Thinking of putting in a SWG and would love some thoughts!

[MorganJ]

For some background, I fired my pool company about a year ago. My pool is 25k gallons with cartridge filters. I live in South Carolina, and in the summer have to be super vigilant about algae. My free chlorine levels are constantly super low, and I find myself shocking a few times a week. Its been such a pain to manage and my understanding is that a SWG will make life much easier. I'm currently looking at quotes for a Hayward Aquarite 900 40k gallon installed.

Has anyone else been through this transition? Am I correct in thinking this will help me control free chlorine and avoid algae issues with less work? Is there more information you would need about my pool to give an informed answer?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Newdude]

Hey Morgan and Welcome !!!

There's a Japenese proverb that says the best time to put in a SWG was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

Ok ok ok. They were talking about trees, but same.

Am I correct in thinking this will help me control free chlorine and avoid algae issues with less work?

It WILL. There's a new learning curve for you, which we'll help with, and then the SWG will produce the FC you tell it to everyday. Once you become one with the system and how your pool responds to it, it's heavenly. No more trips to the store. No more lugging. No more being too busy to add FC today. It's the bees knees.

Is there more information you would need about my pool to give an informed answer?

Why Hayward ? You only need to stick with 'your brand' if you have automation or believe you will one day.

 

[MorganJ]

Hey Morgan and Welcome !!!

There's a Japenese proverb that says the best time to put in a SWG was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

Ok ok ok. They were talking about trees, but same.



It WILL. There's a new learning curve for you, which we'll help with, and then the SWG will produce the FC you tell it to everyday. Once you become one with the system and how your pool responds to it, it's heavenly. No more trips to the store. No more lugging. No more being too busy to add FC today. It's the bees knees.

Why Hayward ? You only need to stick with 'your brand' if you have automation or believe you will one day.

Thanks for the quick reply! The proverb resonates, and makes me feel at peace with the investment.

Hayward is just the most reviewed system I've come across, and the two companies I've reached out to both recommended it. I'm very open to suggestions!

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

As you invest in a SWG (great choice!), also order a TFP recommended test kit. It will ensure you get the most out of your SWG while you keep the pool safe and clean (Test Kits Compared). I'll just step up and recommend the TF Pro Salt with Smart Stir. You won't be disappointed.

Take a look around Pool School. Here's a good set of articles to start with:
Pool Care Basics

Best Wishes!

 

[Newdude]

I'm very open to suggestions!

How big is the pool ?

Take a minute and fill out your Signature. Include the size, type, and all equipment including model #s. And anything else that's relevant.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

How big is the pool ?

My pool is 25k gallons

TFP recommends a SWG rated at twice the pool volume. Although a 40K gallon system would suffice, stepping up to a 60K system will provide significantly more chlorine production over it's lifetime. If automation compatibility is not a concern, the Circupool RJ-60 is great (popular) option here. Discount Salt Pool (Circupool Storefront) has a never-ending $10 upgrade promotion. Select the RJ-45 and upgrade to the RJ-60.

 

[MorganJ]

hey folks, getting my SWG installed this week. any rules of thumb for getting started and becoming one with the system? is there an existing thread i should start with?

 

[Newdude]

is there an existing thread i should start with?

I don't know of any off the top of my head. There are too many systems and combos and preferences withing those combos.

For example, what's your pump runtime ?

Variable speed or single speed ?

Which unit did you decide on ?

We'll go from there and create a custom plan for you, then be your wing people as you learn.

In a nutshell, the unit is a dumb device and adds what you tell it to add. You can alter runtime, where10 hours on at 100% will create more FC than 6 hours, or you can alter the percentage of runtime within a pump runtime window. 20% / 40% / 60 % of 10 hours.

Either way skins the cat, and hours produing are hours off the lifespan, no matter how you do it. 50% of 24 hours equals 100% of 12 hours. (Etc etc etc).

 

[woodyp]

You should make sure your pool is algae free first and foremost. SWG is meant to maintain FC.... not produce SLAM level of FC.

 

[MorganJ]

I don't know of any off the top of my head. There are too many systems and combos and preferences withing those combos.

For example, what's your pump runtime ?

Variable speed or single speed ?

Which unit did you decide on ?

We'll go from there and create a custom plan for you, then be your wing people as you learn.

In a nutshell, the unit is a dumb device and adds what you tell it to add. You can alter runtime, where10 hours on at 100% will create more FC than 6 hours, or you can alter the percentage of runtime within a pump runtime window. 20% / 40% / 60 % of 10 hours.

Either way skins the cat, and hours produing are hours off the lifespan, no matter how you do it. 50% of 24 hours equals 100% of 12 hours. (Etc etc etc).

pump currently runs from 6am to midnight at 3200. it is variable speed but i haven’t messed with those settings yet or understand the implication

ended up going with Hayward aquarite 40k

i can’t thank you enough for being so helpful!

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Keep in mind that your pool will already have salt as a byproduct from other chemicals. Make sure that you test your water before adding salt. Tfp recommends the Taylor K-1766 salts test kit. If you purchase one of the recommended salt kit variants, you should have the correct reagents.

 

[mknauss]

pump currently runs from 6am to midnight at 3200.

yikes. You can definitely slow that down to save quite a bit on the cost of electricity if you wish.

 

[Newdude]

+1. My pump is pulling over 1600W at 3k Rpms these days. Or 110W at 1200 RPMs, or 35W at 700 rpms.

ended up going with Hayward aquarite 40k

Ok so the unit will make approx 8.8 FC per 24 hours in 20k gallons, 4.4 in 12 hours, or about 1/3 FC per hour.

If you run it at 100%, and you need 3 FC per day at this point in the season, it'll need to run for 9 hours. (Or any equiv maths. 18 hours @ 50%, etc).

So you use the recent daily loss as your guide to start, and then adjust as necessary going forward. This time of year you'll start higher and adjust down every couple of weeks as the days get shorter and the sun angle lowers. In the spring it's the exact opposite starting low, and adjusting up every couple of weeks.

Basic game plan for now is

1) Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
2) bring CYA to 70 once OCLT passes
3) test baseline salt with k1766 and raise to 3200, creeping to the target like you would with CYA.

If the unit gets installed before the salt level is at target, make sure it's off. A slug of salt or highly concentrated water can wreck the cell. Once the salt is good and mixed, turn the cell on then.

 

[MorganJ]

super helpful! can you help dumb this down a bit for me? i understand i need to add salt and filter for a few days before turning on the cell.

from there, what speed and how many hours should i run the pump for to get a baseline and dial it in?

 

[Newdude]

from there, what speed and how many hours should i run the pump for to get a baseline and dial it in?

This process is the same for each function to find your required speeds.

Start at low RPMs, then increase 100 at a time until the SWG / weir doors / heater / etc start working. The swg and heater have flow switches and the weir doors will bob away when they're working.

Add 100 RPM to whatever speed made the function work, to account for the flow reducing a little as the filter gets dirty. That's the run speed for that function. Skimming and SWG by default will likely filter enough.

What has the recent daily loss been ?

 

[MorganJ]

okay great. i haven’t yet done the loss test but will do that asap. i assume the loss is high during the day, as we live in charleston, SC and it’s extremely hot in the summer months.

what about run times? do you recommend a certain # of hours to begin with?

it’s currently running 18 hours per day which seems high relative to what most people on here do.

 

[Newdude]

what about run times? do you recommend a certain # of hours to begin with?

I like 24/7 at as low RPMs that skims and runs the SWG. Many of us have found it to work great and be simple to only adjust the cell %.

You skim, filter and add a little FC around the clock.

Or. Run less time and match the current daily loss at 1/3 FC per hour.

Either way, you'll want to dial it in around 4 FC per day to be on the safe side, so start with 12 hours production @ 100% / 24 hours @ 50% and go from there. I dialed mine in at 10 FC to have lots of wiggle room.

 

[proavia]

Fill out your signature with pool, pool equipment (include manufacturers and model numbers) and test kit info.
Don't forget to add your new SWG and salt test kit info.
This assists us in providing help specific to your pool without needing to ask you each time.

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If you add over about one bag of salt at any one time, be sure the SWG is off and the pump is run for 24 hours straight to fully mix the salt into the water.

 

[JRB100]

pump currently runs from 6am to midnight at 3200. it is variable speed but i haven’t messed with those settings yet or understand the implication

ended up going with Hayward aquarite 40k

i can’t thank you enough for being so helpful!

You may be shocked by how much lower your electricity usage will be after you experiment with slower pump speeds. I was very shocked when I changed from a 3hp single speed to a VS. My average usage went from 2800kWh/month to 800-1000/month. I had just installed a home solar system and could have easily purchased one half its size. (I read plenty of documentation about how electricity usage would decrease, but I really did not believe it would be THAT much.)

 

[MorganJ]

I like 24/7 at as low RPMs that skims and runs the SWG. Many of us have found it to work great and be simple to only adjust the cell %.

You skim, filter and add a little FC around the clock.

Or. Run less time and match the current daily loss at 1/3 FC per hour.

Either way, you'll want to dial it in around 4 FC per day to be on the safe side, so start with 12 hours production @ 100% / 24 hours @ 50% and go from there. I dialed mine in at 10 FC to have lots of wiggle room.

okay awesome this has me feeling ready!