switching to saltwater

[mrsmatthews]

I what to see it anyone can help me out. We used the 3inch tabs last year. I like to switch to a saltwater. Like to know if I need to do anything difference. When me get ready to open the pool for the summer. we have a 24 feet round 52 deep.

[kelemvor]

Basically your SWCG becomes your chlorine source. You still need to test regularly and adjust the swcg's output accordingly. You'll also need to pay careful attention to pH since SWCG will make it rise as the device operates. Of course you'll need to maintain your salt and cyanuric acid (cya) level at the manufacturers recommended value. You can do that with aquacheck salt test strips or a Taylor k-1766 kit for the salt. I check my salt only every few weeks. Salt doesn't get used up, you'll only lose it due to splashout or leaks. I have splashy teenagers so I have to add salt a few times a year. Many people don't.

Just keep in mind that going SWCG doesn't mean you can forget about your pool. You still have to monitor your other levels and adjust accordingly. SWCG probably won't be saving you much money if any, but it means sanitizer becomes much less of a chore to stay on top of. I guess that makes it sound like I don't like swcg, but I love mine. If I go out of town for a week or two it hasn't been a problem for me. I go out and test my clear pool and make adjustments when I get home.

Staying on top of that pH for me is the greatest concern. High pH can lead to scaling which is merely unsightly in the pool but it can become a big problem in your plumbing and especially your heater (if you have one).

As far as opening your pool goes, I would open normally. Get everything right before you add the new SWCG - then do the switch. SWCG is good for maintaining your chlorine levels and preventing the need to shock, but if you were to need to shock you would still do it with liquid chlorine or bleach (sodium hypochlorite) same as always.

[mrsmatthews]

thanks you help.

[CarlD]

I'm in the process of switching to SWCG as well. I have the plumbing done. I just now need to hook up the electrical and mount the panel...and add salt to my pool. I have a Taylor test kit and it reads 600ppm. So I've got 400# of salt in my truck to add.

It's not a cost savings. The salt cost alone is about a season's worth of chlorine. It's the convenience because I cannot test the water everyday.

[BigTallGuy]

Congrats Carl, I hope you enjoy the SWCG. How's it going so far? I agree completely, it is a bit of a money pit to be honest, but I wouldn't trade it for any other method. Once you get through the learning curve, it is simply wonderful.

[JimK]

I'm in the process of switching to SWCG as well. I have the plumbing done. I just now need to hook up the electrical and mount the panel...and add salt to my pool. I have a Taylor test kit and it reads 600ppm. So I've got 400# of salt in my truck to add.

It's not a cost savings. The salt cost alone is about a season's worth of chlorine. It's the convenience because I cannot test the water everyday.

I agree all things considered (cost of unit, cells, etc) it's not likely you would save much, if any, over more traditional methods. However, cost of salt isn't a big deal. While you may have to add several hundred pounds initially, after that its just a matter of maintaining the level. And as mentioned, salt is only lost when you lose water due to splash out, back washing to waste, lowering the water level due to excessive rain, etc. :)

[CarlD]

No way the math works out to save me money versus daily checking and using LC. The initial cost of the SWCG would buy me 10 years of chlorine--15 if I had had someone else install it. Plus a new cell every 5 years costs about the same as 5 years of LC, so it's NOT a cost savings in any way, shape or form.

But, I'm going to be away for a couple of weeks at a time this summer and I won't always have someone to add half a gallon of LC every two days, so this gives me a MUCH easier to maintain pool when I cannot give it daily attention.
While my water is great (FC: 12.5, pH: 7.3, T/A:70, CH: 150, CYA: 70) I still have to work out the optimal settings..otherwise it's going great!

[JimK]

No way the math works out to save me money versus daily checking and using LC. The initial cost of the SWCG would buy me 10 years of chlorine--15 if I had had someone else install it. Plus a new cell every 5 years costs about the same as 5 years of LC, so it's NOT a cost savings in any way, shape or form.

But, I'm going to be away for a couple of weeks at a time this summer and I won't always have someone to add half a gallon of LC every two days, so this gives me a MUCH easier to maintain pool when I cannot give it daily attention.
While my water is great (FC: 12.5, pH: 7.3, T/A:70, CH: 150, CYA: 70) I still have to work out the optimal settings..otherwise it's going great!

Agreed. :). I was mearly pointing out that the cost of salt, over time, isn't a big factor. As you said, the biggies are the cost of the system and the cells.

The pool stores like to say you will save money, but as you pointed out its not true. For me, having a SWCG is about convenience (I like the way the salt water feels as well, but I guess you could do the same with a traditionally chlorinated pool).

[CarlD]

The math flat-out doesn't add up--not even close. It's the convenience factor that does it. I've said for years now I couldn't justify the cost, because I had no need for the added convenience. Now I do. So far, so good, too.

[JimK]

The math flat-out doesn't add up--not even close. It's the convenience factor that does it. I've said for years now I couldn't justify the cost, because I had no need for the added convenience. Now I do. So far, so good, too.

Which CL generator did you go with?

[CarlD]

An Autopilot digital, upgradeable to run an acid pump and control the two speed pump.

[Charlie_R]

Glad you pointed out the lack of cost saving, CarlD. I had been considering spending the $$ for the Intex SWCG for my pool. Not sure I would do that now.

[CarlD]

Charlie, the Intex is VERY inexpensive. If it works for you, the math is different. I think it's about $200, as opposed to $1000-$2000 for fancier set ups.

[BigDave]

If you do go for an Intex SWCG, be aware that it may include a copper ionizer feature. This feature puts copper ions in the pool water - something that's not very popular around here.

Copper can stain the pool, fingernails, and light colored hair (lightened and colored as well) green. It also has the somewhat dubious effect of supressing algae without killing bacteria. In other words, the copper can help a pool look clean while allowing bacteria to pass between swimmers (or from below the waist of a swimmer to above the neck - yuck!). Perhaps there's a way to defeat this feature.

[JimK]

If you do go for an Intex SWCG, be aware that it may include a copper ionizer feature. This feature puts copper ions in the pool water - something that's not very popular around here.

Copper can stain the pool, fingernails, and light colored hair (lightened and colored as well) green. It also has the somewhat dubious effect of supressing algae without killing bacteria. In other words, the copper can help a pool look clean while allowing bacteria to pass between swimmers (or from below the waist of a swimmer to above the neck - yuck!). Perhaps there's a way to defeat this feature.

That's good to know that Intex may include that "feature". In my early days of pool ownership when I depended on the pool store to tell me what to do (long before discovering this great forum!) I used a copper based algaecide. After discovering it was the cause of staining everything (it was a pain and expensive to get rid of!) I would never use anything copper based again! I've since learned here that my algae problem could have been solved by just maintaining appropriate chlorine levels in relation to my stabilizer level.

[Charlie_R]

I have read elsewhere that there is a way to disconnect the copper ion section, but may not have to do that. Amazon still sells the older units without this "feature", so might pull the trigger on one when end of season sales go into effect.