Anthony-new user--help selecting new SWCG

Good evening. Ive been reading here for 3 years and learned a ton. We put a pool in 3 yrs ago and I really have had no issues...thanks to this site I only test with my Taylor chemistry set and Ive found that its pretty easy to take care of the pool as long as you stay on top of things.

Our pool company installed our inground pool with a SWCG. Only afterwards did I learn that its not a pure SWCG..its the duoclear plus nature2. This is the only swcg they stock. Thanks to this site, Ive learned a lot about this system. I really find it a pain to keep my chlorine level at 0.3ppm and actually have kept it in the 2-4ppm range. I see no point in keeping the system and I am sick of the $120 annual cartridge replacement. For what its worth, Ive found that I now know more about the duoclear system than my pool company. They initially installed the wrong size system and my research on the issue was enlightening to the company..but thats another story!!!

Ive got the funds to go ahead and order a new SWCG..the only question is which one? Havent gotten a true feel for the forum favorite. My pool is about 25k gallons and i plan on getting a system that treats/serves a pool of up to 40k. I like the SWCG concept and find it fits my schedule well as far as time needed to monitor, etc.

Look forward to your responses. Thanks in advance.

Tony

I have very limited SWCG experience. For 3 years, I've had a Pentair IC-40 on a kiddie pool, running about 20% duty cycle and maintaining chlorine levels above 3ppm, with no problems. It's performed very well, BUT I've been running it atypically. The splash out rate is so high that CYA is rarely above 20 ppm -- I have to add salt constantly.

I'm about to have more useful experience. I've got 3 IC-60's on order, and will install 2 more once those are in . . . on a 200,000 gallon pool. Those will probably run 80% duty cycle.

I can tell you that Pentair cut their warranty a lot, which probably means the original warranty was costing them too much. That in turns means the units were probably under-performing Pentair's internal unit life expectancy.

I would caution you to keep in mind that most people here are going to have experience with only one unit, if the first install worked, or two (like you will) if the first installation sucked. So they mostly won't be in a good position to say which is 'best'.

Ben

PS. I have a question of my own: does anyone know where I can get 10,000 pounds of bromide and iodide free salt -- Chattanooga, TN delivery -- for cheep?

Ben, there used to be a "quarry" in N Ga, somewhere around Dalton I think, that had salt, lime, etc by the truck load... been out of area 20 years, so don't know if its still there, and don't know purity of salt!
Outside of that, Sams or Walmart 40 lb bags is the best option I know- $5 bucks a bag, for the Solar Salt here in VA (so about $1200; you probably can find someone to make a delivery cheaper)

Mutts, I guess I would be biased to reply that the best unit is the Pool Pilot system!

Ben, are you looking for Bromine Tabs or Sodium Bromide? 10,000 lbs??? WOW, that's alot! Used to be Albemarle.com, was the main supplier of sodium bromide in bulk sizes.
For Non-Idodized salt, you can use water softener salt, which is usually non-iodized. You may be able to get Culligan to deliver?

From what little I know of the Nature2 system you should be able to remove the cartridge completely, close it up, and run the SWCG anyway. Unless, of course, they built in something that shuts the system down if you don't have a cartridge in it (to FORCE you to continue using the system) Then, of course, you can simply let the exhausted cartridge remain in the system, no longer dropping copper and silver into your water.

I would also consider that pool installer persona non grata.

The cartridge acts as the lid so I would need a way to close out that port so as not to have water leaking everywhere.

We opened the pool Tuesday....I came home from work to see the duoclear wasnt even working....I think the motherboard is shot.....replaced it last August (under warranty).

I'm definitely convinced switching is the best thing to do....only question is which unit...cant believe thee havent been more replies.

One "biased" plug for autopilot above and Ive read a bunch about the aquarite but thats it.

Keep the responses coming.

Thanks in advance--
Tony

I'll just note that I've been quite happy with my Pool Pilot Digital - had it for a few years now and no problems.
This is my first SWCG so I don't have anything to compare it to...I like it better than adding bleach manually though!