low chlorine w/ saltwater system

[sjmathes]

I have a new 16x48 intex above ground pool and my chlorine is low. Should i run boost or add bleach and if i add bleach how much should i add?

[Watermom]

We need a current set of water testing results taken with a drops-based kit to be able to advise you. Do you have a kit? If so, what kind? What all have you added to the pool, meaning ingredients and not just "shock."

Please fill in your pool's information into our pool chart as that makes it easier for us to help.

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Are you aware that those Intex SWCGs add copper to the water? You do NOT want copper in a pool. It is copper and not chlorine like everyone thinks that stains things and turns blonde hair green! If you unhook the copper electrode, you'll be doing yourself a big favor and avoiding some problems later.

Welcome to the Pool Forum!
Welcome to the Pool Forum!

[PoolDoc]

Add bleach!

Running boost shortens the life of your SWCG; they really work best MAINTAINING chlorine levels in pool water that's in good conditions, then they do cleaning up messes.

Getting a good testkit can help us . . . and YOU . . . figure out WHY it's running low.

+ Here are links to the kits we recommend:

HTH 6-Way Test Kit @ Walmart
Taylor K2006A (3/4 oz bottles) @ Amazon
Taylor K2006C (2 oz bottles) @ Amazon

Your pool has PF of 27, so each gallon of 6% bleach will add about 13 ppm of chlorine to your pool. If it's low, but there's no slime on the sides or visible algae, add 1/2 gallon of PLAIN big-box store brand* 6% (check the %) bleach. If the sides feel slippery, or there's algae add 1 to 1.5 gallons.

*PLAIN Clorox brand bleach is fine, but you have to be careful to avoid all the various gooped up versions of Clorox, so we no longer recommend it -- we've had too many people end up with soapy pools because they got one of the gooped-up versions of Clorox.

[SafetyBob]

I can confirm EXACTLY what Watermom said.....you will get green hair with blondes from your Intex SWCG system. I now run mine only for 1 hour a day just because. I generally add one cup of Clorox to the pool each week to keep my numbers perfect. I will not be using it anymore after this year is done. Putting it on boost will only serve to bring more copper in the pool and more green hair (if you have that problem.....I got alot of blondes around here..)

Use PoolDocs links above to get the Taylor kit (I use 2006C) if you don't already have one.

Bob E.