Is my cell dying?

[JimK]

One other thought. There are many "events" which can create excess chlorine demand such as pollen or even not killing all the algae after opening. So that could have accounted for the lower FC levels.

True. Pollen was really bad this spring.

At opening I did keep CL at shock level until CC was 0 and CL loss stopped dropping much overnight. This year it only took a couple days or so to get there. Previous years took longer and much more CL.

I found it interesting that over this past winter my CYA didn't drop at all, unlike previous winters were it plummeted. I understand the by products of CYA being eaten up create high CL demand. I guess that explains why I didn't need near as much CL at startup this season.

[JimK]

UPDATE:

My cell seems to be having no trouble maintaining CL, so apparently it hasn't given out yet. The only mystery left is why last year the controller's salt reading was the same as my test strips, but this year the controller is reading about 300ppm lower than the strips.

[kelemvor]

Maybe it's time to try a taylor k-1766 drop based salt test kit? My local pool store actually carries those.

[JimK]

Maybe it's time to try a taylor k-1766 drop based salt test kit? My local pool store actually carries those.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I looked into that before and decided to go with the AquaCheck Salt Strips that were recommended here. I was told the strips do a good job (they seem to do fine).

I'll take a look at the Taylor kit again.

I'm wondering if the 300 ppm is simply the normal range of error. I think I remember years ago being told by the pool store that installed our system (I was having them test salt back then; they were using the Taylor kits) that it was normal to see a variation of 200 ppm or 300 ppm.

[kelemvor]

I'm wondering if the 300 ppm is simply the normal range of error. I think I remember years ago being told by the pool store that installed our system (I was having them test salt back then; they were using the Taylor kits) that it was normal to see a variation of 200 ppm or 300 ppm.

I found an old post somewhere else made by waste that said the moa was 500 on this test (even with the 1766). I think you're probably just fine

[JimK]

I found an old post somewhere else made by waste that said the moa was 500 on this test (even with the 1766). I think you're probably just fine

Great info. Thanks!

[mas985]

Test strip are fine IF they are fresh but they do seem to go bad quickly.

[BigDave]

Test strip are fine ...

Meaning the salt test strips (and borate test strips). In case someone reads this out of context.

[JimK]

Meaning the salt test strips (and borate test strips). In case someone reads this out of context.

Good point. Salt and borate are the only strips I use.

If my readings get too out of wack, I'll order the Taylor salt kit and give it a try.

I looked at the past few readings and noticed if the SWCG controller reading dropped 200 ppm so did the strip test reading. In other words, the 300 ppm difference between the controller and the strips has remained consistant, so I think I'm fine for now.

I've read that as a cell ages you can get lower readings, so I'm wondering if the age of my cell is what's causing the difference (this is our 6th season on this cell). Some have suggested only going by the controller reading since for the function of the SWCG this is what matters. However, I don't want to get into a situation of salt being way to high when it comes time to replace the cell. When the last cell died, the only indication I got was an unexpectedly low salt reading.

For now I don't plan to do anything as long as the controller reading and the stip readings (or Taylor kit if I get it) fall within the cell's normal operating range. Does this sound reasonable?