Hi, I'm currently in construction of a pool. We will be using a salt-water chlorine generator and we had communicated this to our builder. I had been under the impression that because we were using an SWCG that we would not need an automatic chlorinator (trichlor dispenser). A few days ago when I was looking at the pool equipment, I saw that he had ordered both the SWCG and the automatic chlorinator. When I asked him about it, he said that the automatic chlorinator was still needed because the SWCG could not operate when the water was too cold.
The first thing I want to ask is if this is a normal setup for an SWCG? My understanding is trichlor isn't necessarily bad, but you should be careful about using it and measure the CYA level directly. I already have the TF-100 so it has a CYA measuring kit inside of it. At the same time, I am skeptical about his advice because my general understanding is that pool builders aren't very good at pool chemistry and he's told me things about the chemistry that are standard pool store maintenance but aren't TFP maintenance. My inclination is to tell him, "No, we don't want the automatic chlorinator at all," but I wanted to get an understanding of how others with SWCGs had their systems set up.
Is it normal to pair an SWCG with an automatic chlorinator so the automatic chlorinator functions when it is cold and the SWCG cannot operate?
I'm aware CYA is still needed for the SWCG and a higher level of CYA. How do all of you introduce CYA to your pool? Is an automatic chlorinator the best way to gradually increase your CYA or to just throw a few trichlor pucks in and wait a few days?
How do you keep your pool chlorinated during the winter months? I live in Texas so it gets cold enough that you're no longer swimming, but it doesn't really get cold enough that you would winterize it.
Thank you for any help.
EDIT: Oh just in case it is relevant, we are using the Aquapure as the SWCG.
The first thing I want to ask is if this is a normal setup for an SWCG? My understanding is trichlor isn't necessarily bad, but you should be careful about using it and measure the CYA level directly. I already have the TF-100 so it has a CYA measuring kit inside of it. At the same time, I am skeptical about his advice because my general understanding is that pool builders aren't very good at pool chemistry and he's told me things about the chemistry that are standard pool store maintenance but aren't TFP maintenance. My inclination is to tell him, "No, we don't want the automatic chlorinator at all," but I wanted to get an understanding of how others with SWCGs had their systems set up.
Is it normal to pair an SWCG with an automatic chlorinator so the automatic chlorinator functions when it is cold and the SWCG cannot operate?
I'm aware CYA is still needed for the SWCG and a higher level of CYA. How do all of you introduce CYA to your pool? Is an automatic chlorinator the best way to gradually increase your CYA or to just throw a few trichlor pucks in and wait a few days?
How do you keep your pool chlorinated during the winter months? I live in Texas so it gets cold enough that you're no longer swimming, but it doesn't really get cold enough that you would winterize it.
Thank you for any help.
EDIT: Oh just in case it is relevant, we are using the Aquapure as the SWCG.
