Salt Water Generator with Ultimate Radiance Pool

[gdmacfarlane]

I installed a new pool at the beginning of last season. I have the Frog Leap system which has worked fine last year. This year, I am having trouble maintaining the chlorine where it should be and the water has gotten cloudy at times. I am thinking about replacing it with a salt water generator. I considered this at the time, but my builder said it is a bad idea with a steel wall pool. I have seen videos on the internet of metal pools collapsing because the saltwater weakened the seams. At the same time, my brother has had a salt water generator installed on his steel walled vinyl liner pool for more than 17 years. My pool is installed semi-inground, which I suspect may be relevant here.

Any advice is welcome. I am going to try to dig up my warranty to see if it is voided by using a SWG.

 

[Texas Splash]

At the same time, my brother has had a salt water generator installed on his steel walled vinyl liner pool for more than 17 years.

That speaks volumes right there. We see posts here all the time about salesman or builders who shy away from SWGs and (IMO) don't even fully understand the chemistry behind their position. Virtually all pools are chlorine, and all pools have salt in them, whether added directly or as a byproduct from other chemicals. The biggest factor that will drive the longevity of a pool is how well the materials are made. When it comes to metal framed pools, they talk a big game about durability and longevity. Later when defects start to surface, we find out the material itself was substandard or poorly painted/protected at the factory. The minute it gets its first scuff or scratch it's over, and the salesman, builder, or manufactures immediately points to chemistry as their way out.

 

[gdmacfarlane]

Yes. My good friend who introduced me to the TFP forum talked to me about the relationship between salt water and chlorine. My take away is that, no matter how you do make it, you end up with the same product. In this view- the pool is going to last or it isn't.

I am just gun shy about doing anything that will shorten the life expectancy of my pool...

That speaks volumes right there. We see posts here all the time about salesman or builders who shy away from SWGs and (IMO) don't even fully understand the chemistry behind their position. Virtually all pools are chlorine, and all pools have salt in them, whether added directly or as a byproduct from other chemicals. The biggest factor that will drive the longevity of a pool is how well the materials are made. When it comes to metal framed pools, they talk a big game about durability and longevity. Later when defects start to surface, we find out the material itself was substandard or poorly painted/protected at the factory. The minute it gets its first scuff or scratch it's over, and the salesman, builder, or manufactures immediately points to chemistry as their way

 

[Davegnh]

Another good thread discussion steal with SWG.

Considering SWG for Vinyl Liner Pool

I am considering adding a SWG to our 26K gallon Vinyl liner pool in NJ. I grabbed 6 containers of chlorine from the pool store before NJ shut non essential businesses with intentions of opening beginning of April, depending upon weather. My current setup is dosing liquid 12.5% hypo direct from...

www.troublefreepool.com

It really comes down to the quality of the materials and the treatments they put on the steel. If it's going to rust it's going to rust either way. a good comparison I think of is cars running in the Northeast in the rust belt. I've had cars 10 plus years old that looked brand new underneath. I've had other cars after a year every nut bolt and seam was rusted. It just comes down to choice of materials and treatments of the metal.

Since it's been a couple years you might want to take a good hard look at all the exposed steel components to see if you see any sign of corrosion.

 

[Davegnh]

Are you sure they're steel supports?

I just did a quick Google search on ultimate radiance pools and it mentioned aluminum?

Ultimate Radiance Pools has an all-aluminum, extra heavy duty, anodized frame that is ideal for above, semi and in ground applications. It is proudly made in the USA, using the same engineering technologies that build various airplanes, skyscrapers and spacecraft.