Newb needing plenty of pool guidance

[Brink05]

Hello,
My hubby and I have had an in-ground pool for ~3 years and have been sort of learning as we go so to speak.
Long story short…ish lol we are replacing our liner in a few weeks and are trying to decide what chemical system to use.
I have very very sensitive skin and wanted to stear away from chloine but it seems that may be what we need to do. Perma-salt is a joke that the previous owners used and we got roped into at our local Family Leisure store. Ugh!
I’ve recently been recommended BaQcil but after seeing the thread am pretty sure that’s a bad idea no?
So, with that, does anyone know anything about Pristine blue systems? Unfortunatly due to replacing the liner we have to stick with our cartridge filter but were also thinking about switching to sand.

 

[Brink05]

Hey all-

Posting here as well JIC, hubby and I will be replacing our pool line (long story) in a few weeks. I have very very sensitive skin and wanted to stear away from chloine but it seems that may be what we need to do. Perma-salt is a joke that the previous owners used and we got roped into at our local Family Leisure store. Ugh!
I’ve recently been recommended BaQcil but after seeing the thread am pretty sure that’s a bad idea no?
So, with that, does anyone know anything about Pristine blue systems?
Unfortunatly due to replacing the liner we have to stick with our cartridge filter but were also thinking about sand filter too.

 

[PoolStored]

Pristine blue systems

WELCCOME TO TFP!!!

It is a copper based system. We don't recommend it.

Copper in Pool Water - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

We recommend either liquid chlorine or Salt Water Chlorine Generator to sanitize your pool. You might find that a salt water pool is good for your skin.

 

[Brink05]

It is a copper based system. We don't recommend it.

Copper in Pool Water - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

We recommend either liquid chlorine or Salt Water Chlorine Generator to sanitize your pool. You might find that a salt water pool is good for your skin.

We have to work with the filter system we have so we need something we don’t have to replace a filtration system on. I was told you don’t use a cartridge system with salt. I was also told salt ruins the liners faster. :/

 

[PoolStored]

I was told you don’t use a cartridge system with salt. I was also told salt ruins the liners faster. :/

Both of these statement are false.

We have 100s of thousands of salt pools with cartridges here, and cartridges are actually preferred.

A salt pool is a chlorine pool and a chlorine pool is a salt pool. After 2 years of using liquid chlorine, my pool was 2200ppm Salt. Liquid chlorine leaves salt in the pool after it does its job. With my SWCG, I keep my salt at 3000ppm.

Low pH and leaving chemicals in contact with the vinyl liner cause the most damage to liners.

 

[Brink05]

Both of these statement are false.

We have 100s of thousands of salt pools with cartridges here, and cartridges are actually preferred.

A salt pool is a chlorine pool and a chlorine pool is a salt pool. After 2 years of using liquid chlorine, my pool was 2200ppm Salt. Liquid chlorine leaves salt in the pool after it does its job. With my SWCG, I keep my salt at 3000ppm.

I have no idea what all the lingo is, I know PPM is parts per million but that’s about it. I also don’t know about SWCG either.
Also, I was told I’d need a different system for salt, IE like the hose connections from the filter tower to the pool and motor.

 

[PoolStored]

Sorry about that...

SWCG = Salt Water Chlorine Generator.

Also, I was told I’d need a different system for salt, IE like the hose connections from the filter tower to the pool and motor.

Might be helpful if you posted a picture of your equipment setup, and fill out your signature. Knowing the type of pool and equipment will help us help you!

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Brink05]

Sorry about that...

SWCG = Salt Water Chlorine Generator.


Might be helpful if you posted a picture of your equipment setup, and fill out your signature. Knowing the type of pool and equipment will help us help you!

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

What if I don’t realy know that? It still has the old permasalt hook up if that helps? It’s an 24’ above ground. I know it doesn’t “backwash” option we’ve never done it. The previous home owners left it so I don’t really know specs.

 

[PoolStored]

What if I don’t realy know that? It still has the old permasalt hook up if that helps? It’s an 24’ above ground. I know it doesn’t “backwash” option we’ve never done it. The previous home owners left it so I don’t really know specs.

No worries, post a picture...we are really good at figuring out what you have, and the best options for you to proceed.

 

[Brink05]

No worries, post a picture...we are really good at figuring out what you have, and the best options for you to proceed.

What all do you need to see? The filter and hookups?

 

[PoolStored]

The filter and hookups?

Yep!!

 

[Oly]

Welcome to TFP.

 

[Mdragger88]

Hey neighbor
You can definitely go with a salt water chlorine generator (a real one that actually produces chlorine) & just remove the perma salt thingy. You can certainly keep the pump & filter you have now.
The salt cell & flow switch should be plumbed after the filter in the line that the water returns to the pool. (Likely where the permasalt thing is now)
It looks like your pool volume is around 13,500 gallons. TFP recommends a swg that is rated for at least 2x’s your pool’s volume so a 30k or 40k gallon rated system will work well. The larger it is the less you have to run it & the longer it will live- if you have a single speed pump (Fam Leisure pools generally do) that’s extremely helpful for the electric bill.
A well balanced chlorine/swg pool doesn’t have any of the common issues that people tend to blame on chlorine- to the contrary, those issues are usually due to lack of proper sanitation that cause elevated cc’s (chlorine smell) & irritated skin/eyes also caused by improper ph.
To prevent all these issues a proper test kit is a must whether you manually chlorinate or have a swg that chlorinates the pool for you. Either the tf100/pro or taylor k2006c with the salt test added if you go that route.
Test Kits Compared
Here’s some great information to help clear up misconceptions.

How to Chlorinate Your Pool

Before chlorinating your pool, you should know these simple tips. Learn the best way to add chlorine to your pool.

www.google.com

Pool Care Basics

Alternative sanitizers and "chemical free" pools--The Truth!

Pool owners frequently seek out "Chemical Free" alternatives to pool water sanitization. Many claims in favor of these systems and methods have been made (usually by the manufacturers of such systems) often without adequate scientific proof of their efficacy. Let's take a look at them and see...

www.google.com

 

[woodyp]

If it truly is a sensitivity to actual chlorine you have (rare)......be advised and of good cheer by realizing you can run salt water generator at lower chlorine levels. It takes out those "spikes" of adding a bunch and losing back down to your minimum since it is almost constantly adding a tad.

 

[V___25]

Hello and welcome! FWIW, I have ridiculously sensitive skin too so I feel your pain (I can only use zinc sunblock, no fragrance or perfumes of any kind in soaps, lotions, detergent, etc) and I was very afraid of my skin and chlorine. I've been in public pools and friends pools where my skin was a disaster afterwards. But by using only liquid chlorine to properly maintain the pool and keeping the pH in check, I have had zero skin problems. My skin never has that "chlorine smell" when I get out. I do shower as soon as possible just in case but it's been fine. We don't have a saltwater generator so if that isn't an option for you right now, try just the liquid chlorine.

 

[Newdude]

I have very very sensitive skin and wanted to stear away from chloine

Let's put this to bed. Maintaining the free chlorine at the proper sanitizing levels with respect to the CYA level (FC/CYA Levels), makes it less harsh than tap water with 0 CYA and up to 3 or 4 FC. If you aren't bothered by taking a shower, you'll be fine with a TFP pool.

I was bothered by almost every pool I'd ever been in. It turns out that my friends that seemed like old pros, had zero clue what they were doing. Public pools were even worse.

 

[Brink05]

Hey neighbor
You can definitely go with a salt water chlorine generator (a real one that actually produces chlorine) & just remove the perma salt thingy. You can certainly keep the pump & filter you have now.
The salt cell & flow switch should be plumbed after the filter in the line that the water returns to the pool. (Likely where the permasalt thing is now)
It looks like your pool volume is around 13,500 gallons. TFP recommends a swg that is rated for at least 2x’s your pool’s volume so a 30k or 40k gallon rated system will work well. The larger it is the less you have to run it & the longer it will live- if you have a single speed pump (Fam Leisure pools generally do) that’s extremely helpful for the electric bill.
A well balanced chlorine/swg pool doesn’t have any of the common issues that people tend to blame on chlorine- to the contrary, those issues are usually due to lack of proper sanitation that cause elevated cc’s (chlorine smell) & irritated skin/eyes also caused by improper ph.
To prevent all these issues a proper test kit is a must whether you manually chlorinate or have a swg that chlorinates the pool for you. Either the tf100/pro or taylor k2006c with the salt test added if you go that route.
Test Kits Compared
Here’s some great information to help clear up misconceptions.

How to Chlorinate Your Pool

Before chlorinating your pool, you should know these simple tips. Learn the best way to add chlorine to your pool.

www.google.com

Pool Care Basics

Alternative sanitizers and "chemical free" pools--The Truth!

Pool owners frequently seek out "Chemical Free" alternatives to pool water sanitization. Many claims in favor of these systems and methods have been made (usually by the manufacturers of such systems) often without adequate scientific proof of their efficacy. Let's take a look at them and see...

www.google.com

And how much would the salt thingy cost?

 

[Brink05]

Hello and welcome! FWIW, I have ridiculously sensitive skin too so I feel your pain (I can only use zinc sunblock, no fragrance or perfumes of any kind in soaps, lotions, detergent, etc) and I was very afraid of my skin and chlorine. I've been in public pools and friends pools where my skin was a disaster afterwards. But by using only liquid chlorine to properly maintain the pool and keeping the pH in check, I have had zero skin problems. My skin never has that "chlorine smell" when I get out. I do shower as soon as possible just in case but it's been fine. We don't have a saltwater generator so if that isn't an option for you right now, try just the liquid chlorine.

Ok, where is the best place to go for that? Just Amazon? What brands are best?

 

[clambert1273]

Ok, where is the best place to go for that? Just Amazon? What brands are best?

I got mine directly from circupool

 

[IceShadow]

And how much would the salt thingy cost?

Depends on brand and how "big" of a cell you want (in terms of how big of a pool it's rated for). Usually you want one rated for at least 2x the size of the pool you have because otherwise they don't last nearly as long.

They range in cost right now from about $1k to about $2k depending on brand/size/etc. for the cell and the control unit. If you need to have a pool company install they probably will run about twice that to include their markup and labor. The cell itself will last typically about 5-7 years before needing replacement. Who knows what they will cost then - right now, the cell without the control unit is about $500-$1.5k.

It's still way cheaper than the money you'd be spending in chlorine over those 5-7 years to keep the pool at a sanitary level. You just have to pay up front instead of as you go. (But that also means it's more inflation-proof - just look at liquid chlorine prices now or feint and look at chlorine tab prices.)

There's also cost to add salt but that's typically under $100, and you only really need to replenish salt if you've had a lot of water removed from the pool (heavy rains requiring you to drain some, draining for winter closing, etc.).