Overall, you need to run your saltwater generator and pool pump for at least 8 hours daily. Not running either of these long enough means not enough chlorine to sanitize the water. Remember, the pool pump needs to be running simultaneously with the chlorine generator for the salt cell to produce chlorine.
Typical pool pump operation is 8 hours per day, although it is not uncommon to run longer in the summer months (or with low speed variable speed pumps) or shorter in the winter when bather loads are light.
Run your system to run for 8-12 hours a day and set the chlorine output on the generator to 50%. After testing and determining the free chlorine readings over a few days, adjust the output on the generator only.
Test and adjust your pool water's salt levels
If you're using the Water TechniX Salt water chlorinator then you should try to aim for a salt level of around 3,000 to 4,000 ppm.
When pouring the salt into the pool, add it around the deep end to have it circulate through the main drain. Brush the salt towards the main drain. The salt should be dissolved within 24 hours. After the salt has dissolved, the salt chlorine generator can be started.
When you add salt, DO NOT pour it directly into the skimmer. For best results empty the required salt into the shallow end of the pool and let it dissolve and circulate through the main drain. The salt may take about 24 hours to dissolve completely. Finer grades of salt will dissolve faster.
I have the same one and yes it takes about 24 hours to register salt.
The pool pump in a saltwater pool should be run 8 to 12 hours per day on average. In saltwater pools, the pump needs to be on for two reasons. The first is to filter the water. The pump should complete at least one turnover of the pool water to filter it properly.
We suggest you start your salt chlorine generator at 50 percent output and run it for a couple of days, then check the chlorine level. In a balanced pool, a good chlorine level is 1-3 parts per million. If your chlorine levels are low, you can raise the percentage, and if it's high you can lower the percentage.
2700-3400 ppm is the idea recommended levels. However, the reading can go up to 4000 ppm before the Hi Salt light appears. The unit will still produce chlorine until the reading goes above 4000 ppm and the GENERATING light usually will go off.
The rule of thumb is generally 8 hours, although it could be anywhere from 6-12 hours, depending on your pool's size. Each pool is unique, so to keep your pool pump efficient and effective, you need to figure out exactly what your pool's turnover rate is.
(Here is some more info about how to keep algae out of your pool.) Reduce filter-running times: The pool's filter should operate 3-4 hours each day during winter. If you're using a timer, adjust it to suit. You can save money by switching the filter on during off-peak periods.
As the weather gets warmer you'll also want to increase the running time for each session. By the middle of summer you should be running it for 4 hours in the morning and again for 4 hours in the evening to maintain optimum pool health.
The ideal salt level is between 2700-3400 ppm (parts per million) with 3200 ppm being optimal. Before adding salt to your pool, test the water to check your salt level.
"When do we need to backwash?" - It is recommended to backwash your filter once every 4-6 weeks of regular use. Additionally, there are several instances that would require backwashing in between the normal monthly backwashing.
For safe swimming conditions, the ideal salt level is going to be between 2500 ppm and 4000 ppm. An overly salted pool will generally not be a major problem (aside from salty-tasting water), but at levels over 6000 ppm there may be corrosion damage to some of the metallic equipment.
A chlorinator consumes only a very small amount of current. Thus for a 100 m3 pool, the annual electricity consumption will be between 150 and 200 W.
Running the pump at night should only be when you are doing a major chemical treatment such as algae clean-up. Your pool is more vulnerable during the day, plants don't grow at night the way they do during the day–that's true of ALL plants including Algae.
On average, you should run your pool pump around 6-8 hours per day during winter and 10-12 hours per day during summer. Note that you need to run your pool pump longer during summer because algae grow more in warm temperatures.
There is no set timeframe of when you need to add salt to your pool. Because salt does not dissipate from your water, the only time you would add salt to your pool is when you add fresh water or after heavy rain that dilutes salinity levels.
Therefore, if you have a 20,000 gallon pool and want to determine how much salt you'll need to buy, you would use the formula “30/1,000 x 20,000”, which equals 600. Meaning, the pool would require approximately 600 lb of salt.
As shocking has a tendency to push metals out of solution and salt (even when labeled as pure) can contain trace amounts of metals, it is recommended that you add salt at a different time from shocking. Have your PH and ALK within range when adding salt, and brush until it is completely dissolved.
Highly excessive salinity levels (over 6,000 ppm) will cause corrosion damage to metallic equipment, such as ladders and handrails. This is true because salt doesn't wear out, break down or evaporate; Turn the pump on and run until you reach the desired water level.