Salt Water Above Ground Pool Opening
Connecting your Equipment
Connect all your pool equipment. Ensure the hoses going onto the filter head are in the correct position. Fill the pool beyond the normal level and preform a generous backwash and rinse. Vacuum pool if necessary or use the Turtle automatic pool cleaner to automatically clean the pool. The Turtle must not be connected for at least 30 minutes after a backwash has been preformed.
Removing Algae from your Green Pool
If your pool water is green due to algae, your first step will be to kill the algae and filter it from the water. If your water is clear, you may proceed to the next step.
To quickly kill and remove the algae from the water we suggest lowering your pH level below a reading of 7.2 and then adding a Solution 48 Kit. (Otherwise known as a Green Kit)
Sand Filter Cleaning
After you have achieved clear water, it will be time to thoroughly clean your sand filter. Remember it is important to replace your filter sand every 3-4 years as it's performance will decrease. Here are the steps to use our pool filter cleaner:
- Quickly pour the orange filter cleaner into the skimmer while the pump is running.
- The orange cleaner will go from the skimmer to the pump very quickly.
- Once you do NOT see the orange cleaner through the lid of the pool pump:
- TURN OFF PUMP IMMEDIATELY.
- Leave pump off for the evening. (At least 6-8 hours)
- In the morning set your sand filter to BACKWASH.
- Run pump until you see the glass on the side of the sand filter run clean and clear.
- Turn pump off.
- Set sand filter to RINSE.
- Turn Pump on.
- Run pump and watch the glass on the side of the sand filter till clean and clear. Then turn pump off.
- Set sand filter to Filtration and turn pump on
Preventing Metal Staining in your Water
Metals in your pool water can cause extremely disturbing staining of both the water and the surfaces of your pool when combined with chlorine. It is recommended that if you have metals in your water (all well water and some municipal water supplies) you do a Stain and Scale treatment.
Initial Stain and Scale
Add one whole bottle of IPG Stain Prevent or Dazzle Stain and Scale Cleanse at the beginning of the season.
Weekly Stain and Scale
It is strongly recommended that you add a small dose of your metal treatment each week to maintain protection against metals that are added into your pool while preforming routine top ups with your hose.
|
Pool Size |
Weekly Dose |
|
15' Round |
50 mL |
|
18' Round |
75 mL |
|
21' Round |
100 mL |
|
24' Round |
125 mL |
|
27' Round |
165 mL |
|
15'x30' Oval |
125 mL |
|
18’x33’ Oval |
165 mL |
Adding your Opening Chemicals
Adding your salt water opening chemicals will greatly increase the lifespan of your salt water chlorination system. It will also allow your salt system to operate much more efficiently, reducing strain on its components.
Did you know, without protection from UV rays, the sun's rays can consume up to 90% of your pool’s chlorine in just a few hours? Therefore, adding Stabilizer is necessary to protect your pools chlorine levels. See chart below for the proper amount for your pool.
|
Pool Size |
Recommended Stabilizer |
|
15' – 18’ Round |
900g |
|
21' – 27’ Round |
1.8kg |
|
15'x30' Oval |
1.8kg |
|
18'x33' Oval |
1.8kg |
Next you should add your Salt One Bucket. Salt One can be added directly after adding your recommended dose of stabilizer. This product will condition the water to prevent scaling on your salt cell as well as add a small amount of chlorine to the water to keep your water clean and clear until your salt water generator can produce chlorine for your pool.
The final part of the opening process is to add the recommended amount of salt required for your salt water generator to function properly. Below is a chart of what you should add for both new and existing pools. Existing pools will have a residual salt content from the previous season so they will not require as much salt as a newly installed pool.
|
Pool Size |
New Pool |
Existing Pool |
|
15' Round |
3-4 x 20kg Bags |
2 x 20kg Bags |
|
18' Round |
4-5 x 20kg Bags |
3 x 20kg Bags |
|
21' Round |
5-6 x 20kg Bags |
3-4 x 20kg Bags |
|
24' Round |
7-8 x 20kg Bags |
4-5 x 20kg Bags |
|
27' Round |
8-9 x 20kg Bags |
5-6 x 20kg Bags |
|
15'x30' Oval |
7-8 x 20kg Bags |
4-5 x 20kg Bags |
|
18'x33' Oval |
8-9 x 20kg Bags |
5-6 x 20kg Bags |
Balancing your Water
It is very important to balance your pH, Alkalinity and Calcium. This will greatly improve your bathing comfort and will increase the lifespan of all your pool’s equipment.
Bring us a water sample to determine exactly how much of each product to add to your pool to obtain the desired levels.
Alkalinity Plus: Total Alkalinity describes how “buffered” the water is against sudden changes in your hot tub’s pH. The alkalinity of your hot tub is perhaps the most important water balancing step in your hot tub. (Ideal reading 120ppm)
- If your Alkalinity reading is LOW you must add SPA Alkalinity Plus to increase it.
- If your Alkalinity is reading too HIGH - Use pH MINUS to lower it.
pH Minus: (Ideal reading 7.6)
- Will lower BOTH the Alkalinity and the pH.
pH Plus: (Ideal reading 7.6)
- Will increase only pH. (Rarely used)
Calcium Plus: it’s important to keep the calcium hardness balanced to prevent your hot tub water from becoming corrosive or scaling. (Ideal reading 250+ ppm)
- If your HARDNESS reading is LOW you use Calcium + to increase it.
- If your reading is too HIGH you must dilute your tub water with fresh water. (Unlikely)
To balance your water at home:
Use the AquaChek water balancing app with your test strip! Download from our website. Scan the QR code below with your smartphone camera to navigate directly to our website!
Monthly Maintenance
Monthly maintenance removes dead chlorine and organic materials from your pool as well as protects your salt cell from scale and corrosion. We recommend adding 1 x Salt Revise pouch and 1 x Salt Shock pouch once per month.
Understanding your Salt Machine
Reading the Display
The number displayed by default on your salt machine’s control box is your pool’s salt content reading. Your goal is to maintain a reading of 2700-3400 ppm of salt to ensure your machine can produce chlorine.
If your salt reading drops to 2700 or lower, you will see the CHECK SALT and INSPECT CELL lights illuminate. If this happens, add ½ bag of salt at 4 hour intervals to increase salinity.
Desired Output %
The dial on your machine controls the amount of chlorine that is produced by your salt system. It will NOT affect the number on the display. Using your chlorine test strips, monitor the chlorine levels in your pool.
If your chlorine reading on the test strip is LOW – Turn up the desired output dial
If your chlorine reading on the test strip is HIGH – Turn down the desired output dial
Super Chlorinate / Auto / Off
SUPER CHLORINATE function is very hard on your salt system and should not be used. If you require additional chlorine, simply turn the desired output dial up. Leave your salt system in the AUTO position for normal operation. Remember to turn your dial down after a desired level of chlorine has been reached.
Check Cell
The CHECK CELL light can illuminate for one of three reasons:
- Your salt content is too low. (Check number on display)
- Your salt cell is scaled due to high pH and Alkalinity / low calcium in the water.
- Descale your salt cell by using a descaling solution.
Maintaining your Salt System
Your salt system is an expensive piece of equipment and should be cared for properly. It is strongly recommended that each fall you add a Salt Water Closing kit to your pool water. This will decrease scaling on the cell throughout the next season.
Your salt system will scale to some degree regardless of water chemistry. Your goal is to reduce, not eliminate scaling. Each fall we strongly recommend you soak your cell in a descaling solution, so it is ready to operate optimally for the next season.
Leave the door of the control box closed when not in use. This will prevent water from damaging the circuit board inside of the box.
Tips to Best Care for your Pool
Solar Blanket
Your solar blanket has a warranty on the seams separating. Bubbles falling off the solar blanket is not covered under the manufacturers warranty. Proper water chemistry is extremely important to prevent this from happening.
It is recommended that you remove your blanket on each sunny day to allow the pool to warm up and put your blanket back onto the pool at night to retain the heat.
Drips and Leaks
Verify your skimmer and return jet do not have any small drips or leaks after connecting your equipment. Leakage will prematurely corrode your pool wall and other components. Such damages are generally not approved for replacement by the manufacturer.
Changing the Sand in your Filter
We strongly recommend changing the filter media in your sand filter at least every 3-4 years. On the years where you are not replacing the media, we recommend you use a pool filter cleaner to rejuvenate the filter media.