SWG seems to be working harder with less output

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TeenaTeens

TeenaTeens

Bronze Supporter
Apr 25, 2022
293
Tampa FL
Pool Size
12200
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite Pro (T-15)
For the past month my SWG is on a higher setting, but not producing the same as it was. It’s still producing chlorine, but previously I would have it on 10% for a FC level of 5. Now I’ve got it on 50 and I can’t get the FC over 4. I don’t have CC. I pulled off the cell and rinsed it - it was very clean, but I thought that it may need it because it wasn’t working as it should. It didn’t change. I added salt as I emptied the pool a bit a couple of weeks ago and had the salt cell on for a few minutes as omnilogic turned it back on without me realizing it. But it seems to have recovered and is still producing chlorine - I tested right from the return and it’s got plenty of chlorine coming in. And it’s maintaining 4 on a setting of 50%.

Is there a reason this is happening? Anything I can do to get it to work more efficiently like it was. I turned it up to 80 today hoping to get it back to FC 5 in the morning. Or could it be that’s it just really really hot right now? Which it has been for a few weeks here in Florida.

I’m just a bit confused as the pool is very well balanced, I’ve never had a drop in chlorine and I test for FC and Ph daily. Oh - and the Ph seems to be remaining stable at 7.6 which is also a bit odd. Usually each week it rises again to 7.8 and then 8. I run the pump 24/7 - 3 hours on high and the rest on low. Just not sure if I have a problem or I’m just experiencing the side effects of Florida summer.
 
I see you just added CYA. I would give it a couple days to see if that helps. If my CYA drops below 70, my FC loss goes up by 25-50%.
 
mknauss said:
I see you just added CYA. I would give it a couple days to see if that helps. If my CYA drops below 70, my FC loss goes up by 25-50%.
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Yeah - it dropped for some reason to 50. I used liquid CyA - it’s back at 70. This could be why…
 
Not only can @mknauss type faster than me and post solutions for pool water chemistry questions, but he can read minds, too. I was going to ask, how do you test? What is your CYA? Has it changed?

Then I read Marty’s post (post#2), that he saw OP had added CYA. I re-read post #1 three times and never saw CYA added till post #3. Marty is real good!
 
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I had a very similar issues a few months back, struggling to keep my FC above 4 or 5..Raised CYA to 70 from 40ish and my FC was around 9 or 10 2 days later with no other changes.
I even had to turn my SWG way down to get it back to 5 so hopefully your will level out
 
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an1vrsy said:
Ahh… You got me. I didn’t look for the logs.
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And I keep everything logged! Except my daily water guru tests - I only log my Taylor’s and leave the water guru in its own app. CYA dropped recently - always had it on 70 and it’s back there again. Probably happened when I emptied some water following crazy rain but weirdly the Taylors test didn’t tell me that it had dropped to 40-50. Although I’m still not great at recognizing the black dot disappearing so I do recognize it it could very well be user error 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 But it’s back to 70. Hopefully this will sort it out. I just though liquid conditioner worked instantly. Another chalk mark on my learning board!
 
TeenaTeens said:
And I keep everything logged! Except my daily water guru tests - I only log my Taylor’s and leave the water guru in its own app. CYA dropped recently - always had it on 70 and it’s back there again. Probably happened when I emptied some water following crazy rain but weirdly the Taylors test didn’t tell me that it had dropped to 40-50. Although I’m still not great at recognizing the black dot disappearing so I do recognize it it could very well be user error 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 But it’s back to 70. Hopefully this will sort it out. I just though liquid conditioner worked instantly. Another chalk mark on my learning board!
Click to expand...
I test twice a week with Taylor’s.
 

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Be sure you are using your proper test kit when you think things need adjusting. The other device is approximate, at best.
 
Yes.. I have been pretty awful in doing TFP for my pool for about the last year due to multiple family emergencies. The SWCG kept me from having major issues, but I think I might have taken a year of life off of the cell in the process. So it REALLY has spoiled me. The pool looks great, especially if I sweep it up this weekend. The SWCG does most of TFP for you and that is why they are so highly recommended here.

I also had my CYA drop probably due to monsoons (which have been quite active this year, lotsa rain here), so I am back to adding it. But even with my cell scaling up too fast now, I still run mine at less than 40% output and if I am not careful it generates to much chlorine. I am about to complain about the cell again.. but really I need to be asking for advice to do my first water change. CH is a bear here in Tucson. Probably need to figure out a water softener to put outside at the equipment (maybe the RV one, manual recharge doesn't scare me)... Certainly, when I refill, I'm going to run the hose from somewhere in the house that is softened.
 
mknauss said:
Be sure you are using your proper test kit when you think things need adjusting. The other device is approximate, at best.
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I test with Taylor’s. The WG simply is used to alert me to a drop in FC. It has proved pretty accurate actually.
 
mknauss said:
Be sure you are using your proper test kit when you think things need adjusting. The other device is approximate, at best.
Click to expand...
My FC dropped again today after I turned it down to 30% yesterday. My Ph also dropped which it hasn’t done since I started in April. I think the salt cell isn’t operating as it should. I measured straight from the return again @4.5 - a month ago it was 9! I’ve turned it back up. My CyA is 70. Should I raise it to 80? Also some sofa ash to raise the Ph again? I’m getting a bit worried as up until now everything has been very balanced except for rising Ph (except when I’ve had to empty water due to rain). Wondering if I broke the salt cell when I ran it while adding salt a few weeks ago… at least I now know not to turn it down as much as I did this time. I’ll try it at 60% once I get the FC back up. Sorry to hassle you again…
 
mknauss said:
I see you just added CYA. I would give it a couple days to see if that helps. If my CYA drops below 70, my FC loss goes up by 25-50%.
Click to expand...
I see this - I’ll raise the CYA today. And the Ph and play a bit more with my % on the SWG.
 
mknauss said:
No reason to adjust pH. 7.4 is fine. I assume your Poolmath logs are from your Taylor kit.

Run the diagnostics on your SWCG and post them here. See Hayward Aquarite SWG - Further Reading
Click to expand...
It’s an Omni logic. I will take a look. My CSI is not looking good for the first time that’s why I thought to raise the Ph. And yes Taylor’s kit - I have the full kit including salt and drop chlorine. Should I raise the CyA?
 

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