Fine Tuning a Salt Water Pool

[polyvue]

FC 5.0
TC 5.0
CYA 50
Salt 3300
TA 120
pH 7.4

I am currently running the system 5.0 hours per day at 100% output. The FC reading above was taken at 4:00 p.m. approximately 15 hours after the pump shut off, and 4 hours before it is scheduled to kick back on. I have read the "Best Guess" thread regarding the CYA to FC ratio and would like to know if these levels apply to salt Water pools as well as Traditional Chlorine pools.

I am having to add Muriatic acid to keep the pH level down and have read a lot of info on his forum regarding this. I seem to be adding less amounts less frequently as my CYA level rises. I did nurse the CYA up slowly, and I have cut my "on" time from 8 hours to 6 hours to 5 hours.

It would seem likely to me that I can reduce my amount of "on" time or reduce the output percentage still further. With respect to the rising pH level, which would be better, the shorter actual "on" time or the lower percentage?

The chemical equilibriums represented in the CYA/FC ratio charts apply to both salt and non-salt pools.
[EDIT 6/4/10] No. See Watermom's comment and my mea culpa, below [END-EDIT 6/4/10]

If you find the FC climbing too high for your liking you can reduce pump time and/or turn down the percentage on the cell.

You'll get accustomed to this tuning and learn over time what works for your pool. Since rising pH can be an indirect result of cell chlorine production (per accepted wisdom) and a direct outcome of carbon dioxide outgassing from splashing and other types of aeration, this too may be a matter of trying different protocols until one works. pH volatility can be reduced somewhat by allowing your Total Alkalinity to come down over time and (if I understand this correctly) by the addition of borates. When modulating pH rise in my own pool, I reduce TA and cut back the time water features are running (including spa spillover).

BTW I'm not the SWG expert Janet referred to -- just an SWG learner.