Mineral reading 4200 after new salt water cell install

Just installed a new compupool T15 scg and now pool says minerals are way too high,and chlorine is not even registering on test strips. It looks like the cell is working but still no chlorine in pool.

Have you added CYA to the pool? Your SWCG manual should have a suggested level for CYA. If there is no CYA in the pool, you won't be able to keep a chlorine reading. CYA is kind of like sunscreen for your chlorine. Without it, your chlorine is quickly lost to the sun. So, if you don't have any CYA, even if your SWCG is producing chlorine, it isn't gonna stick around for long.

You actually are supposed to get your water balanced before you turn on the unit.

You need a drops-based test kit, no test strips. (We don't call them 'guess-strips for nothing!;))

The kit we recommend is the Taylor K2006 or 2006C (better buy). The kit is not available locally but you can get it through this link that takes you to Amazon: http://pool9.net/tk/

Tell us what all you have added to the pool, meaning ingredients and not just product names.

Then, someone here can better advise you.

Just a thought, but when salt cells go bad the often give a lower salt level reading than what is actually in the water. It's possible your old cell was reading low and you inadvertently added too much before buying the new cell. If the salt level is far too high, the swcg may not operate in order to prevent damage to the cell. If this is the case, it would explain both the cell reading "high" and the lack of chlorine.

In addition to the test kit watermom mentioned, you should also consider a k-1766 or aquacheck salt test strips. They can be found on the "Get the testkits you need" link in watermom's signature just like the k2006.


If it turns out the salt level is too high, the only way I know of to lower it is a partial drain and refill with fresh water. Teenagers are good for this if you have some handy. :)