SWG Operation - Lessons Learned

[gwrace1]

I started up a new 26000 gallon pool in March of this year with an Aquarite SWG. I have been able to maintain chlorine levels by running our 2 speed pump on low for about 12 hours per day at night. The SWG is set at 40% with a salt level of 3500 PPM. The only adjustments I've needed to make are for PH. It takes a dose of Muriatic Acid about once per week. I am currently running approximately 35-40 PPM stabilizer and maintaining a FC of 4PPM. The water has been crystal clear since startup and I have never shocked the pool.

My only water source was iron rich well water. To deal with the metals I placed an iron removing 2 micron whole house filter ahead of the softener and used softened water to fill the pool. It took 5 days and many regeneration cycles to complete the process. While the pool was filling I added a metal out product and Polyquat 60%. Once the pump and filter were working I allowed this mixture to circulate for several days with the SWG off. I'm using Zeobest filter media in a 26" Pentair sand filter on a two speed pump. No bleach or chlorine was added to the pool.

Day 4 I switched on the Aquarite and gave it a few days to bring up the chlorine levels. Once that was done I added stabilizer via the skimmer to the 35-40 PPM level. The pool has been simple to maintain ever since.

A quality test kit with salt level is a must.

[tonyl]

Thanks Pat,
That's a great post. I remember vaguely the lost version so I printed this new one. Chemistry isn't my forte but your explanation is one that I get.

Question: When the first cell "started to die", what was the indication? The reason I'm asking is my cell output seems to go up every year with the other variables the same. I assumed (incorrectly?) that it would suddenly die.

Thanks, Tony

[PatL34]

Thanks Pat,
That's a great post. I remember vaguely the lost version so I printed this new one. Chemistry isn't my forte but your explanation is one that I get.

Question: When the first cell "started to die", what was the indication? The reason I'm asking is my cell output seems to go up every year with the other variables the same. I assumed (incorrectly?) that it would suddenly die.

Thanks, Tony

You will find that the DC volts go up and the DC amps go down, indicating a higher resistance between the membranes as the coating wears out. The chlorine output starts to go down as well.

In your case, you appear to have a cell that seems to "rejuvenate" itself. I would expect that might happen if you acid wash the cell at the end of the season, but I suspect something else might be happening. It should lose efficiency as it gets to the end of its life.

Hope this helps.

Pat

Pat

[tonyl]

Well, when I typed my output goes up I should have said output SETTING......ahhh....what a difference a word makes.

Thanks for the info Pat, I'll have to keep an eye on it.

Tony