SWG confusion

[Michelle22]

I am cutting the liner for a skimmer today and will be ready to test the water system tomorrow. I'm so confused on when to add my salt. I keep reading conflicting information. Do I start with chlorine or salt? I kind of thought the point of a SWG was so that I didn't have to use chlorine. I have read all the links but still can't find the info I'm searching for. Thoughts?

 

[Newdude]

Hey CG !!! Do it this one time. You need an instant spike of full FC. The SWG only adds a little bit at a time which is awesome for maintaining, but not enough to do 0-60 in 3.2 seconds.

Balance the water per pool math and Recommended Levels
Turn the unit off and add 75% or so of your salt. Let it mix for a full day. Test and inch up to your target and turn the cell on to work it’s magic for there on out.

 

[Michelle22]

Thanks, Newdude! Do you think chlorine from last year will do the trick? lol (I realize it's not full strength at its age, but hoping it's enough to get started!)

 

[Oly]

Add the chlorine amount recommended by Pool Math with the pump running wait 30 minutes and test for FC to see if you reached your target.

 

[Newdude]

+1. Just as important as testing before, is testing after to verify you reached your target. If you fell short, gauge from the first dose about how much more you need and then test after adding that.

 

[Michelle22]

So my pool has filled to the pool outlet holes (pump suction ports) and they both leak even with the black plugs and fittings. Thoughts on how to cap the outside? I would be fine with a black rubber cap that I can tighten down, but everything appears to be too large.

 

[Newdude]

Thoughts on how to cap the outside? I would be fine with a black rubber cap that I can tighten down, but everything appears to be too large

Your local hardware store should have many sizes available. Just a black rubber plug with a nut that tightens to expand the plug inside the pipe.

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if your eyelet removes you can take it to the hardware store and know which size to get.

 

[Michelle22]

I figured it out, I think. I had the strainer housing in the hole with the plug instead of just the plug. D'oh! Thanks, though...that was my next move. I figured it was user error, as it was.

 

[Michelle22]

I added three quarts of my old chlorine last night and have ZERO showing today. I guess that answers my question about if it's too old. Go get new and try again?

 

[Newdude]

Yes. And verify 20 minutes later that you reached your target.

Then if it goes poof we know there is more going on.

 

[Michelle22]

It registered last night about 45 min after I added it, but wouldn't it still be showing today?

 

[PoolGate]

How much did you add? With 0 chlorine even a gallon could be gone quickly if you've got nasties in the water. Do you know your CYA level? That effects how fast your chlorine burns off.

And to clarify your op. Your pool is a chlorine pool. Saltwater pools create their own chlorine by electrolysis within the saltwater chlorine generator.

 

[kellyfair]

When you tested after 45 minutes last night, was it close to what you expected?

Add more and test after 30 min. If close, the chlorine is fine but you are 1) battling something, 2) need CYA, 3) both.

Scrolling back up to see if you mentioned CYA.

 

[kellyfair]

No test scores listed. Can you run your numbers and post them here?

 

[Michelle22]

So it's a new pool with new water. I originally posted to ask if I even needed chlorine since I have the salt waiting to go in to the water. It's raining right now, but I will run out between drops and get all the tests done. (And, yes, last night it looked okay on the strips. Just broke out the real test kit this afternoon.)

 

[Michelle22]

And to clarify your op. Your pool is a chlorine pool. Saltwater pools create their own chlorine by electrolysis within the saltwater chlorine generator.

It will be a salt water pool but I was told to get it up to speed with chlorine.

 

[Michelle22]

Scrolling back up to see if you mentioned CYA.

The test strip last night showed 0 CYA, but I will do a real test this evening after adding more bleach.

 

[mknauss]

The test strip last night showed 0 CYA, but I will do a real test this evening after adding more bleach.

If you have added no stabilizer, the CYA is zero.

 

[Michelle22]

If you have added no stabilizer, the CYA is zero.

I haven't added anything but the old chlorine last night.

 

[mknauss]

Then CYA is zero. FC half life in a pool with zero CYA and sun shining on the pool surface is less than an hour.
You need to add some stabilizer, soon.