Switch to SWG?

[stephenson]

Hi All,

Been a bit rainy in north Florida - so, salt ppm is dropping ...

Can I add a bag and push it around a bit, then start the SWG back up without waiting a couple of days? It would seem this would be reasonable since pool servicing folks, once they determine salt is low, would need to add salt then restart prior to departing from a job? I don't see how they could add salt, then turn pump on to circulate - and, have the SWG come back on the next day - at least without messing up the owner's schedule?

 

[jeffchap]

Sure. I never turn my SWG off when adding salt. How big is your pool?

 

[stephenson]

About 13K gallons ....

 

[jeffchap]

Ok. Just add the salt as far away from the drain/skimmer as you can so you don't get ultra salty water going through the pump/SWG and you should be fine.

 

[stephenson]

Great - thanks!

 

[stephenson]

Status of chemistry ... today.

Salt test
2900-3000 ppm (system is reading 2900)
(have had to add a few bags over the last two months due to rain - LOTS of rain)

Using the Comparator Block
TC 5 (same)
pH 8.2 (higher)

Individual Tests
FC/Chlorine Drop 7.0 (higher)
CC 0.5 (close to same)
TC 7.5 (higher)
CH 200 (lower)
TA 60-70 (same) (test says "red" but does this mean pink? Mine changed somewhere between 60-70 ... If I add more reagent does it turn redder?)
CYA 30-35 (a bit lower) (this one is hard - to make the dot completely disappear takes a lot of the solution, but I have pretty good eyes - probably overthinking it - daylight, bright indoors, dark floor, on top of white paper?) - my pool is caged ... does this matter?

So, probably have the order wrong, but FC is now high ... and pH is high. I reduced the chlorine output from 40% to 30%. More muriatic acid?

 

[Dirk]

Ok. Just add the salt as far away from the drain/skimmer as you can so you don't get ultra salty water going through the pump/SWG and you should be fine.

@stephenson, that is not best practice. Perhaps that works for Jeff, in his pool, but I'd recommend you not gamble in yours. You can damage your SWG by running it while adding salt. Do what you were taught earlier: turn the SWG off for a few days while adding salt. Measure before you add, so that you don't overshoot. Don't trust the SWG reading for adding salt.

A Circupool T-9 SWG is about a $500 part. Unless you've got money to burn, might as well play it safe and follow the TFP guidelines for adding salt.

 

[stephenson]

I have been turning the SWG off during the 24 hours following adding even a bag ... don't want to gamble.