RJ-45+ Woes

[JackHarkness]

Hi all..

Had my circupool RJ-45 for a while now.

. I run at 90% for 6 hours of pump time. I have a 11,200 [whatever it says in my signature...might be off here] gallon pool (depth calculated for accuracy). I added CYA to the pool in the form of liquid CYA that dissolves super easy - but it seems it may not be enough...today I tested it using my K-2006C kit with R-0871 titration and determined the FC is 2.5 ppm fasdpd. It's under the minimum..and I'm pretty sure for my CYA it needs to be perhaps higher?

I'm surprised running it at 90% for my pool size (which is far under 45,000 gallons) is still struggling to give it the appropriate levels of minimum chlorine! I'm kind of stumped as to why it is so unbearably low at 90%. I did a OFCLT a while back and dumped a bunch of liquid chlorine in the pool and it fulfilled all the conditions after 24 hours....so I'm not sure. It can't be an invisible algae outbreak can it? Perhaps I need more CYA and I don't know it. Admittedly ran out of Taylor Reagent for that....I realize my post isn't terribly specific..sorry for that.

Kinda stumped on this one.......I don't brush my pool everyday...I admit I'm medically unable to. And sometime there is a bit of yellowing at the bottom of the pool...seems like algae. The water at the top is clear....

 

[ajw22]

Your RJ45 running at 90% for 4 hours will generate 4.8 ppm of FC/day.

What is your CYA level?

Having done a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test in Februsary does not mean you don't have an algae problem today. So do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test now.

Crank up your pump and run it 8 hours/day so you get 6.4 ppm/day.

Post a complete set of test results in your PoolMath logs. Your last test posted was in February,

 

[JackHarkness]

If I recall it might be producing a certain amount of FC/day - but that's also getting used up is it not? I do technically see some algae at the bottom (yellowish) but when I did the OCLT - it never dropped befopre then. Does algae form if the pool isn't brushed for long periods of time despite FC being there? Not sure how it happened.

I mean how many times is one expected to keep doing an Overnight chlorine loss test? I may be missing something here. I'm also not able to buy liquid chlorine anymore due to my budget.

I can't do 8 hours a day on my pump. Is that really necessary ? I'm rather surprised for my 11 thousand gallon pool, this RJ-45 meant for pools way bigger than mine is having to run at 90%. I thought that's a bad thing. I'll admit...initially I misunderstood the math and was running it only 30% output 7 days a week - 6 hours each day. This may have ended up causing algae....

I have to buy the CYA reagent...will take me time

 

[Bperry]

If I recall it might be producing a certain amount of FC/day - but that's also getting used up is it not? I do technically see some algae at the bottom (yellowish) but when I did the OCLT - it never dropped befopre then. Does algae form if the pool isn't brushed for long periods of time despite FC being there? Not sure how it happened.

I mean how many times is one expected to keep doing an Overnight chlorine loss test? I may be missing something here. I'm also not able to buy liquid chlorine anymore due to my budget.

I can't do 8 hours a day on my pump. Is that really necessary ? I'm rather surprised for my 11 thousand gallon pool, this RJ-45 meant for pools way bigger than mine is having to run at 90%. I thought that's a bad thing.

I have to buy the CYA reagent...will take me time

The rating on the RJ45 is calculated on a 24 hour run time. Your running it much less than 24 hours per day so it’s not able to generate enough.

4.8lbs of FC should be enough to keep the water sanitized, unless you have an algae bloom going on. If you see algae, that means it’s blooming and likely why your current settings aren’t enough. If you can SLAM it to get rid of the algae, that may allow the RJ45 to do better at its current setting.

 

[ajw22]

Does algae form if the pool isn't brushed for long periods of time despite FC being there?

Algae develops a biofilm around it that is a hardened shell that protects it from chlorine.

Brushing the pool breaks the biofilm and allows the chlorine to attack the algae. If you don't brush your chlorine is not as effective and you can have algae growing while you have the proper FC level.

I mean how many times is one expected to keep doing an Overnight chlorine loss test?

Anytime you see or suspect you have algae in your pool. the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test will confirm if the SLAM Process is necessary to kill off algae.

I'm also not able to buy liquid chlorine anymore due to my budget.

You need to chlorinate your pool adequately or accept that your pool will have algae in it and may not be sanitary.

I can't do 8 hours a day on my pump. Is that really necessary ? I'm rather surprised for my 11 thousand gallon pool, this RJ-45 meant for pools way bigger than mine is having to run at 90%. I thought that's a bad thing. I'll admit...initially I misunderstood the math and was running it only 30% output 7 days a week - 6 hours each day. This may have ended up causing algae....

Inadequate chlorine generation plus inadequate brushing can leave you with an algae problem.

You need to break this cycle, get your pool algae free, and then maintain it that way.

 

[JackHarkness]

Algae develops a biofilm around it that is a hardened shell that protects it from chlorine.

Brushing the pool breaks the biofilm and allows the chlorine to attack the algae. If you don't brush your chlorine is not as effective and you can have algae growing while you have the proper FC level.



Anytime you see or suspect you have algae in your pool. the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test will confirm if the SLAM Process is necessary to kill off algae.



You need to chlorinate your pool adequately or accept that your pool will have algae in it and may not be sanitary.


Inadequate chlorine generation plus inadequate brushing can leave you with an algae problem.

You need to break this cycle, get your pool algae free, and then maintain it that way.

I'll admit - ever since I hurt my back I haven't been able to brush the pool on an every other day basis. It goes a week before I brush it usually. I didn't realize algae forms a biofilm.

I know that before I did an output of 30% - I had the OCLT passed, and this could have caused an algae bloom since it was 30% output for only 6 hours.

Assuming I SLAM again - and the RJ 45 manages to produce the FC necessary - is it possible to get away with not brushing everyday to prevent algae? Or can it still form? Just to clarify I believe you mentioned algae can grow even at proper FC levels without brushing. I never knew this! x_X

Thank you both for your help

 

[ajw22]

You should brush at least weekly. But you need to learn what you pool needs and if it needs brushing two or three times a week to keep the chlorine effective with your algae then it is what it is.

Basic Pool Care Schedule

This basic pool care schedule can guide you in creating your own pool care routine. Regular pool maintenance will keep your water sparkling!

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