Just got my new above ground pool and we been using it for a week now. Still trying to learn as much as possible by reading on this site and asking folks. I have a 15 by 30 above ground and a Sunshine Pools in line Ionizer.. Water is very clear and tested ok. The pool store i purchased if from does not deal with Ionizer, they sell salt system but decided to use the ionizer after talking with the installer and some friend who have the same unit and say it works awesome... I did visit another pool store that does sell a ionizer system and talking with them and asked about shocking your pool and they told me to not use a Chlorine based shock. To put Chlorine tablets in the skimmer and maintain PH level etc and shock it once a week with a Non chlorine based shock. The installer said to just put tablets in the skimmer and run the ionizer and once every four weeks pour a gallon of chlorox in. Confusing, any thoughts opions, my biggerst concern is waking up one day and pool be green. Have a neighbor beside me and his has been green ever since he opened it and still fighting it now weeks lager. Thanks
chlorine or no chlorine shock
- Thread starter themanofsteel
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 62,625
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
How to Chlorinate Your Pool
Before chlorinating your pool, you should know these simple tips. Learn the best way to add chlorine to your pool.
www.troublefreepool.com
Recommended Pool Chemicals
Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.
www.troublefreepool.com
The ionizer you are using adds copper. It will stain the pool, turn blonde hair green. Disconnect it.
You need a proper test kit. See Pool Test Kits - Further Reading
Quite a few of my friends have the same unit and it works great. Maintain copper at correct level and works great. Was hoping for advice on whether to use non chlorine shock or not and why. Myths and Misconceptions about Swimming Pool Ionizers - Intec America Corporation
- May 3, 2014
- 62,625
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Copper in Pool Water - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Non-Recommended Pool Chemicals
These pool chemicals should not be added to your pool. Save your money and frustration and avoid these chemicals!
www.troublefreepool.com
This forum is for teaching and discussing the TroubleFree Pool Care methods. You are welcome to use whatever you like in your pool.
The first statement is that ionizers don't require chlorine. Wow, right out of the gate and they're telling you that dumping copper algaecide in the pool will somehow make it sanitary
But I guess they need to create a market and only by making people irrationally fear chlorine and convincing them that the bacteria and viruses copper can't touch but chlorine kills aren't actually concerning. Pretty shady, but if it gets someone to shell out over a thousand dollars for $50 worth of copper and electronics then I guess they're on to something.
You were given great advice and links to information written by people with nothing to sell. You needed to go to the people selling the devices to find something that backed up what you believe. I hope you'll take some time to consider that.
Unfortunately, it seems to be hard to get information about what you bought. This site does not support use of ionizers, and the pool professionals you have talked to (one of which doesn't deal with ionizers) are giving conflicting information. The manufacturer has nothing on their web site about day-to-day use. How much copper to test for, amount of chlorine to maintain, whether to shcock or not, and what kind, are unknown. So perhaps the only resource is to give them a call directly - unless you got a manual included that covers the topic. From experience, I can assure you that prolonged putting of tablets in a skimmer will accelerate the aging of the plastic skimmer construction, needing a premature replacement - which may mean concrete work and a big hole in the area, depending on how it was installed.
- Sep 23, 2015
- 2,010
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Astral Viron V25
It all goes well until it doesn't. Copper staining is your first problem and it gets worse as the copper concentration goes up and as the pH goes up. Next is the lack of effective oxidation. And so to keep with the evil chlorine sales pitch they offer the non chlorine shock which is potassium monopersulfate (MPS). It will add sulfate ions which is that nasty one associated with acid mine drainage. Not compatible with metal parts or concrete surfaces. Chlorine adds nothing that isn’t already in your tap water. I know which I would prefer to swim it.
- Sep 23, 2015
- 2,010
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Astral Viron V25
Where are our manners. I should have started with geday superman (themanofsteel, get it…) and welcome to the forums.
To get an idea of what TFP is have a read through TFPC and the Pool School and then go from there.
It’s not what you want to hear but I would never use an ioniser system, my pools structure is worth too much to have a relatively inexpensive ioniser system damage it. I would have followed the first stores advice and gone with the salt system. I would never be without a salt water generator (SWG).
MPS is not a chemical I want in my pool but you choose. Stabilised chlorinated pucks in the skimmer will damage things over time and also add CyA. Elevated CyA will reduce the effectiveness of chlorine. But CyA is our friend when using chlorine but at the right level. We follow the FC/CYA Levels.
My recommendation would be to get a Test Kits Compared and follow the TFP mantra. Cut your lose and cut that ioniser out, switch to liquid chlorine for now and look at a salt water system with a SWG. TFP will have your pool sparkly clean and avoid that green mess next door.
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