A couple of newbie Salt Chlorinator pool questions

[Silencer]

My pool build is about finished (concrete/waterproofing/tiling completed over two months ago), pump room, jets/returns, lighting finished this week, and next step will be adding water.  I have a Pentair Inteliichlor IC40 chlorine generator and a 1.5hp variable speed pump. Pool is approximately 70,000l.  I have never owned a "salt-water" chlorine pool. I know I will need to play with pump speed and chlorinator to monitor things like ph and salt levels to find the right balance of electrical cost and pool chemistry. Goal is 2-3 turnovers a day at low speed.

 

-Am I correct in calculating almost 250kg (about 10 bags of salt) should be used to go from "0" to the target salt level?

-Is 3200 ppm a good target salt level?

-The Pentair product manual says normal household table salt is all that is needed for the chlorinator. I also see pool shops sell salt bags. I assume either product is ok, and if so, where would someone buy large bags of table salt here (in Thailand generally)?

-What would be typical salt usage (family of three, in pool a couple hours a day) be per month once pool is running efficiently? I know I need to monitor myself and compare with what chlorinator is showing and go from there...so just looking at typical salt bag usage for a pool my size.

-Is it best to dump the salt in the main pool or overflow tank, or no difference?

-What other chemical(s) do you suggest I have on hand?

-Finally, any recommended pool monitoring kits/tools I should invest in to make my frequent checks.

 

Trying to be prepared to take care of the pool myself without hiring a company for service. Thank you to anyone that can help answer some of these questions to get my pool off to the right start.

 

[carlyai]

You can buy big bags of salt from Global House, I'm sure they would be cheaper than a pool shop.

My pool chlorinator has a low chlorine light which helps.

Try and filter your water before you fill the pool, if you can't, it will take a few days to clean up, but just be patient.

Mine is app 100,000 L with a 2 Hp pump and skimmer boxes, so I'm not sure of extra water requirements for an overflow pool.

I built the pool myself with local farmers, so wasn't confident to take on an overflow build. 🙂

During the wet season the Ph tends to go up so you need Soda Ash or similar and acid.

Just follow your pool installer advice and they should balance it all up for you.

I'm in Isaan so maybe a little different maintance schedule that Pattaya or similar big city.

I vaccume once a week (local farmer B350).

 

[Skipalongcassidy]

Do not add salt until you have chemically balanced the water at startup... there is more to it than just adding salt.

[Bagwain]

In tropical conditions it is best to run salt levels at 4,000 ppm. 2 x 25 kg bags per 10,000 litres.

TRS is the salt brand and buy the red label not the blue (swimming pool salts) as the blue is the same as the red but more expensive because it is bagged for pools. Salt doesn't go anywhere, but will need toping up after a lot of rain and if you have a leak or very high bather load,

Put the salt in as the pool as its being filled. Don't turn the chlorinator on for a least 24 hours. Wait for the salt to dissolve completely. 

You have no reason to have any soda ash. Salt pools have a high pH due to the type of chlorine being produced and hydrochloric acid is needed for that.

You will need approx 2/3rd litre twice p/wk. You will need to play around with the amount till you get good pH results. (7.2 - 7.6) Put the acid into a bucket with water in it and not the other way round. Then spread it over the pool.  

 

[carlyai]

Where you been, thought you had retired.

Great advice as always. 🙂

[Silencer]

Thanks to all that provided advice. Will follow. I understand that I will need to keep on top of chemistry as conditions change. 

[Silencer]

On 2/21/2024 at 8:38 AM, Bagwain said:

In tropical conditions it is best to run salt levels at 4,000 ppm. 2 x 25 kg bags per 10,000 litres.

TRS is the salt brand and buy the red label not the blue (swimming pool salts) as the blue is the same as the red but more expensive because it is bagged for pools. Salt doesn't go anywhere, but will need toping up after a lot of rain and if you have a leak or very high bather load,

Put the salt in as the pool as its being filled. Don't turn the chlorinator on for a least 24 hours. Wait for the salt to dissolve completely. 

You have no reason to have any soda ash. Salt pools have a high pH due to the type of chlorine being produced and hydrochloric acid is needed for that.

You will need approx 2/3rd litre twice p/wk. You will need to play around with the amount till you get good pH results. (7.2 - 7.6) Put the acid into a bucket with water in it and not the other way round. Then spread it over the pool.  

 

About the ph and HCL (or Muriatic acid) balance. I have read a few pool forums that discuss that their pools shoot up to 7.8ph VERY quickly after HCL is added to bring it down to 7.4-7.5. However, then several of their pools stabalize at 7.8 for several weeks (sometimes months), before dosing with HCL again when they see it rise above 7.8. Others are adding (as you suggest) a couple times a week, others once a week, others once a month to keep it below 7.6. I understand this is what you mean by play around with it, as every pool is different. My question is that IF I find my pool stabalizes at 7.8 for weeks, without additional acid added, would that be ok? Then, if I see a rise in ph above 7.8 I can dose with acid again to lets say the 7.5 range and see if it stabalizes at 7.8 again for weeks (recognizing 7.2-7.6 is the preferred range). Question than becomes is 7.8ph really that bad if easily maintained? Ofcourse I won't know my actual results until I monitor myself. 

[Bagwain]

On 2/22/2024 at 11:08 AM, Silencer said:

About the ph and HCL (or Muriatic acid) balance. I have read a few pool forums that discuss that their pools shoot up to 7.8ph VERY quickly after HCL is added to bring it down to 7.4-7.5. However, then several of their pools stabalize at 7.8 for several weeks (sometimes months), before dosing with HCL again when they see it rise above 7.8. Others are adding (as you suggest) a couple times a week, others once a week, others once a month to keep it below 7.6. I understand this is what you mean by play around with it, as every pool is different. My question is that IF I find my pool stabalizes at 7.8 for weeks, without additional acid added, would that be ok? Then, if I see a rise in ph above 7.8 I can dose with acid again to lets say the 7.5 range and see if it stabalizes at 7.8 again for weeks (recognizing 7.2-7.6 is the preferred range). Question than becomes is 7.8ph really that bad if easily maintained? Ofcourse I won't know my actual results until I monitor myself. 

At 7.8 you risk getting black spot. The bane of the pool industry. If you get it, you will forever be trying to get rid of it. The pH will always rise in a salt chlorinated pool due to the type of chlorine being created. As stated, adding acid 2 times weekly is your best option. Hydrochloric acid is cheap at around

300 - 500 baht per 20 litres.