Ok, so apparently my Pentair 320 doesn't have a required GPM to operate listed anywhere. I just got a Hayward Tristar VS pump and I'm trying to figure out what GPM or RPM I should keep it at to feed my chlorinator. Anyone have any idea?
VS pump + Chlorine feeder (Pentair/Rainbow 320)
- Thread starter Zermus
- Start date
I guess I would counter with the suggestion of getting rid of the chlorinator completely. That is not a viable way of adding chlorine especially in Texas where your seasons are long.
Generally the chlorinator will work at any speed but the rate that the tablets dissolve will vary with the pump speed.
Generally the chlorinator will work at any speed but the rate that the tablets dissolve will vary with the pump speed.
Heh yeah, I found that out. I offset that thing with a floater. 1/2 from the feeder and the other 1/2 from the floater during summer. The only reason I really have it is because it came with the system/house.
How are you controlling the rise in CYA with both an erosion feeder and a floater both adding CYA?
It is not the chlorinator I have a problem with it is the use of trichlor pucks. And using them in a floater isn't going to do you any better. As mentioned above the stabilizer level is going to continuously climb requiring higher and higher levels of chlorine to keep the pool clear and safe.
I keep my chlorinator set on 1.5 to 2 depending on CYA and I keep 2 pucks in floater. It seems to keep CYA stable for me. Any higher on the chlorinator and I run into CYA problems. If I don't use a floater and go with chlorinator only set to 4, algae seems to creep up during summer months.
I don't use a floater during winter months. Granted this was with my 2HP single speed pump. I'm going to have to experiment with this new VS pump.
I don't use a floater during winter months. Granted this was with my 2HP single speed pump. I'm going to have to experiment with this new VS pump.
The pucks just don't work that way they're always adding chlorine and cya. And the cya level is what determines what chlorine level you need to maintain at all times. Can you post up some test results?
I'm not sure I follow you on what you mean by "that way". The floater is always adding chlorine/cya because it stays in the pool, but the chlorinator only runs when the pump runs.
FCL - 2.5
TCL - 2.5
Alk - 100
PH - 7.6
TH - 350
Cya - 60
FCL - 2.5
TCL - 2.5
Alk - 100
PH - 7.6
TH - 350
Cya - 60
And those results just proved my point your chlorine level is too low for your cya level. You can't turn up your chlorinator to add additional chlorine to get the chlorine level high enough because that will also raise your cya.
You need to follow the recommended chlorine levels in the [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]
You need to follow the recommended chlorine levels in the [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]
Huh. I wonder if that is the reason we don't recommend using pucks for regular chlorination...
Well I didn't come here to get into a flame war over chlorination methods. I know what works for me. I just had a question about using a chlorine feeder with VS pumps. I hate salt.
No flaming, just telling you why you get algae. If you consider that working then it is your pool. Best of luck to you.
Considering I don't get algae unless I do something wrong, like leave my floater out during the summer, then I'm fine. Yeah the CYA battle is real here, what else is new, but that's the evil I take for my chlorination method. IMO salt sucks.
Pools in Texas are a whole different animal than Ohio too.
Pools in Texas are a whole different animal than Ohio too.
Really, you are going with the "you don't know how pools work in Texas" rebuttle? Classic. I didn't realize chemistry was different there, especially when many TFP members live there are run their pools just fine using the methods taught here.
Like I said, your pool. I really don't care how you run it. If after 4 years on the site you still think "more pucks!" is an acceptable answer then we don't have much to discuss.
Best of luck to you. I will go ahead and add you to my ignore list now.
Like I said, your pool. I really don't care how you run it. If after 4 years on the site you still think "more pucks!" is an acceptable answer then we don't have much to discuss.
Best of luck to you. I will go ahead and add you to my ignore list now.
I'm not sure who brought salt up in the mix here. Nobody said you had to go with an swg. We just highly recommend the use of liquid chlorine in lieu of solid chlorine due to the lack of side effects. And I hate to burst your bubble but those pucks are also adding salt to your pool just like every other form of chlorine.
We are a teaching forum. That teaches a method of pool maintenance based on scientific chemistry. You are welcome to make your own decisions on how to maintain your own pool. But it is clear that your Chemistry levels are not within our recommended guidelines and that is why you get algae and we do not.
Would you say that your chemistry is different in Texas versus Arizona? Don't overlook the fact that a majority of our moderators actually live in Texas as well
We are a teaching forum. That teaches a method of pool maintenance based on scientific chemistry. You are welcome to make your own decisions on how to maintain your own pool. But it is clear that your Chemistry levels are not within our recommended guidelines and that is why you get algae and we do not.
Would you say that your chemistry is different in Texas versus Arizona? Don't overlook the fact that a majority of our moderators actually live in Texas as well
At a Minimum your Free Chlorine level has to be 7.5% of your CYA if you don't have Combined Chrlorine. I am one that feels Tabs have a place if you know proper chemistry and adjustments and don't exceed recommended CYA levels. You will not get algae if you keep your Free Chlorine level correct in relation to your CYA, assuming no CC, not going below the minimum level needed(of chlorine), again 7.5% of your CYA ppm.
CYA should not be a battle. Once you reach the max of what is recommend, stop using it, period, and keep your Chlorine level correct using liquid. From the IPSSA school of thought that amount is 50ppm CYA max for a non-salt pool, and I think TFP is inline with that but I'm sure I'll get corrected if I'm wrong
I try to keep all of my non-salt pools around 40ppm.Of course you also need to adjust all other parameters(pH, Alkalinity, Calcium, etc) and keep your LSI/CSI inline as well, especially pH. Because if pH is incorrect then your chlorine is either ineffective(pH too high) or your water will be too corrosive(ph too low).
You should read the pool school here and learn the correct way to maintain your pool. Their method applies to any area of the world you live, and is the correct method.
Well anyone gets algae if they do not chlorinate. There seems to be this stigma with attaching algae to me because I mentioned that I use pucks and if I don't chlorinate I get algae... ANYONE gets algae if they don't chlorinate... It's been years since I had an algae bloom. Geez, this seems to be a pretty hostile place for a "teaching" forum. You all seemed more concerned with saying new people with basic equipment questions have algae when they don't and burning them at the stake for "not following your method". Your method even mentions the various forms of chlorination and the pros and cons of each. Honestly this pool school is just basic pool stuff I already know. The liquid method listed at 1) plainly lists it's main disadvantage, bulky jugs. It's more time consuming. Just because someone's preference is different you shouldn't immediately go to "that's not the recommended method" and you should read pool school and you're an algae infested mess without actually asking if they get algae. I didn't even mention algae in my original post. A hypothetical that had nothing to do with what I asked was thrown my way and I answered yeah, obviously that would breed algae, and then everyone piled on as if that hypothetical were what actually happened. It's like a bait and switch used car salesmen tactic to get me to go to your preferred method of chlorination. That's exactly what happened here. All of you saying that I should read pool school should maybe re read it yourself because each method has it's pros and cons and just because I choose something you didn't doesn't mean I can't read or maintain my pool. Even the mod did it in this thread without actually reading what was said. He's actually the one who threw the hypothetical that started the unfounded accusations and then taking it far into left field off topic from what was originally asked to try and get me to go to the cool people liquid chlorine club. It's like grade school. Now I remember why I didn't come around much after I registered... I learned my lesson and I'll stay out. Have fun with your club boys.
Liquid chlorine as your main form of chlorination? Are you serious??? Hey if that's what works for you....
And yeah, algae runs rampant in warmer weather. Texas is a lot hotter than Ohio, so... just pointing out facts here.
CYA is a battle here unless you choose to use liquid (LOL I mean c'mon, whatever have fun with those gallon jugs every week) or salt here. Both of which are a bigger pain to deal with IMO than draining and refilling when CYA gets too high with pucks. With salt or liquid you're still dealing with CYA because you have to keep it balanced. If you go over you still drain and refill. If you balance it, then you're stuck with bulky forms of chlorine which IMO are more time consuming to deal with. With pucks you just have to worry about going too high. Yeah I drain and refill like once a year. It's less time consuming than chlorine jugs or balancing cya and salt all summer.
Oh no I use pucks like most of America. I had a question about a chlorinator used for pucks. I don't have algae. Get over it.
Liquid chlorine as your main form of chlorination? Are you serious??? Hey if that's what works for you....
And yeah, algae runs rampant in warmer weather. Texas is a lot hotter than Ohio, so... just pointing out facts here.
CYA is a battle here unless you choose to use liquid (LOL I mean c'mon, whatever have fun with those gallon jugs every week) or salt here. Both of which are a bigger pain to deal with IMO than draining and refilling when CYA gets too high with pucks. With salt or liquid you're still dealing with CYA because you have to keep it balanced. If you go over you still drain and refill. If you balance it, then you're stuck with bulky forms of chlorine which IMO are more time consuming to deal with. With pucks you just have to worry about going too high. Yeah I drain and refill like once a year. It's less time consuming than chlorine jugs or balancing cya and salt all summer.
Oh no I use pucks like most of America. I had a question about a chlorinator used for pucks. I don't have algae. Get over it.
You could use Cal Hypo if your calcium level is low, but once you reach the max recommended calcium level stop using it. For me this is more cost than liquid. But I do keep it on my truck and use it occasionally.
You could use Lithium Hypo but then your paying more than liquid.
Pool School - How to Chlorinate Your Pool
Install a liquid chlorine pump system?
Pools take work and keeping up on all the parameters, period.
I don't think people here are trying to rail you, what they teach here is the proper way to maintain your pool and if your willing to learn it and accept it you will have a happy and safe pool.
There is more than 1 method to maintain a pool. There are pucks. There are SWGs. There is liquid. There are those crazy snake oil methods you're trying to sell on that post. All forms work. All forms have pros and cons. Any way that works is proper. If you have algae of course you're doing something wrong, and of course pools take work, I've had a pool since I was 8 years old. Tell me something I don't know, however there is more work and less work to get the same results. I prefer the less work method. It has served me well in life.
The original question was about chlorinators and VS pumps. If you don't use that method or have insight into doing it WHY ARE YOU EVEN IN THIS THEAD!? Why don't we stick to the topic at hand?
Yes my chlorine is currently low. I'm learning to use this VS pump with the chlorine feeder, thus the point for the whole thread to begin with... I don't want to swap my whole chlorination method. I've tried them all and I like what I do. Thanks but no thanks. I'm just trying to find a good flow rate for my feeder. If nobody knows I'll experiment with higher flows until it can maintain a good level.
The original question was about chlorinators and VS pumps. If you don't use that method or have insight into doing it WHY ARE YOU EVEN IN THIS THEAD!? Why don't we stick to the topic at hand?
Yes my chlorine is currently low. I'm learning to use this VS pump with the chlorine feeder, thus the point for the whole thread to begin with... I don't want to swap my whole chlorination method. I've tried them all and I like what I do. Thanks but no thanks. I'm just trying to find a good flow rate for my feeder. If nobody knows I'll experiment with higher flows until it can maintain a good level.