A clear water (heavy salt) pool draws more than just the right setting for the mortar. Pool conditioner, also known as cyanuric acid, is one of the most important saltwater pool additives. However, what is the process through which one adds conditioner to a saltwater pool, and how does this affect the proper operation of your robotic pool cleaner?
In this blog, we’ll take you through the process of adding conditioner to a saltwater pool, why it’s important for your pool’s chemistry, and how doing so can increase the effectiveness of your pool cleaning robot. No matter if you are using a robot pool cleaner or swimming pool robot cleaner, knowing if your levels of conditioner are right makes a big difference in how clean your pool stays and how well your cleaning equipment performs.
What Is Pool Conditioner & Why Do You Need It?
A pool conditioner (or cyanuric acid) is a stabilizer that is used to protect chlorine from being defeated by the sun’s rays. Saltwater pools typically rely on chlorine as the main sanitizer, which can be broken down by the sun’s rays unless it is adequately shielded, resulting in a greater need for chlorine to prevent algae and bacteria from flourishing.
The demand for pool conditioners is especially crucial for saltwater pools that create chlorine by means of electrolysis. If your conditioner levels are not where they should be, then your chlorine will not work efficiently, and you will have to add more chlorine more often to keep your pool clean.
But what about your robot pool cleaner or pool cleaner robot? Chlorine is hugely important when sanitizing the water, and if the water is poorly conditioned, it may affect the performance of your robot pool vacuum or pool skimmer. If your chlorine isn’t stabilized by the conditioner in your saltwater pool, algae or other debris will cause your pool cleaning robot to work harder to try to remove it.
How to Put Conditioner in Your Saltwater Pool
Check Your Pool’s Cyanuric Acid Levels
Before using the conditioner, you will need to take readings to measure the current levels of cyanuric acid in your pool. The acceptable level of cyanuric acid in saltwater pools is about 30–50 ppm (parts per million). You should check this using a pool test kit that tests for both total and free chlorine and includes a cyanuric acid test. If the level is under 30 ppm, you will need to add conditioner. If it’s higher than 50 ppm, you’ll likely need to dilute the pool water to reduce levels.
Choose the Right Conditioner
While there are various types of pool conditioners, for a saltwater pool you’ll want one specifically for those systems. Cyanuric acid is available in either granular or liquid form. The granular form is also a more common one and is known to work great in pool systems that have robotic pool cleaners or swimming pool robot cleaners.
Calculate How Much Conditioner You Need
How much you need to add depends on your pool size and current cyanuric acid readings. A general guide is that 1 lb of cyanuric acid will increase the level in a 10,000-gallon pool by ~10 ppm. The instructions should be found on the packaging, but if you are unsure it is recommended to speak to a pool professional to determine the correct amount.
Dilute and Add Conditioner to Your Pool
After you’ve determined your required conditioner amount, you need to add it to your pool. Here’s how:
- Granular Form: Add the conditioner to a bucket of water and dissolve it. Gradually disperse the solution over the surface of your pool, around the pool’s edge, near the return jets, or in the deep end.
- Liquid Form: For liquid conditioner, pour it into the pool near the return jets or in the deep end.
Run the pool pump while adding the conditioner to ensure better mixing throughout the body of water.
Let the Conditioner Break Down and Circulate
Run your pool’s filtration system for a minimum of 24 hours after adding the conditioner. This promotes circulation of the conditioner, helping ensure it is completely dissolved. It also helps make the robotic pool cleaner more efficient, as it will be cleaning stabilized water.
Retest the Cyanuric Acid Levels
Allow some time for the conditioner to circulate in the pool and dissolve, then it is time to re-test the cyanuric acid levels to ensure they remain within the optimal range. Add more conditioner if necessary, or dilute the pool water to lower the levels.
How Does Conditioner Impact Your Robotic Pool Cleaner?
Chlorine levels are directly affected by the use of conditioner, which means that the effectiveness of your robot pool cleaner is also dependent on your use of conditioner. Low levels of conditioner can cause the chlorine in a saltwater pool not to be stabilized, which will make the water less sanitary and can even result in cloudy water or algae growth.
If the water is not properly sanitized, a pool vacuum robot or pool skimmer may struggle to keep up with the accumulation of organic material or debris. Furthermore, if the chlorine level is too low or too high, your swimming pool robot cleaner may not work well, leaving some parts of the pool untreated.
Conclusion
It is necessary to add conditioner (cyanuric acid) to a saltwater pool when balancing the chlorine levels to provide adequate sanitation and determine whether a robotic pool cleaner will function appropriately. The right amounts of conditioner stabilize chlorine, lowering the frequency and need to re-add it, resulting in cleaner, clearer water.
