A quick SWCG question

[Pappy]

What stabilizer are you using? The owners manual says a max of 50ppm CYA (Cyanuric Acid). Running at that level will make the SWCG last longer because your chlorine will last longer. Also, don't use the boost setting, shock with bleach instead. If your stabilizer is around 20, you want to add enough bleach so that chlorine level doesn't go below 2ppm by the time the sun is off the pool. If your CYA is at 50ppm, you need to try to keep chlorine levels between 3 and 6. Watermom suggested that you might disconnect the copper electrode to eliminate the copper production.

This page discusses why higher CYA levels require higher chlorine, and why this forum generally, but not always, recommends CYA levels between 30 and 50ppm.
http://poolsolutions.com/gd/best-gue...e-chart.html#a

I'm going to let someone else talk about ozone because I don't know enough about it to have an intelligent discussion.

[Watermom]

For most pools, we recommend around 40-50ppm for a CYA level but for pools with a SWCG, you need to follow the manufacturer's recommendation for the specific CYA level for that unit.

[Pappy]

Plain Walmart bleach is liquid chlorine. Pool Doc generally recommends you NOT use the SWCG until AFTER you get your pool "ready". What kind of filter do you have?
Read these, it will make your life easier and your pool happier.
http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/abov...-problems.html
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...p-routine-care.

If you have the cartridge filter, order 2 or 3 good ones now.

While you are at walmart getting bleach, see if they have this
http://www.walmart.com/ip/HTH-6-Way-Test-Kit/17043668
Get one if they do.

And if you have a sand filter, you might be interested in this,
http://www.walmart.com/ip/HTH-D.E-Fi...10-lb/20434370
the picture is WRONG, the description is CORRECT.
This is WHY you might be interested in D.E.
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...to-sand-filter

Enjoy your new pool!

[bradburyesqu]

Thank you for the links that helps a lot. But I'm still unclear on one point. How do I know when my pool is ready to start using the SWCG? Is it after the 7 day start up that you linked. Ie when I get to the maintanance part I start using the generator instead?

For now I need to add Chlorine. But how much? The document you posted above says to get 2 gallons for every 3,000 gallons of water. Do I need to add all of that over the next 7 days?

[Pappy]

Since you added stabilizer, you may not need dichlor, which adds stabilizer. Add 2 cups of 8.25% generic bleach, no fancy smellygoodie, or other "goo", every evening until you get 5ppm reading with an OTO drops based test kit. "Guess strips" are not reliable. If you are able to the HTH 6 Way kit you can check your stabilizer level. Your final chlorine level depends on the stabilizer level. If the HTH 6 way isn't available, get the cheapest OTO kit you can.

http://poolsolutions.com/gd/best-gue...ine-chart.html


I meant to say 2 cups bleach for every 3000 gallons.

[Pappy]

You are going to need the Taylor K-2006 test kit. As far as I know, it's available online only. There's a link to the Amazon store in Pool Doc's blue signature box.

[Watermom]

Also a link in my signature below.

[bradburyesqu]

Well I'll have to order the taylor kit bot for now I got the HTH kit drop kit from walmart and that changed things a lot.

TC is between .5 and 1 PPM
PH is 7.5 (but I was aerating while I went to the store.)
TA is 300
Total Hardness is 340.

What a difference the right tools make.

The SWCG unit I bought produces Chlorine, Ozone and a small amount of copper. My understanding is that with the Ozone you can keep the Chlorine PPM lower. The manual suggests between 1 and 3 PPM. Should I still bring the pool up to 5 PPM first and then start using the unit? Or should I stop at 3?