Newbie here...need help with startup

[chem geek]

The differences in chemicals with an SWCG system are as follows:

1) They generally operate more efficiently with higher levels of CYA -- some manufacturers recommend 70-80 ppm, but this depends on the cell design so see what your manufacturer says.

2) They seem to be able to operate with lower chlorine levels, though this is hotly debated on this forum. Some users swear that one must still maintain levels according to Ben's Best Guess CYA chart, but most say that a level of 3 ppm works well even with 70-80 ppm CYA (which would normally require a minimum of 5 ppm from Ben's chart).

3) They require a minimum salt level in order to operate. The exact amount varies by manufacturer, but is typically in the range of 2500-3500 ppm of salt (NaCl) though technically it is chloride ion that is measured (and is what is relevant) even though it gets reported as ppm of sodium chloride salt.

If you do not have the minimum salt level in your pool, then the SWCG will simply not operate since there won't be enough condicutivity in the water without the salt to cause the electrolysis in the SWCG cell to happen (i.e. you won't generate chlorine). So don't bother turning on the SWCG until you add salt to your pool. In the meantime, use liquid chlorine or bleach and add CYA if it's not already there or else you'll lose the chlorine to sunlight too rapidly. Be sure that the TA and CH are up to the normal levels (around 100 and 300, respectively) since you have a gunite pool. Adjust pH, etc. -- all the stuff you would do with a non-SWCG pool.

Richard

[dawndenise]

Ready2swim, I went ballistic on your behalf after reading your post. Having that wonderful pool and spa filled "a couple of days ago" without your equipment on is an algae pool on the not-too-distant horizon , IMHO. Good to see you've got at least one pump going for some circulation.

A-s-suming you filled with some kind of municipal water, you at least have some low level of chlorine in it, but that will be gone very, very soon, if it's not gone already.

If that were my pool, I'd be on the phone to the PB today and get them to get the rest of your equipment started, but not the SWG. It really shouldn't take them that long if they just get your basic stuff going, including the filter. If they can get your pumps and filter online, that'll make your life a whole lot easier and then this forum can help you with the rest.

Get a good drops-based test kit, if you don't already have one and test your water and post your results back here. Could you also tell us what finish you have on the gunite?

Good luck,

[Simmons99]

Don"t totally freak out - we went 3-4 days with water and no pump (the electricians ran out of conduit and the plumber plumbed something backwards). I added about 1 gallon of bleach to my 14,000 pool every evening (starting the second day) AFTER THE sun went down and bought my own brush - brushed the pool to mix up the chlorine.

Also if the pool builder asks - tell him you used liquid chlorine instead of bleach - it makes them feel better

You can wait a few days - we had no problems and it was 95 degrees or higher - just get some bleach in at night.

Also - the pool builder had us wait 14 days before they would salt the pool - something to do with the finish. Once the pump was on we used tri-chlor pucks in a floater (to help counter act the rising PH and add some CYA) and then added bleach in the evening until the SWCG was online.

[Phillbo]

If it's a plaster pool, you need to be brushing it a couple times a day ... Get the filter running asap.


Put the PB number on speed dial in your cell and do not stop calling until they get the job done!!! It's sad but your problems are typical in the industry. My PB started to drag his feet late in the project and once the promised completion date arrived, I called and informed them I would be deducting 100.00 per day from the balance due for each day it was not completed. That got their attention.

[Ready2swim]

The pool finish is plaster...

I finally took the bull by the horns Friday night after deciding that I wasnt going to get any help from the PB...after all, why would they want to start providing good service now after a perfect record of being absolutley incapable for the last two and a half months?

I removed the plugs from the skimmers and filled the pumps with water. I walked around the pool one more time to make sure all of the plugs were removed and the main drain was clear of debris...I walked back to the Easy Touch controll panel and turned on the pool pump, said a couple of hail mary's and low and behold...we have lift off. Everything came on line perfectly. I had a few monments of trial and error trying to make sure that the valves all did what I thought they did. once I got everything figured out we were off to the races and at least i wasnt looking at stagnant water anymore.

I went down to the local pool store and took my beating like a man, since my PB has not delivered a pole or brush or anything else for that matter I decided to buy one for now and show them the reciept when they arrive to pick up their final check. I havent had a chance to test the water yet but I will do that tonight and post the results tomorrow. It was nice to have things up and running even if it wasnt "the real thing". I hope to get the start up company out this week to add the salt and help me program the Easy Touch.

One thing I noticed that I dont understand is the jets in the spa are missing...does anyone know when they are normally installed?

I took a few pictures on Saturday evening, sorry they are so dark. I will take more when I get a chance. Thanks again for all of the help, I will get the results of my tests posted tomorrow.

[SeanB.]

Well, it looks good anyway. I like the layout and the shape of the spa.

Just curious, did you get the landscaping package from them as well or will you be doing that yourself?

[eljefe281]

One thing I noticed that I dont understand is the jets in the spa are missing...does anyone know when they are normally installed?

Do you mean that there is nothing coming through the gunite wall where the jets should be?

Or that the appropriate wall fittings are not yet in place?

[Simmons99]

If the jets you are refering to are really the eyelets - mine were installed the week after the pool was filled. Our start-up went like this

8/18: finish applied and started filling
8/19: completed filling - electrical came out to connect the pump - ran out of materials & left.
8/20: Nothing
8/21: Electrical came back and got the pump on-line and started. PB came to install lights in spa and pool. Found a broken conduit.
8/22: PB came back - fixed conduit - got the lights installed. Found SWCG was plumbed wrong. Installed eyelets.
8/23-24: Nothing
8/25: Got pool school - they added the rest of the chemicals and we got our brush/test kit/warranty info and we paid final payment. Items still not completed at this point were (1) the SWCG was still not started (2) some pavers were the wrong color (3) the covered area leaks by the house (4) the screen door on one side hits the pavers and is very difficult to close (5) paint overspray on tiles.
8/28 - fixed overspray on tiles
8/31 - started SWCG - added salt
9/08 - installed alarms on windows/doors
9/19 - final inspection. Still outstanding items.

This is normal punch-list type stuff. They are talking to me - I never call angery - no one wants to call someone back that is going to yell at them - so I only am a b**ch when I have tried everything else.

Take a deep breath - your scenario doesn't sound nearly as bad as some others I have heard (14 + months from dig to fill). Although it is never good business practices to lie to a customer - will get you in trouble everytime.