AquaSmarte Delivery System?

[sevver]

If it is a cartridge then yes, replace the cartridge, but wait for someone to say that who is familiar with what you have before you jump the gun. I am not sure what this system looks like or what it does or anything, I will look into it now though. There are smarter people than me on this board that is for sure, but do get the kit. It is money well spent.

[GraceByDesign]

............. Is this a Baquacil type system? If so, I am thinking you should also change the filter media. I have no experience with the system you have at all...........

The Aqua Smarte is a mineral/chlorine system. You buy a mineral reservoir that stays in the cycler for the season and you add "Bac Pacs" which is chlorine tabs inside a cylinder thingie

Chlorine, therefore not Baqua.

Filter media in your case is cartridge, but as you are already using a chlorine-based system, there may not be a need to change it. (If you change from Baqua to chlorine, your sand or cartridge wil get all gummed up with Baqua-goo! )

[circlenranch]

Sevver, I really appreciate you looking into it for me!
Grace, I sure hope I don't have to replace the cart. It's expensive too!!

[circlenranch]

Here is a link I found describing the Aqua Smarte system. This might shed a little more light as to what steps I should take to switch to BBB.

http://kingtechnology.com/pdf/Manual...al-English.pdf

[GraceByDesign]

I just briefly scanned the document, and it looks like you could just ditch the system and start with BBB.

Post some numbers so we can better help you! If you are following the guidelines outlined in step 2 on page 4 of the document, your water parameters should be pretty close.

Most here would suggest stabilizer (or CYA) between 30-50 ppm, and your FC will need to be increased accordingly (3-5ppm, 15 to shock)
You do not need to worry about calcium hardness, as you have a liner. (problems only occur >500ppm)

One Caution: Some here say they pour bleach into the skimmer: DO NOT do this if you leave your system connected. Mixing different forms of chlorinating chemicals is dangerous. (they can be mixed in the pool without any harm, however.) Add your bleach in front of a return.

ETA: get a drops-based test kit (Ben's kit, Taylor, or HTH 6-way)... test strips are 'lovingly' called "Guess Strips" around here!

[circlenranch]

Thanks Grace!
Last night my numbers were: chlorine 0.5, ph 7.2, CYA 0. I cant remember what the alkalinity was.

[sc-pierce]

my neighbor has the aquasmarte thing..he swears by it. your chlorine SHOULD be low with it, that's the whole point of having that particular system anyway. it uses copper ions to sanitize the water instead of chlorine. my neighbor didn't mention anything about the bac pacs or whatever, he says they only replace the copper things once every other year or so. they add a little bleach every week, because even with that you need SOME chlorine. you might want to contact another aquasmart dealer and play dumb to see if you get the same answers that your guy is telling you.

[GraceByDesign]

I just edited my above post, as you were replying! Where is Shepherdsville? we are near Florence...

You will need to add 30-50ppm CYA. Use the BleachCalc to find out how much. Shoot for the low end, because while you can always add more, you cannot lower it without draining pool! There are some CYA delivery methods discussed here.

You will need to up your chlorine according to your CYA level. Use Ben's Best Guess table to get the right numbers. I was a bit off in a previous post.

[sevver]

I think that running your chlorine low only makes for unsanitary water. The copper based solutions are not really a good idea, basically it is an expensive algaecide, and completely unnecessary with proper pool maintenance.

[GraceByDesign]

my neighbor has the aquasmarte thing..he swears by it. your chlorine SHOULD be low with it, that's the whole point of having that particular system anyway. it uses copper ions to sanitize the water instead of chlorine. my neighbor didn't mention anything about the bac pacs or whatever, he says they only replace the copper things once every other year or so. they add a little bleach every week, because even with that you need SOME chlorine. you might want to contact another aquasmart dealer and play dumb to see if you get the same answers that your guy is telling you.

OOO, I did not see that copper part anywhere. That may change the whole ball game on switching to BBB. Man, nothing's ever easy, is it?