SWG Operation - Lessons Learned

[PatL34]

Hi Pat,

It looks like you've created a thread worth making a 'sticky', but it's a bit cluttered with followup OT items. If you would, post a copy again, and then PM me when you have done. I'll add a 'threatening' follow-on , asking people who know (including Sean & Mark) to offer corrections. Once corrected (something I can't do, never having had a SWG), I'll 'sticky' it.

Oh, and about the K-1766 -- were you really able to get one for $8? It currently lists for $20.75, and I thought I was offering a real deal on the PS234S. But, if you can get one for $8, it's not a deal. AgNO3 prices *are* way up, so it's possible that the older price was much lower -- I haven't looked through old Taylor price lists. And, a very quick 'Google' for K-1766 showed prices between $24 and $35.

Ben

Ben,

Thanks for your support. I will "clean it up" so to speak and resubmit it. I was trying to make it as generic as possible.

Regarding the K-1766 testkit, it is the test strips that I meant were at $8. My apologies for the confusion, and I will edit that post to make it clearer. My kit cost $23 over a year ago.

Thanks again.

Pat

[sw_stupid]

Just trying to keep this at the top so we can have a sticky. Has this already been saved as a sticky somewhere? I can't find it.

[sw_stupid]

So Pat, does this mean I need to maintain pH a LITTLE low (7.4 maybe) to make the SWC more effective? I am looking for a way to cut down how long the SWC generates (it's at 75% now). It sounds like a lower pH might help. I maintain 7.8 now.
Thanks,
Brad

[PatL34]

Brad,

7.8 pH is generally considered to be the high end where chlorine production by the cell is minimal. 7.4 would be ideal, and will help to reduce the loading on the cell, and the %age setting.

Depending on your system, if you can keep a fairly steady pH with muriatic acid, and the TA at 100 - 120 ppm, you should have more time for swimming.

Pat

PS. It is not yet a sticky and am waiting to hear from Ben regarding this.

[boscogabby]

Very helpful thread. I have an Aquarite SWCG and I have a PH of 7.4 and TA of 120 which I am able to maintain pretty consistently without adding acid. However I am reading alot in this thread about adding acid to maintain PH. Is this because most of these pools are plaster and not vinyl? I have an inground 12,000 gallon vinyl pool. Filter runs 12hrs a day and SWCG at 20%.

[PatL34]

I came across this anomaly in another thread in this forum I think and have not yet been able to find a reason for the steady pH in vinyl pools.

If you could post a complete analysis, and mention the chemicals you add on a regular basis, it might help to get a better insight. Also what you do when there is an upset through bather load, weather conditions, etc.

Pat

[cwstnsko]

The 1st thing you need to know to understand stability or lack therof is the chemistry of your make-up water. My make up water comes out of the tap above 7.8 and that's part of the reason I add acid on a regular basis. My pebble sheen is still less than 2 years old, so it may still be driving the PH up as well. I use about 2 gallons of acid a month in a 14,000 IG pool

[boscogabby]

I came across this anomaly in another thread in this forum I think and have not yet been able to find a reason for the steady pH in vinyl pools.

If you could post a complete analysis, and mention the chemicals you add on a regular basis, it might help to get a better insight. Also what you do when there is an upset through bather load, weather conditions, etc.

Pat

The only chemicals that I add are ph+ (sodium carbonate) and ph-(dry acid) from pool store. This is my first season with SWCG, used to use Baquaglop. I have not yet had an upset through a heavy bather load and I really do not do anything but vacuum after bad weather conditions, I just let the extra water evaporate. My latest test results are 5ppm FC - PH 7.4 - TA 120 - CYA between 60-70 and Calcium hardness at 250.

[PatL34]

Have added some extra comments regarding bleach cost vs. SWCG cost in the "Pro" section of the original post (#1).

Pat

[waterbear]

ONe thing that I am wondering about....I know that saline bags used in the medical field are composed of PVC and that acid will leach out of the bag lowering the pH of the saline solution inside of it. Could something similar be happening in a vinyl lined pool?
Food for though.