Just a quick update, being a new pool owner, I've learned a lot. Still learning.
Pool has been converted to salt and I'm working on dialing in the hours the pump is on and the percentage of the SWG. The initial pool service guy set up the pump to run from 8am to 3pm, 2200 rpms on the pump. I haven't changed this, not sure how much savings a lower pump speed will be and what if any impact pump speed has on skimmer efficiency. Since the rest of the yard isn't landscaped yet (and the fact it's spring), small debris sits on top of the pool. Seems to take forever to get "skimmed" out, if at all. I'm thinking of getting a fine mesh skimmer net to manually remove the debris. It's not excessive, it just messes with the look of otherwise great looking water. Not sure if there is any "tuning" I need to do to the returns, the skimmer, etc.
With the 8am to 3pm, 2200 pump speed, and 21% on the SWG, I'm hitting around 4ppm in chlorine pretty consistently. I'd like to dial that down a bit - better to reduce pump speed or SWG percentage?
I've got the testing down. Here's my latest numbers:
FC - 4
Ph 7.8
TA 80
CH 350
CYA 60
Salt 3800
On the salt, the pool guy was trying to hit 3600. The latest salt test kit measure is 3800, the SWG is showing a 3350 measured salt level. I'm assuming it's probably somewhere in between so I'm not touching it.
I'm surprised how much acid I'm having to add to the pool, but maybe that's just the nature of a new pool. I'm adding about a quart every other day. pH frequently tests at 8.2, drops to 7.6 when I add MA. I've gotten it lower than 7.6, but not often. I was originally doing more MA and using the waterfalls to get the TA down. TA has been stable at 80. Since the SWG was turned on, no other chemicals. Before that, just added bleach - pool guy dialed in the CYA during the initial startup service. I've got MA and baking soda stocked - don't think I'll need anything else.
Bubble solar cover works great, during a warm stretch we got the pool up to 85 degrees. A pain to remove and put on, but it is what it is. We plumbed for solar, but we are waiting till next year to spend money on that. I'm already seeing the value in it.
Warrior SE robot (S200) is working great. I drop it in every 2-3 days. Brushing weekly. I did my initial post construction filter cartridge cleaning but was told I don't need to do it again until end of season (or if PSI pops - it's steady at 5).
ScreenLogic app is working great, even away from home. The LED lights were totally worth the extra cost - nightly light scenes are a nice addition to our still new yard (maybe next year we'll finish landscaping, covid impacts definitely disrupted things).
I welcome any feedback. This forum has been a great resource.