Looking for Minimal Maintenance

[JimSentry]

I have 16x32 IG vinyl, about 25,000 gallons.

The pool is used very infrequently as it is just for my wife and I.

My most recent readings were:

FC - above 8.0
PH - 7.4
TA - 160
Calcium Hardness - 50
Total Dissolved Solids - 600

Previous to this reading my PH was below 6.0 and the Pool Store recommended draining the pool 1/3 of the way twice adding PH as necessary.

Thanks to the helpful tips on this forum I added 48lbs of Baking Soda and 8 lbs PH up. That action brought my readings up to the levels above.

Now the pool store wants me to add 45lbs of Hardness Plus and then another 5 lbs every 4 hours.

According to what I've read here calcium levels are not a concern on vinyl pools, so I'm not going to do anything.

What do I do about the chlorine levels though?

I have an automatic feeder and it has been empty for the last 2 days. The pump runs 24/7.

I just filled the feeder though because I am concerned algae coming back.

Will higher chlorine levels affect PH levels?

How long should I run my pump. The pool is in mostly full sunlight from dawn until 3-4 PM.

What hours should I run my pump?

Is a SWG a lower maintenance item, do they control PH too?

Sorry for all the questions but I am determined to get this pool back into swimmimg shape.

Thanks for your responses.

[DavidD]

I have 16x32 IG vinyl, about 25,000 gallons.

The pool is used very infrequently as it is just for my wife and I.

My most recent readings were:

FC - above 8.0
PH - 7.4
TA - 160
Calcium Hardness - 50
Total Dissolved Solids - 600

Previous to this reading my PH was below 6.0 and the Pool Store recommended draining the pool 1/3 of the way twice adding PH as necessary.

Thanks to the helpful tips on this forum I added 48lbs of Baking Soda and 8 lbs PH up. That action brought my readings up to the levels above.

Now the pool store wants me to add 45lbs of Hardness Plus and then another 5 lbs every 4 hours.

According to what I've read here calcium levels are not a concern on vinyl pools, so I'm not going to do anything.

You are right!

What do I do about the chlorine levels though?

What is your CYA level? You must determine this before making any decisions regarding your chlorine levels. (See Ben's Best Guess CYA Chart at the top of this section)

I have an automatic feeder and it has been empty for the last 2 days. The pump runs 24/7.

I just filled the feeder though because I am concerned algae coming back.

Will higher chlorine levels affect PH levels?

Both are related since you are using tri-chlor pucks. They can lower PH dramaticlly. Bleach may raise PH slighlty however I've never personnaly experienced this. Something else these do is add CYA which may have been the cause of your algae in the first place.

How long should I run my pump. The pool is in mostly full sunlight from dawn until 3-4 PM.

What hours should I run my pump?

The technical answer is until you "turn" your pool over at least once. What this means is that until an amount of water that equals the total gallons in your pool has run through the filter. It does vary though. I personally run mine usually all day, turning it on in the morning and off at night. This will depend on usage as it ran all night last night since we, and a bunch of neighborhood boys, were in the pool untill 11:00.

Is a SWG a lower maintenance item, do they control PH too?

Yes, and no. Yes, because because the SWG generates it's own chlorine. The idea is that once you get it "dialed in", the only chlorine you should ever have to add is to shock. Though I do not have one, my experience has been that they to need to be monitored closely. As far as I know, none can control PH and it is usually constantly on the rise with a SWG, requiring the addition of acid to lower usually once a week or so. Others here have far better experience and knowledge on SWG's so maybe Evan or one of the others can add or correct.

Sorry for all the questions but I am determined to get this pool back into swimmimg shape.

Thanks for your responses.

That's why we're here! Keep reading around, pick up some tips and as Carl says "Stay ahead of your water" and you'll be fine.

Dave

Edit/PS-One other piece of advice I'd like to give you that will cut your maintenance way down is to invest in a good test kit. Now this will sound like a sales pitch but Ben, the owner/moderator of this forum has one that in my opinion is the best. The $80 price may seem high at first but I promise, it will save you ten fold. This will cut down on maintained by keeping you "ahead of your water" so you'll never have to deal with algae again. Seriously! I spend a few minutes each day testing, adding a little chlorine (bleach) and that's it. Oh occasionally I have to add acid, borax or baking soda but that is rare and I spend more time enjoying and vacuuming than I do on "maintenance". Now if I could just give in and buy one of those fancy robots to do the vacuuming......

[JimSentry]

Thanks Dave

Based on your response I'm going to run my pump/filter 7am - 7pm.

The pool store did not test for cyanuric acid (cya I hope) and I don't see a test for it on my tiny kit, so I'm going to order one of Ben's.

[PatL34]

Jim,

Have look at this thread regarding SWCGs. It might be of help.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=1226

Pat

[CarlD]

CYA=Cyanuric Acid=IsoCyanuric Acid=Stabilizer=Conditioner.

All the same thing.

[CarlD]

"Looking for Minimal Maintenance"

Aren't we all!

[pcgeek]

FWIW, The PoolPilot Total control SWG does control PH as well. Mine''s not installed yet so I can't speak to it's effectiveness but it also has the digital controller for the SWG so there's not much "dialing in". We got it explicitly for the low pool maintenence.

[waterbear]

FWIW, The PoolPilot Total control SWG does control PH as well. Mine''s not installed yet so I can't speak to it's effectiveness but it also has the digital controller for the SWG so there's not much "dialing in". We got it explicitly for the low pool maintenence.

But you still have to add salt and refill the acid tank!
AND you still have to balance your other water parameters manually.
I only have to add a pint to a pint and a half of acid every three weeks with my SWG but your milage may vary.

[pcgeek]

So, you only have to add salt if you get splash-out, etc given that it's not consumed. The acid tank is 15gal (diluted 4:1) so you're not going to be refilling it all that often. The other water parameters tend to move a LOT less frequently than CL and PH which should significantly reduce the attention you need to pay to the pool on an ongoing basis.

[gonefishin]

"Looking for Minimal Maintenance"

Aren't we all!

lol


being a new pool owner...I'm really beginning to think that minimal maintenance is achieved thru staying on top of your pool. Check your water often, vacuum regularly (by hand or automatic machine) and run your filter.

Keeping a pool clean and chemicals in check seems to be far less work than what my relatives and neighbors do after they let it go a bit. Sure am glad I found this site


take care,

dan