SWG cleaning so soon? Hayward

[Titan7]

New pool filled on 4/27/24, salt generator started on 6/4/24. I keep CSI on the neg side, of course it drifts up for maybe a few hours until I drop it back down. I test PH daily. Example, yesterday pH was 7.5 and CSI was neg. It’s been there for a couple days. This morning I was at 7.8 and csi was 0.20, so I add acid to drop it back to -0.3.

Is this normal for a cell at 2-3 months of run time?

 

[Texas Splash]

Is this normal for a cell at 2-3 months of run time?

Seems a bit excessive for a negative CSI. Let me ask this ... are you sure about the CH test? Did you run the final drops (R-0012) until the solution went to a light baby blue? If you stopped at the light lavender you stopped too quickly, so your CH may actually be higher.

 

[PoolStored]

You can fight it with lowering your pH, but keeping pH low will be a battle, because it is lowering your TA...eventually, you cannot keep it there.

It would be best to lower your CH level...I know, I know, AZ and the CH in the water. That is why many in the SW plumb their autofill to a water softener. To extend the time between water exchanges.

 

[Titan7]

CH is 500, tested 3 times last week, was shocked it went up so quickly.

My TA dropped to 60 yesterday. So should I drop PH to 7.2 or 7.5. I used to do 7.2 to allow the PH rise to go slower and TA to go down faster. Now that my TA is at 60 should I only drop PH from 7.8 to 7.5 and try to regulate it at 7.5.7.7?

Of and funny thing, Hayward rep was here yesterday, told me I need to clean the SWG, and to use 1 part acid to 2 parts water.

Ok I will clean the cell and I also should clean the filter as I have been running for 3 months.

 

[Texas Splash]

was shocked it went up so quickly.

Honestly, I'm surprised it's only 500 for that area.

As you treat with acid, just don't let the TA go any lower than 50.

 

[TinFoilHat]

You will find a new pool will eat acid for a couple of years or a few months after an acid wash which is down the road for you. My pool has a CH of 900+ right now so until I drain it in the fall I'm relying on liquid chlorine. Do not clean your cell with acid (which is supposed to be diluted 4:1) if you can avoid it. Try a small dull device to see if you can just knock the calcium off the plates. Diluted vinegar is recommended so the plates in the cell aren't depleted as quickly. If you have a cartridge filter there is no need to clean it unless you want to. If it's a sand filter then a backwash might be in order. In either case it should be done when the fully cleaned pressure rises 25% above that pressure. I do my cartridges once per year and just replace them, otherwise I don't even crack the filter open.

 

[Titan7]

I must have a curse on my pool. So I cleaned the salt cell on July 25th, I just took a look at it today and it’s got more white stuff on the fins again after 10 days????

This can’t be normal?

 

[TinFoilHat]

What is your CSI? You want it to be between -.3 - 0. You probably need to drain half of your water to get your CH back down from 500 ppm. Someone might be able to tell you what else you can do in the meantime.

 

[Mdragger88]

I must have a curse on my pool. So I cleaned the salt cell on July 25th, I just took a look at it today and it’s got more white stuff on the fins again after 10 days????

This can’t be normal?

Do you have the correct water temp entered into poolmath?
Your last temp log was 6 years ago.
Your csi may be higher than you think.
Also, increasing your cya will help lower csi.
This will also help you retain more of the fc that the swcg produces allowing you to run it less.

 

[mas985]

Of and funny thing, Hayward rep was here yesterday, told me I need to clean the SWG, and to use 1 part acid to 2 parts water.

That is a good way to destroy the cell. More sales for Hayward.

Before using acid, try a plastic cable tie or wooden stick to clean the cell.

1:1 vinegar - water is a safer alternative although it will take longer to work.

 

[Saturn94]

As I understand it, while the cell is operating there’s a significant jump in pH inside the cell, creating a more favorable environment for scaling in the cell. This could explain scaling even though CSI in the pool is negative. I also understand adding borates significantly reduces the pH rise inside the cell, thereby reducing scaling potential.

 

[Titan7]

The old pool math lets me add the temp. Can’t find temp on the new app. I keep the csi under 0 around -0.38. That’s with a PH of 7.3. It will be back to 7.8 on Weds. it always drifts up from 7.3 to 7.8 in about 48 hours. At 7.8 ph the csi is 0.08 still not too high but I lower it back to 7.3.

But the CSI is running between 0.08 and -0.38.

Can’t find the place to add the pool temp in the app.

Oh also, I found some white flaking stuff in a couple areas on the tile grout?

if my CSI is correct not sure what’s causing this scaling?

 

[PoolStored]

In app.
Home page
Gear, upper right,
Scroll down, enable track temp and track CSI.

 

[Titan7]

Thank you, just logged tests. CSI is -0.38. What would cause the cell to get so much scale in 10 days? I have been testing and adjusting my water at least every other day since the pool was filled 3 months ago.

 

[PoolStored]

@mas985 has to keep his CSI below -.2 He gets much above -0.2, the cell scales quite a bit. It even gets scale when he runs at -0.4.

This may help too...

The CSI is Reliable for Plaster-based Pools

Using the Calcium Saturation Index (also known as the LSI in the pool industry) as a guide for maintaining proper pool water balance and to protect pool plaster, including quartz and pebble finishes, has become a mainstay in our industry for good reason. Several experiments have been conducted...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Titan7]

ok read that, have a headache. So if I need to keep CSI at -0.2 that’s really tight PH monitoring.

At my current test results I would need to stay between 7.5 and 7.7 which is -0.2 to -0.1

I guess I will try that but I am sort of doing that now but I am dropping PH to 7.3 which gives a csi of -0.38 and it drifts up to 7.8.

I will clean the cell tomorrow again after 10 days.

Also saw some scale above the water line on the grout in a couple places?

 

[PoolStored]

I will clean the cell tomorrow again after 10 days

Don’t use acid. See cleaning here:

SWG How It Works - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[mas985]

ok read that, have a headache. So if I need to keep CSI at -0.2 that’s really tight PH monitoring.

I don't think anyone is suggesting you keep CSI exactly at -0.2.

I would target a CSI between -0.6 and -0.3 and see if that helps. When CSI goes above -0.3, then add enough acid to get close to -0.6.

 

[Titan7]

Got it, will be keeping there.

Thanks