Don Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Hey gang, I have a Pentair Rainbow in line chlorinator for my inground pool. I had it installed last fall. I have been having trouble keeping the chlorine level down in my pool, it continually runs high, like in the 8-10 ppm range. My pool is app 18K gallons. The chlorinator has a dial, with adjustments between 0 and 10. I currently have it turned down to 0 to try and get the chlorine level down, but normally run it about halfway between the 0 and 1 position. It has been very hot here in the SE, like it has been everywhere, and the chlorine tabs are dissolving very quickly. I am wondering, if I am doing it right when I put the tabs in, or if I am contributing to the problem? Let me explain, when I put new tabs in, I turn everything off of course, remove the lid, load 4-5 tabs in the chlorinator, close the lid, turn everything back on. I let it run for a minute or so, then while it is running, I remove the lid again, and let the water level in the chlorinator run up to just above the top chlorine tab. According to the manual, it shoud do this on it's own without the need for me to remove the lid, but oftentimes when I remove it after adding the tabs, it looks dry to me, so I watch till the water level is at least at the top of the stack of chlorine tabs then return the lid... Thanks for any advice, Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoolGuyNJ Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 The Rainbow 320 depends on air pressure being built up when the pump turns on. This pressure pushes the water back out when the pump turns off, significantly reducing the erosion/dissolving rate when the pump is off by keeping the tabs dryer. This helps the tabs last a bit longer and reduces the fumes when the top is removed. When the pump is on, the Rainbow catches some return water and directs it into the tank, shooting it at either the bottom tab(s) in the default bottom feed configuration, or over the top of the stack of tabs in the optional Top Fed configuration for larger pools. Water stays in the tank until there is enough air pressure built up to overcome the pressure needed to open the check valve in the unit's check valve, just above its return port and the flow that is not captured by the intake since this also creates pressure on the check. As for why you are seeing such high chlorine levels, I have a few questions. How are you testings? How long are you running the system? What size plumbing? What other equipment is at the pad? How far is the equipment from the pool? What are your other chem levels, especially CYA? Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Clown Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Hey gang, I have a Pentair Rainbow in line chlorinator for my inground pool. I had it installed last fall. I have been having trouble keeping the chlorine level down in my pool, it continually runs high, like in the 8-10 ppm range. My pool is app 18K gallons. The chlorinator has a dial, with adjustments between 0 and 10. I currently have it turned down to 0 to try and get the chlorine level down, but normally run it about halfway between the 0 and 1 position. It has been very hot here in the SE, like it has been everywhere, and the chlorine tabs are dissolving very quickly. I am wondering, if I am doing it right when I put the tabs in, or if I am contributing to the problem? Let me explain, when I put new tabs in, I turn everything off of course, remove the lid, load 4-5 tabs in the chlorinator, close the lid, turn everything back on. I let it run for a minute or so, then while it is running, I remove the lid again, and let the water level in the chlorinator run up to just above the top chlorine tab. According to the manual, it shoud do this on it's own without the need for me to remove the lid, but oftentimes when I remove it after adding the tabs, it looks dry to me, so I watch till the water level is at least at the top of the stack of chlorine tabs then return the lid... Thanks for any advice, Don Sounds like you are loading and using properly. To reduce the Chlorine level, try running with 2-3 tabs instead of 4-5. Or if possible, shorten the run time. You mentioned that you currently have it turned to 0. Is the Chlorine level dropping off? You could also have a bad adjustment valve. They do get scaled up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted July 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 I will try to answer some of the above questions: Normally I take a water sample down to the pool store and have them test, yesterday I tested with a kit, using the dye, and the chlorine is still high. I am running the system 24/7. The plumbing is 1.5" No other equipment, just the pump, sand filter, and chlorinator. I only turned it to 0 yesterday evening, have not checked it today yet. The equipment I would say is about 12 ft from the shallow end of the pool, if that far. Don't know about the other levels, the pool store has been telling me all other levels are fine when I have them test. The PH has been low a couple of times recently, and have added PH increaser to correct. Also, as a side note, the first chlorinator I had was a cheaper off brand, and I did not have this issue with it. However it started failing after one season of use, so replaced it with this Rainbow chlorinator, and it has always seemed to get high chlorine levels. Thanks, Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoolGuyNJ Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Don't run 24/7 unless your pool size dictates it. You haven't said how big the pool is or the pump model and horse power. Running 24/7 on a pool that is, just for arguments sake, 20,000 will definitely cause the tabs to erode in about 4 days. Turning the pump off at night will reduce your chlorine level and allow the tabs to last longer. A week is more typical. We don't trust pool store testing in general. Getting a proper kit and testing yourself (it is easy and won't hurt!) generally provides more accurate results. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Clown Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 I agree, you really don't need to run that long. Running 24 hrs/day is why your level is so high, and the tabs dissolve so fast. If you choose to continue to run that long, I would use 1 tab, 2 at the max, at a time in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted July 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Thanks gang, I was always under the impression I was supposed to run it 24/7. What about switching to low speed? My motor is a two speed motor. I am gone at times on business. My pool is 18x36, app 18k gallons. The motor is an A.O. Smith 1hp two speed motor. Not sure what the actual pump is. Thanks, Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoolGuyNJ Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 If you have a two speed timer Run a couple of 1/2 hour cycles for skimming. If you have a pool sweep, make one of the high speed cycles an hour and set the sweep timer for that cycle less 15 minutes. Make the rest of the time to be on low and for about 9 hours total. That should give you close to 1.5 turns of the pool's volume per day. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted July 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Unfortunately, I do not have any type of timer, just a toggle switch on the pump motor, for hi speed-off-low speed. Thanks, Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoolGuyNJ Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 I strongly encourage you have an Intermatic P1353ME timer installed. You can set you on/off times for high and low speed and the total run time, automatically. It also allows you to turn the pump off as needed manually. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted July 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2011 Thanks for the recommondation, I will check that out - being how I travel for work, I can see that may be a wise thing to have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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