Salt System Recommendation

[Albertgarrido]

Looking for recommendation. Pool owner for 20 years using only Bleach, Borax, and CYA charts on this board for those 20 years. People still think I’m crazy but every year my pool is crystal clear…thanks to this board.

However, now looking for a little more maintenance free and not have to go pour a gallon of bleach every few days as I find myself taking many 3 or 4 day trips as kids have left house, and can’t always get bleach in pool. Plus bleach is so darn expensive then 20 years ago.

Pool specifics:
Northern NJ
20x40 vinyl approx 35k gallons (probably less but being conservative)
2 skimmers 1 main drain (2 inch lines)
4 returns (1 1/2 inch lines)
Hayward pump/filter DE

I saw on here a recommendation for going with close to double capacity and going with CircuPool RJ60 but post is 3 years old, so just checking again.

Based on my pump and line sizes, I’ve calculated my pool water turns over in about 4 hours so I only have run filter for about 4 - 5 hours a day for 20 years and always have had crystal clear water.

1. Recommendations for which system. Is CircuPool RJ60 still best option?
2. How long will I need to run filter?

Thanks!
Al G.

 

[Newdude]

The RJ60+ is a beast. If you listen to them, it produces 50% more chlorine, for 50% longer than the other 60k units. Of course they say that.

But at worst it's still as good as the others, maybe a hair better, and It's cheaper.

How long will I need to run filter?

The SWG produces chlorine when it has enough flow. A longer runtime makes more chlorine. Your needed 'dose' will fluctuate from less, to alot, to less over the season just like with bleach.

Typically cells are rated for 24/7 use, so a 1X cell would make your peak season FC lost to UV. A 2X makes the same in 12 hours so that's about what you'd run mid season.

Use effects of adding in the upper left menu of PoolMath. Select swg and the units and you can mess with hours and % to see how much theyll produce. % is the % of the hours the cell is on. 100 for 12 hours is the same as 50% for 24 hours. Etc etc.

 

[sande005]

Also consider:
There are a variety of on-line calculators for this, but using one version it estimates your yearly cost (6 mo) for your current pump is ~$190 running 5 hr per day . Getting a VS pump and running it on low 24/7 would lower your seasonal cost to ~$45.
Depending on what you get, it may take 4-5 years for payback. BUT in those years (and beyond) you get an even cleaner pool due to constant skimming/circulation AND can run the SWCG at a much lower setting, since it has more hours to add what you need. That would give you more margin to up the Cl addition rate if there are times you otherwise might be getting close to it's max capacity.

 

[Albertgarrido]

I spent the last two hours reading and learning how the system works in addition to what you guys have provided above. Based on that, I’ve come up with the following.

Generally speaking, right now I put about 3 gallons of 12.5% bleach in my pool every week. On a particularly hot and/or heavy use week, I may add 1 more gallon. But basically I add a gallon every other day.

According to the specifications, the RJ 60 max output is 3.1 pounds of chlorine per 24 hours. This is the equivalent of 2.48 gallons of bleach. So running the pool pump 24 hours with the RJ60 at 100% power level produces 2.48 gallons of 12.5% bleach. 12 hours produces 1.24 gallons, 6 hours produces .62 gallons.

If I run the pump 6 hours per day , that would produce 4.34 gallons per week (.62 x 7 days).

There may be arguments to run the pool longer at a lower power level for one reason or another, or whether I should have more chlorine in my pool, but the math still works out the same.

Given this information, I will probably be purchasing the RJ60 this winter and install myself it right before opening my pool.


Anything flawed in my assumptions and math?

 

[mknauss]

I would not bank on that SWCG performing at peak as you are assuming. I would use 2 lb of chlorine gas creation in your estimation.

 

[Newdude]

Anything flawed in my assumptions and math?

Just the cell output as said above. When using the standard 2 lbs/day for 60k units, it's a hair over 1000 jugs worth of FC. They'd cost over $6100 out the door at Walmart, enough to pay for the cell, a new VS pump, and pocket a chunk too.

The 3 HP Calimar is a great pump. I'd buy one tomorrow if my pentair pump died. The comp new pump is up to $2500 and they've lost their minds IMO.

 

[sande005]

As noted, the specs can be a bit overstated. But in any event, running the pump for 6 hrs at a higher SWCG setting is still "pulsing" the Cl adds - like adding a 3/4 gal slug of bleach once a day. You'll probably be always OK. But I like the idea of dribbling in the Cl on a more consistent basis, reducing the highs ( and, more importantly, the lows) of Cl availability. So it pretty much just stays at the target level all the time.

Between the liquid Cl savings, and the energy savings, you really ought to strongly consider the change out to a VS pump.

One other thing to be aware of - you will need some way to always make sure the SWCG never runs if the pump isn't running. Some setups can wire directly to the pump - so only when the pump runs does it turn on. Others may need a dual timer.

 

[Newdude]

So it pretty much just stays at the target level all the time

Not really. You're producing 24/7 but losing 100% of the loss in 6 to 8 hours. SWG pools definitely swing and it bites people.

24/7 is the only way IMO, but from a loss prospective, running 6 hours mid day would produce less swing.

Running hot absolves any concerns whatsoever. I dip to 10, maybe 9 FC, then get back near 12 before tomorrow's loss.