First test results

[CarlD]

FC 3
CC 1
pH 7.2
Alk 110
Cal 170
Cya 48
salt 3,200

OK, with your numbers you cannot use Tri-chlor pucks anymore without getting into high CYA low pH problems. (if you are using them). If not, not to worry.

Your CC is 1. This concerns me. I'm not an SWG expert but I do know that with a CYA of 50 (close enough) you should be keeping your regular FC closer to 5 or 6 ppm--and because your CC is 1, FC of 3 is clearly too low--the CYA fully dissolving in (if it hasn't already) will make the problem WORSE, not better.

Actually, I'd like to see you shock the pool up to 15ppm to clear out that CC. Use ordinary laundry bleach to do that.

pH of 7.2 is nothing to worry about. It's a tad low but I would NOT adjust it since it's still well within the safe range (above 6.9). SWGs are notorious for pushing pH up for you, so in a while you may need to add acid. Aerating the water is the ONLY way you should raise your pH at this time. But the pH is still perfectly safe for swimming.

Alkalinity is PERFECT! Don't mess with it.

I'm guessing you have a concrete pool. If it's vinyl, don't worrry about or add calcium--you don't need it and it's only a problem when you have too much (500ppm). However, if it's concrete/tile/plaster/gunite you need to raise it to the 200-400ppm range.

For your sake, I hope CYA is where it's going to be. If it goes higher, you'll have to set your chlorine levels higher.

Not sure about the salt--I suspect as you backwash and refill it will get less salty tasting.

[waterbear]

Your CC is 1. This concerns me. I'm not an SWG expert but I do know that with a CYA of 50 (close enough) you should be keeping your regular FC closer to 5 or 6 ppm--and because your CC is 1, FC of 3 is clearly too low--the CYA fully dissolving in (if it hasn't already) will make the problem WORSE, not better.

Actually, I'd like to see you shock the pool up to 15ppm to clear out that CC. Use ordinary laundry bleach to do that.

For your sake, I hope CYA is where it's going to be. If it goes higher, you'll have to set your chlorine levels higher.

The rules don't really seem apply the same way with a SWG. I have seen in my own pool and in my customers pools with SWGs when I test their water that pools with CYA close to 80 and FC around 3 don't have very much if any CC (usually under .2 ppm if there at all). I have noticed that when the CYA drops to around 50 the CC starts to show up. Don't know why, cant really explain it, but I have been seeing it and I have had several customers that actually had to turn the output on their cells down once the CYA got into the proper range and their CC disapperared without shocking. Once again I suspect it is because the way the chlorine is being introduced into the pool (the water in the cell being 'supershocked' when the cell is generating)

[poolbee]

Thanks. I have a vinyl pool so calcium isn't a real problem for me. I have an AutoPilot Digital 220 swg. The AutoPilot rep had me on boost all day yesterday after he added the CYA. My pool is 21,000 gallons according to the rep. Also, AutoPilot recommends CYA of 60-80. Do you shock whenever there is CC present and do you base your amount of shock on the CC reading or only on the volumn of the pool?

[waterbear]

Thanks. I have a vinyl pool so calcium isn't a real problem for me. I have an AutoPilot Digital 220 swg. The AutoPilot rep had me on boost all day yesterday after he added the CYA.
Good idea since it takes about a week for the CYA to dissolve and your FC to start holding in the pool. Monitor your chlorine levels and turn down the output as the CYA dissovles. You will see the FC levels start to go high and stay there.
My pool is 21,000 gallons according to the rep. Also, AutoPilot recommends CYA of 60-80.
The majority of SWG manufacturers do.
Do you shock whenever there is CC present and do you base your amount of shock on the CC reading or only on the volumn of the pool?

If you have a CC over .5 ppm that does not go away in a day of normal run time for cell then shock with bleach. Saves wear and tear on the cell. For a CYA level of 60-80 ppm shock to FC of 20 ppm. This would be about 6 gallons and 1 quart of ultra bleach for your pool. You will probably never have to do this once everything is set up.