Salt generator/pump question

[msj288]

Hi everyone! My husband and i are completely new to pool ownership and just had an inground pool installed 2 wks ago. I have a few questions regarding pump and salt generator. The pool was installed while my husband and I were away and we've been trying to get the pool installers back to give us a quick orientation on the equipment, but haven't been able to reach them. The pool company came and configured the pump and salt generator. Initially wjen we got back it was reading 1200. The walls and floor became slimy and slippery while we were away, so we scrubbed and added liquid chlorine till the pool company came. They came this Monday added more salt and brought it up to 3600. Initially the main pump was set to run 24/7, but I noticed the set it to run every 14hrs. I checked the chemistry and we had 0 free chlorine and normal total chlorine, so I felt it needed to run more because the salt generator indicated no flow while pump was off. Long story short, the pool company didn't balance anything and we had no free chlorine for a couple of days despite the salt generator working, and no advice from company. My husband and I added more chlorine and configured the pump to run 24/7 so the salt generator would run. Is this safe to do? I've read salt generators shouldn't be on all the time? Before the pump and generator ran depending on whatver time we set the little wheel, but now it seems to run exclusively witj the pump timer. Were we wrong to cjange the pool companys settings? Sorry for the long explanation, but I'm at my wits end trying to reach the pool installer and company. Any help you can give is much appreciated.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Let me try to answer some of your question, then ask you for a few things:
- A salt cell can run 24/7. Mine does. Whether you run at 100% output for 12 hours or 50% output for 24 hours, it equals the same amount of usage.
- No amount of mechanical filtration will kill algae. Since you already ID'd algae, you'll want to follow the SLAM Process.
- What type of pool do you have? Plaster, vinyl, fiberglass? Be sure to update your signature with all of that stuff. See my signaure as an example.
- First & foremost we need to see a full set of accurate water test results. If you don't already have a TF-100 (Series) test kit or Taylor K-2006C, that should be step #1. Never trust test strips or local testing.

Let's start there and expand on what to do next.

 

[Texas Splash]

Some items to assist you.

Test Kits

tftestkits.net

Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared

What pool test kit should I buy? Why shouldn't I use test strips? Our recommended test kits will pay for themselves in no time!

www.troublefreepool.com

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Jimrahbe]

288,

show us several pics of your equipment pad...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[reggiehammond]

Post up a few photos of your equipment pad and the folks here can explain what you have and how it works.
You're going to need the SLAM Process to get the pool back to sanitary, but once there, we can work on adjusting pump speed and time to use the least amount of electricity and give you the most trouble free operation possible.

 

[msj288]

Thank you all for feedback! So I know chlorine won't hold without CYA, which is why FC is back at 0 again. Early this morning I put some more liquid chlorine and before I left for work FC was 10 and so was total chlorine. However my husband checked during his lunch break and total chlorine is a 3 and FC is 0. Other numbers are as follows:
Total hardness 0
Bromine 0
CYA 0
TA 80
PH 7.2

I also have an aquarite 900 SWG
Hayward Tristar variable speed pump 900
And hayward de filter

I ran the SWG to superchlorinate for a few hrs yesterday and last night it was 3100, from 3600. Today it's 2800.

 

[msj288]

Some items to assist you.

Test Kits

tftestkits.net

Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared

What pool test kit should I buy? Why shouldn't I use test strips? Our recommended test kits will pay for themselves in no time!

www.troublefreepool.com

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Thank you, it'll be here tomorrow lol

 

[Texas Splash]

Thank you, it'll be here tomorrow lol

That will make all the difference. Accurate testing is always #1. Be sure to update your signature with the test kit you ordered. When it arrives, follow the instructions and post the following:
FC
CC
CYA
PH
TA
CH

If you have any questions let us know.

 

[msj288]

Hi everyone, is it normal to lose salt so quickly? Monday when the pool company came they added salt and it was 3400 set at 100%, with the pump scheduled to rub from 11am to 6 PM. Since we weren't producing any FC, we set the pump to run 24/7 so the SWG can run, as well as changed to super chlorinated for a few hrs on Tuesday. I noticed it didn't do much so I switched it back to auto and it was at 3100. Yesterday it was st 2800 and now it's 2700. I have electronic salt tester and there's about a 300 difference between the tester and the SWG screen. Is this normal or should I dial the SWG done to lower percentages or shut off?

 

[proavia]

Measure salt content with a drop based test kit - Taylor K-1766 or the two separate reagents available from TFTestkits. Electronic salt testers use conductivity, which may or may not accurately reflect the actual salt level.

After salt was added and brushed to fully dissolve, did you run the pump non-stop for at least 24 hours to fully distribute the salt throughout the water column before turning the SWG on?

Setting the SWG to super chlorinate sets the unit to 100% for 24 hours - at which point the SWG goes back to whatefer percentage it is set to.

Is the SWG indicating low salt? If not and the SWG is on, it should be generating chlorine.
4The SWG has a cycle time - I think it's 180 minutes for Hayward.. If the percentage is set to 50%, it will generate for 90 minutes and rest for 90 minutes. This cycle will repeat throughout the pump runtime.

 

[msj288]

Measure salt content with a drop based test kit - Taylor K-1766 or the two separate reagents available from TFTestkits. Electronic salt testers use conductivity, which may or may not accurately reflect the actual salt level.

After salt was added and brushed to fully dissolve, did you run the pump non-stop for at least 24 hours to fully distribute the salt throughout the water column before turning the SWG on?

Setting the SWG to super chlorinate sets the unit to 100% for 24 hours - at which point the SWG goes back to whatefer percentage it is set to.

Is the SWG indicating low salt? If not and the SWG is on, it should be generating chlorine.
4The SWG has a cycle time - I think it's 180 minutes for Hayward.. If the percentage is set to 50%, it will generate for 90 minutes and rest for 90 minutes. This cycle will repeat throughout the pump runtime.

The pool company added the salt on Monday and ran the pump from 11am to 6 pm. We had to turn it on the next daybecaise we noticed the SWG would indicate no flo wjen the pump was off. The SWG isn't indicating low salt. I looked up how to recalibrate it, and now the haywards SWG screen is back at 2800. However it's concerning how much it dropped from Monday. I'm not sure if that's normal. We get a lot of sun where I'm at. And after slamming the pool, still can't quote maintain FC, but I figure that's due to no cya according to my test strip. My taylor k-2006 salt test arrives today so I'll know for sure. I can't get to pool store since I get out of work too late, so I guess I'll just add more shock to hold me over. I know it's not accurate but the test strip this AM indicated

Total hardness 0
FC 0 in the evening I managed to get up up to 1, but zero this AM
TC 3
CYA 0
TA 80
PH 7.8

I called the pool company again, and the woman told me salt water pools don't produce FC, so a 0 reading is normal and all that matters is that the TC. And for FC to be added, we would need to add that ourselves. I found her explanation very odd since everything I read seems to indicated otherwise. It would help if they'd send someone to orient us to the equipment, but I was told the person who does that is out sick

 

[Newdude]

I called the pool company again, and the woman told me salt water pools don't produce FC, so a 0 reading is normal and all that matters is that the TC

So according to her, your salt water chlorine generator doesn't in fact generate Free chlorine, but does make Total Chlorine (FC+CC) without it ?

She needs to be ignored entirely.

Best wishes for a speedy test kit delivery. You're brand new at this and will be a bazillion times better than them instantly.

 

[proavia]

We need to know which exact cell is included with your SWG.
Based on cell capacity, you may or may not be running the SWG long enough daily to generate the chlorine your pool requires. The pump running for only 7 hours per day may not be long enough for the SWG to produce the necessary chlorine.

Fill out your signature with pool, all pool equipment (include manufadturers and model numbers) and test kit info.
This assists us in providing you help without needing to ask you each time for this important information.
Include you SWG cell capacity as well.

https://www.troublefreepool.com/account/signature

The person you spoke with at the pool company is clueless.

• SWG produce chlorine
• This shows as FC
• FC gets consumed as it kills nasties
• The byproduct of FC killing nasties may or may not show as CC (CC usually burns off pretty quickly in a properly sanitized pool)
• FC + CC = TC
• FC is necessay to properly sanitize the pool water

 

[msj288]

We need to know which exact cell is included with your SWG.
Based on cell capacity, you may or may not be running the SWG long enough daily to generate the chlorine your pool requires. The pump running for only 7 hours per day may not be long enough for the SWG to produce the necessary chlorine.

Fill out your signature with pool, all pool equipment (include manufadturers and model numbers) and test kit info.
This assists us in providing you help without needing to ask you each time for this important information.
Include you SWG cell capacity as well.

https://www.troublefreepool.com/account/signature

The person you spoke with at the pool company is clueless.

• SWG produce chlorine
• This shows as FC
• FC gets consumed as it kills nasties
• The byproduct of FC killing nasties may or may not show as CC (CC usually burns off pretty quickly in a properly sanitized pool)
• FC + CC = TC
• FC is necessay to properly sanitize the pool water

Sorry, I keep trying to add pool info and equipment in my sig. Hopefully it shows now. I also posted pics in my pervious post if it helps.

As far as the SWG, we changed the pool companies settings on tues as soon as we noticed it wasn't running long enough. So the pump and SWG are running 24/7, and its set on auto at 100%, so I'm not sure why it's not producing enough FC other than the cya. I'm going to go pick some up later this wk and hopefully that remedies it. However what's confusing is how much salt the SWG has consumed since Monday. 3400 to 2800 seems like a lot.

We have hayward aquarite 900 Turbo Cell
Hayward cartridge filter
Hayward Tristar 900
11,000 gallon vinyl pool

 

[Newdude]

Sorry, I keep trying to add pool info and equipment in my sig. Hopefully it shows now.

There's 2 spots and you were in the wrong one. Go buck wild adding relevant info here ;

https://www.troublefreepool.com/account/signature

However what's confusing is how much salt the SWG has consumed since Monday. 3400 to 2800 seems like a lot.

The SWG doesn't consume salt. It's lost to exchanging water, typically from rain overfilling us and then draining the mixed water.

 

[msj288]

There's 2 spots and you were in the wrong one. Go buck wild adding relevant info here ;

https://www.troublefreepool.com/account/signature

The SWG doesn't consume salt. It's lost to exchanging water, typically from rain overfilling us and then draining the mixed water.

That's the strange thing, we haven't had rain at all or have refilled/drained. :/ is that a normal occurance?

 

[Newdude]

That's the strange thing, we haven't had rain at all or have refilled/drained. :/ is that a normal occurance?

The k1766 salt test has a +/- 200 variance. So 3200 to 2800 is acceptable for 3000. Human error with imperfect sample size / drops will add a little more variance.

The cell reports with even more variances, as does the pool store and electronic testers.

Test strips are even worse.

 

[msj288]

The k1766 salt test has a +/- 200 variance. So 3200 to 2800 is acceptable for 3000. Human error with imperfect sample size / drops will add a little more variance.

The cell reports with even more variances, as does the pool store and electronic testers.

Test strips are even worse.

Thank you! I appreciate the help. I'm at my wits end with this pool company, especially after being told that SWG doesn't produce FC , I don't know if I can trust anything they say. They have yet to send anyone to go over what each valve does, or how our equipment works. And now it seems are bench jets have barely and pressure and produces a bubble or 2. It's all totally new equipment, and one skimmer had no debris, while the other had a couple lantern flies , so not sure what's going on there. *sigh* one thing at a time.

Anyway, I appreciate you all taking rhe time to answer all my newbie questions!!

 

[proavia]

Is your SWG cell a T5 or a 925?
The Hayward Aquarite 900 system is supposed to come with either a 925 (AQR925 - 25k gallon capacity) or 940 (AQR940 - 40k gallon capacity) cell according to Hayward's website.

Take pictures of your equipment pad from a few different angles and post them here. Show the entire pad in each picture.
Be sure that HDR and Live is OFF on your phone or the pics will be too large to upload here.

Also take and post a pic of the label on the SWG cell showing the model and serial number.