Strange Salt Cell Issue

[Bperry]

appreciate it, I am going to run some water to a local shop here and also see if they stock any of the test kits. I will report back some reading as soon as I have them.

Oh. Try taking the same water sample to two different shops and see what comes back. It’s sometimes entertaining.

 

[ajw22]

Oh. Try taking the same water sample to two different shops and see what comes back. It’s sometimes entertaining.

Why stop at two? How many pool stores are in the area?

 

[Newdude]

Why stop at two? How many pool stores are in the area?

 

[diesel1218]

I did have my pool water tested today they did not carry the 2006 version of the test so I am going to look online. I have uploaded the results of their test which is reading very different than what my new salt cell is reading. Also has me questioning my new pool tech.

 

[Newdude]

. I have uploaded the results of their test which is reading very different than what my new salt cell is reading. Also has me questioning my new pool tech.

I'll let the 2 dumbest kids in class duke it out for the honor. You'll be the top of the class once you get a reliable test kit and whatever the other 2 say will no longer matter. I don't give a rats patootie they got 3 right last time. They're D students at best and we're not going to cheat off of then under any circumstances.


Also, 'salinity salt' sounds fancy. I bet it's spendy.

 

[diesel1218]

I dont really know if any other store to be honest with you. I think I just need to get a solid test kit. I dont even know if I want a pool service person anymore.

 

[diesel1218]

View attachment 545533
There's 2 price tiers. The TF100 VS K2006 and the TFpro VS K2006*C*.

For the cheaper bracket, the TF100 is the hands down winner with 2.7X the supplies. A literal no brainer.

For the pricier bracket, the K2006C was 'commercial'. It has less FC/CYA tests that you'll do more often and more CH/TA tests that you won't. So you'll likely be replacing half of it early and throwing out the expired other half. Then the TFpro includes a $48 stirring device that you really really want. Adding it to any of the other kits bumps their price. The difference in cost at that point between the TF100 + smart stir and the TFpro goes to the nicer TFpro case for a couple bucks.

I've had both and while the TF100 was entirely functional, having the bottles lined up in order is SUPER nice to not have to fish around because they aren't organized in the TF100 case. For the small price difference of the TF100 + smartstir, you'll appreciate it time and time again.

Also, either TF kit is available with a SLAM option, which is great for newbs and/or those with swamps who will both be testing more often and might blow through the normal supplies for FC/CYA.

Also also, either TF kit is available in a salt version which bundles the $30 salt test kit for $20 more. What's not to love ?

thanks for this break down. I was looking at the TF PRO Salt vs the 2006 Salt appears the TF PRO is 170 now vs 99 for the 2006 Salt. Obviously the stir is nice to have. Is there anything else I am missing on the large difference in price?

 

[Newdude]

I dont even know if I want a pool service person anymore.

You don't.

In a mere couple of weeks you'll be your own pools pro and poolcare becomes a joke. It's a mix between boring and fun. Boring because you'll just sense what the tests will say before you run them, which will make it fun. The only thing you'd benefit from the pool service is the physical aspect of cleaning the pool. Some can't be bothered and others have physical limitations. But with the money saved, you could buy a new robot every year or two with the money saved (depending on how fancy the robot was), and the robots would likey last longer than that.

. I was looking at the TF PRO Salt vs the 2006 Salt appears the TF PRO is 170 now vs 99 for the 2006 Salt

The 2006 (no C) is too small and you'll blow though it in less than a season. The TF100 has 2.7 times the regular supplies and the same amount of the salt test.

The TFpro compares to the 2006*C*. And the TFpro has better supply amounts to how we use them, plus the stirrer, plus the nicer case.

 

[diesel1218]

You don't.

In a mere couple of weeks you'll be your own pools pro and poolcare becomes a joke. It's a mix between boring and fun. Boring because you'll just sense what the tests will say before you run them, which will make it fun. The only thing you'd benefit from the pool service is the physical aspect of cleaning the pool. Some can't be bothered and others have physical limitations. But with the money saved, you could buy a new robot every year or two with the money saved (depending on how fancy the robot was), and the robots would likey last longer than that.

The 2006 (no C) is too small and you'll blow though it in less than a season. The TF100 has 2.7 times the regular supplies and the same amount of the salt test.

The TFpro compares to the 2006*C*. And the TFpro has better supply amounts to how we use them, plus the stirrer, plus the nicer case.

Is there an app to plug the results into, to let me know what I need to buy? Do you buy supplies somewhere online or a local pool supply shop?

 

[Turbo1Ton]

thanks for this break down. I was looking at the TF PRO Salt vs the 2006 Salt appears the TF PRO is 170 now vs 99 for the 2006 Salt. Obviously the stir is nice to have. Is there anything else I am missing on the large difference in price?

I bought my setup 4 years ago, prior to the TFPro Salt. I bought the TF-100 and the stirrer. I looked for every excuse I could to buy a TFPro Salt when they released it, but ultimately couldn't do it because I already had all the stuff, just not the fancy case. I would 100% buy the TFPro Salt tomorrow, if all my stuff were stolen today. And I'd fight someone if they tried to take my stirrer.

--Jeff

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Is there an app to plug the results into, to let me know what I need to buy? Do you buy supplies somewhere online or a local pool supply shop?

The only chemicals I have needed are liquid chlorine (during the colder months), salt, and muriatic acid. I get it all at Lowe's or Home Depot.

--Jeff

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Poolmath is the app. It is one of the only apps I pay for. Well worth the $8 a year.

--Jeff

 

[diesel1218]

Thank you all I am sold on the TFPro Salt.. Going to order it now. Is there a section of the forum I should go to when I get my test kit? Sorry I cam straight here to post about this salt cell that still needs to get addressed by the contractor and missed all the other sections of this site.

 

[diesel1218]

Sorry another question, do I need the slam option?

 

[Newdude]

The free version of PoolMath works great, but the premium version ($8 yearly as said above) allows you to save all your test logs and we can see them too. Many times we have reverse engineered a problem from those past tests, or spotted a trend and stopped a problem from happening in the first place.

Do you buy supplies somewhere online or a local pool supply shop?

I get puritech CYA from Amazon to start the season, and i shop around locally for salt in the early spring. Many times water softener / solar salt is a few bucks cheaper a bag than the pool stuff. This last year the pool stuff was cheaper. Either way it can be found under $10 a bag and once you're balanced in the spring, you only need a little during the sesson to offset rain dilution. The same goes for CYA.

With a SWG, you only need a jug or two of chlorine on hand for an occasional boost and can just replace those as need be.

Any of the other chems are on a need basis and won't be needed often.

Sorry another question, do I need the slam option?

Being new, you'll test more often until it all clicks. It's a good purchase so you don't run out of the regular supply in the meantime.

Is there a section of the forum I should go to when I get my test kit?

Keep it here for continuity. Part of your learning will be straightening out the SWG issue which belongs here.

 

[diesel1218]

Okay great thanks for all the help, this is been one of the best forums I have ever used. I will order the kit and I guess post my first results?

I do have a call in with my contractor on the salt cell so I am sure they will be out after the holiday. I am sure my kit will probably arrive after then anyway. So thank you all very much and Merry Christmas.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I get puritech CYA from Amazon to start the season,

Whoops... don't know how I forgot about CYA. Amazon for me too.

--Jeff

 

[Bperry]

I did have my pool water tested today they did not carry the 2006 version of the test so I am going to look online. I have uploaded the results of their test which is reading very different than what my new salt cell is reading. Also has me questioning my new pool tech.

View attachment 545587

If we just pretend that these test results are somewhat real, we could say very likely your salt cell isn’t producing chlorine because there isn’t enough salt on top of having almost no stabilizer which means what little chlorine does get in there is gone in a few hours of sun.

But we’ve all learned not to believe pool store tests because if you took the sample to another store, they might say you have double the amount of stabilizer.

 

[Mdragger88]

Okay great thanks for all the help, this is been one of the best forums I have ever used. I will order the kit and I guess post my first results?

I do have a call in with my contractor on the salt cell so I am sure they will be out after the holiday. I am sure my kit will probably arrive after then anyway. So thank you all very much and Merry Christmas.

Until your kit comes & your cell is sorted out you need to chlorinate your pool manually or you will have a swamp on your hands soon.
Add 5ppm worth of liquid chlorine each day. Nothing else.
Pour it slowly into the pool infront of a running return away from the pool wall.
Brush the area.
Use PoolMath to calculate exact amounts based on the strength of your bleach.
But that is roughly 3/4 of a gallon of 10% liquid chlorine for your pool volume.

When your kit arrives do all the tests & post the results here in this thread.
We’ll be waiting

 

[diesel1218]

Until your kit comes & your cell is sorted out you need to chlorinate your pool manually or you will have a swamp on your hands soon.
Add 5ppm worth of liquid chlorine each day. Nothing else.
Pour it slowly into the pool infront of a running return away from the pool wall.
Brush the area.
Use PoolMath to calculate exact amounts based on the strength of your bleach.
But that is roughly 3/4 of a gallon of 10% liquid chlorine for your pool volume.
View attachment 545623
When your kit arrives do all the tests & post the results here in this thread.
We’ll be waiting

Thank you I will for sure pick up some and add it until however I am not sure how to calculate all that on the PoolMath app yet. I will try and find some instruction.