Do Acid Feeders exist for salt water pools

[JimK]

I end up needing a dose about every two or three weeks.

I use to add acid when the pH hit 7.6. At that time I was adding acid every week. Following the advice here about TA/borates and not worrying about adjusting until pH rose above 7.8 made a big difference as I noted above.

[waterbear]

The other part of the pH puzzle is to maintain the CYA at the manufacturer's recommended maximum (usually 80 or 100 ppm) and adjust cell output to maintain the FC at 5% of the CYA (or slightly higher for high usage pools or pools without 50 ppm borate). The explanation is somewhat complicated but this will also indirectly slow the pH rise and increase the pH stability.

[CarlD]

To cut the Gordian Knot there's a very simple way to steadily add acid to your pool, assuming your CYA isn't too high, or is even low:

Just load a floating chlorine dispenser with Tri-Chlor tabs.

Tri-Chlor is VERY acidic and will lower your pH or fight the raising of it by your SWCG. It's an effective and far cheaper solution. I've come home from vacations with my pH TOO low from the floaters (oops!).

[waterbear]

To cut the Gordian Knot there's a very simple way to steadily add acid to your pool, assuming your CYA isn't too high, or is even low:

Just load a floating chlorine dispenser with Tri-Chlor tabs.

Sort of defeats the purpose of having a SWCG doens't it?

[CarlD]

Sort of defeats the purpose of having a SWCG doens't it?

Since I don't have an SWCG I don't "feel your pain"

Seriously, if you have to come up with an automated acid-feeding system perhaps just tri-chlor tabs are enough, certainly easy to set up and replenish. I presume the SWCG will produce less chlorine to compensate.
Of course, the Tri-Chlor will run your CYA levels up.

[kelemvor]

I expect once he gets the levels right (including borates) it will not really be an issue. I bet a floater would require maintenance more often than he will have to add acid; although I'm guessing since I've never used a floater.

[waterbear]

I expect once he gets the levels right (including borates) it will not really be an issue. I bet a floater would require maintenance more often than he will have to add acid; although I'm guessing since I've never used a floater.

Exactly!!!! I have to adjust my pH about every 2 months or so..Not a lot of work. There is no need for a trichlor feeder. And yes, I do shut everything down when I go on vacation and because of the borate return to a pool that, at worst, had been slightly cloudy. I just shock with bleach before I go and again when I come back and I am swimmable in a day or two! If the recommendations posted for SWCG water balance are followed pH rise is basically a non issue.

Trichlor would actually be more work and expense, why pay for it when you have a SWCG anyway?

I would recommend trichlor IF you have new plaster that is still curing but once it does (or in a fiberglass or vinyl pool) there is really no reason to use it.

[mnittler]

To cut the Gordian Knot there's a very simple way to steadily add acid to your pool, assuming your CYA isn't too high, or is even low:

Just load a floating chlorine dispenser with Tri-Chlor tabs.

Tri-Chlor is VERY acidic and will lower your pH or fight the raising of it by your SWCG. It's an effective and far cheaper solution. I've come home from vacations with my pH TOO low from the floaters (oops!).

Then do you turn the SWCG off while you are gone? How does the Tri-Chlor react? Too much Chlorine?