanks,

I live in Ontario Canada and I do drain quite a bit of water in the fall (and normally when the pool is opened the water level is usually perfect from the winter snowfall). For chlorine, I normally shock it using granular chlorine or liquid chlorine (if I have liquid on hand, I use it - if not, granular it is). Spring/fall time of year I only need to shock the pool once a week at most. From June to August, I usually shock it every 3-4 days (or after heavy usage). I’m going into my 7th year of ownership and haven’t turned the pool green (yet).

With the sand filter, I was backwashing every 10 days or so and was adding water to compensate of course. The CYA never really got high and I do realize that this will change with the new cartridge filter (I do anticipate some changes to my routine!)

 

[tim5055]

Well, I'm going to sound a little "rude" (I don't mean it to be), but weekly "shocking" is an outdated pool store pool care method. Mixing pool store advice/testing with TFP methods is just another recipe for disaster. Those bags of "shock" are just adding more CYA to the water. The biggest problem we see is green pools because of over stabilized pools (remember stabilizer is the other name for CYA).

So, we base our pool care system on accurate testing and only adding what the pool needs, when it needs it. To do that we advocate that every pool owner buy and use an accurate test kit. With the test kit we maintain the correct level of chlorine in the water all the time, thus there is never any need to "shock" the pool.

Pool School - Chlorine / CYA Chart

With the change from a sand filter and it's backwashing loss of water to a cartridge filter your CYA is going to build up a lot faster. You are going to need to look at either liquid chlorine only or a salt water chlorine generator.

 

[Burfcr]

Thanks - I should have clarified that the shocking (and other chemical adjustments like PH and Alkalinity, etc) is based on the water being tested (water lab is 2 minutes from my house!).

I’ve had conflicting advice on converting to saltwater. I’ve been told to do it, and others saying no way due to it being a gunite pool. I figure the pool has been chugging alone for 45 years without it being saltwater, so why mess with it?

 

[tim5055]

Thanks - I should have clarified that the shocking (and other chemical adjustments like PH and Alkalinity, etc) is based on the water being tested (water lab is 2 minutes from my house!).

I’ve had conflicting advice on converting to saltwater. I’ve been told to do it, and others saying no way due to it being a gunite pool. I figure the pool has been chugging alone for 45 years without it being saltwater, so why mess with it?

If you read around TFP you will see that not much credence is given to pool store testing. While you would think that a "professional" would be the best, unfortunately in most cases it is quite the opposite. Between employees who blindly trust the word of chemical sales representatives and high school kids working in the pool store for the summer you end up with poor results from their testing. There are a few good ones out there, but they are few and far between.

I don't know who would say you can't install a SWCG on a gunite pool, but they are sadly misinformed.

 

[Burfcr]

So have had a busy couple of weeks and it looks like we are going to be making the following changes/upgrades to the pool:

1 - installing a Jandy CL580 Cartridge Filter (being installed in two weeks);

then in the fall:

1 - replacing the concrete deck
2 - replacing the coping stones
3 - replacing tiles along the water line
4 - new skimmer and pool lines
5 - sandblast the pool surface
6 - new plaster
7 - converting to a salt water system

Lots of planning over the summer months while we get ready for the work to take place.

 

[wilkj1]

So glad for you it looks like your on the way to a TFP. please if you will post us pics and updates so we can see your progress . BTW you will love the SWG just read here you will find all you need to know. You being up north makes some differences in how SWG works like not below 60 deg but still most here that have them love it.

 

[PoolGate]

So have had a busy couple of weeks and it looks like we are going to be making the following changes/upgrades to the pool:

1 - installing a Jandy CL580 Cartridge Filter (being installed in two weeks);

then in the fall:

1 - replacing the concrete deck
2 - replacing the coping stones
3 - replacing tiles along the water line
4 - new skimmer and pool lines
5 - sandblast the pool surface
6 - new plaster
7 - converting to a salt water system

Lots of planning over the summer months while we get ready for the work to take place.

Yes post pics for sure! Do you have automation? With this renovation it would be a good time to add it. Please fill out your sig line with pool details like size and equipment!

 

[Burfcr]

Hadn’t really thought about automation. Recommendations??

 

[mknauss]

Hadn’t really thought about automation. Recommendations??

Depends on what equipment you will have, specifically pump and SWCG. They and the automation really need to be from the same manufacturer. Once you decide that you can see if you want just a simple automation or all the way to smartphone control via an app.

Good luck.