Make sure the pool has adequate circulation. The pool water must completely circulate through the pump and filter at least 1-2 times per day. This usually requires 8-12 hours. Check with your dealer for the proper circulation time for you pool.
Before beginning with any pool program, you must first balance your pool water. Take a water sample to your local pool professional or use a complete test kit for important elements.
Click here for water balance guidelines.
If your fill water is high in metals, use a sequestering agent or metal out product at start-up only before using the POOL FROG Mineral Reservoir. See your local dealer for details on using these products and always follow manufacturers’ directions carefully.
After your pool is up and running smoothly, continue to test your water for pH, total alkalinity and chlorine and maintain its balance by adding any necessary adjustment products (see your dealer for details.)
Check the pool’s filter gauge often and periodically clean filter per the manufacturers’ directions. A dirty filter will slow the flow of water which could hamper proper circulation.
See your
product's instruction manual for complete start up directions.
Each product has a specific setting based on pool size,
pump size, and pump run time. The proper dial setting is important for maintaining the
correct chlorine level. See your manual or
click here for directions on how to achieve the correct setting.
Add a stabilizer or conditioner to the pool at the beginning of the
season if the stabilizer level is below 20ppm. This will prevent chlorine
burn off. Follow the manufacturer’s directions.
If your pool is prone to algae, use a preventative like
FROG BAM 90-Day Algae Preventative.
ANSI standards
call for at least 1 turn over per day, meaning every gallon
of water should
travel through the pump once per day. To calculate the
proper pump run time for your pool based on general ANSI
guidelines you will first need to know
how many gallons of water your pool holds and the flow rate of your pump in gallons per minute. With this information, you can then
determine the proper pump run time for your pool.
Most pools run between 8 and 12 hours per day. Installing a timer
can make life much easier and filtration time more consistent.
Remember when your pump is running, you are continuously
putting chlorine into the pool.
Hold the cap in front of you upside down with the o-ring groove
facing up. Place one end of the o-ring into the cap groove at
the point closet to you. Hold o-ring down with the thumb and
forefinger of one hand.
Take hold of the far end of the o-ring with the thumb
and index finger of the other hand. Roll o-ring slightly
back towards you as you stretch the o-ring into the remainder of the cap groove.
Lubricate o-ring every time a bac pac or mineral reservoir is replaced.
Use the silicone lubricant that came with your equipment.
DO NOT USE petroleum-based lubricants, as these can damage o-rings.
Note: Instructions and pictures explaining this process can
be found in your instruction manual or visit Manuals & Diagrams. If you need
more silicone lubricant, please call 800-222-0169 to order.
The in ground and above ground control dials are
slightly different in their installation.
Instructions and diagrams explaining how to replace a
control dial can be found in your instruction manual or visit Manuals
and Diagrams.
Because over chlorination has a number of possible causes,
we have a separate section on our website to help pool
owners with this issue. Please go to Common Pool Challenges –
Over Chlorination.
Because under chlorination has a number of possible causes,
we have a separate section on our website to help pool
owners with this issue. Please go to Common Pool
Challenges – Under Chlorination.
There are several test methods available through your
local pool and spa dealer. These include drop tests or strips.
Either method is fine as long as it measures the following
four parameters: pH, total alkalinity, total chlorine
and free chlorine.
Bromine may be used with our SPA FROG Mineral Systems as
this sanitizer works well with minerals in a hot water environment.
It may also be used in our Perform-Max bulk feeders for swimming pools.
At this time, we are not recommending the use of bromine with our
POOL FROG Mineral Systems.
Total chlorine is just as it sounds, the total amount of chlorine in the water.
However when chlorine binds up with contaminants it forms a compound called “chloramines”
that are no longer effective sanitizers and need to be removed through shocking.
The chlorine that is still “good” to keep working is the free chlorine.
If directions call for maintaining a 1ppm chlorine level, always make sure
that matches your free chlorine reading.
Test kits are susceptible to bleaching in high concentrations
of chlorine such as after shocking. Wait 24 hours after shocking and test again. Test strips have an expiration date. Make sure to use fresh strips.
No, it means you have too many “chloramines” in the pool.
This is chlorine that has already bound up with contaminants in the
water and is no longer an effective sanitizer. Shock the pool to
remove the chloramines and your odor will go away.
Weather and use are the two biggest demands on chlorine.
For pools that are uncovered and outdoors, airborne
particles, leaves and other contaminants can enter and consume chlorine.
Hot weather increases water temperature, which will consume
chlorine at a faster rate. Finally the more people in
the water, the more contaminants there are for the chlorine to remove.
There are several test methods available through your
local pool dealer. These include drop tests or strips.
Either method is fine as long as it measures the following four
parameters: pH, total alkalinity, total chlorine (or bromine) and
free chlorine (or bromine).
It’s always a good idea to have your pool store fully
test your water once you have completed your pool opening process to make
sure everything is in line for a great summer. If you experience any
difficulties with balancing or sanitizing, have your pool store test
the water and give you an analysis of what needs to be done to correct the situation.
Everything that enters your pool has a pH that
can raise or lower the total pH of the pool.
The following is a list of possible culprits that
could be giving you a difficult time in maintaining pH between
the desired range of 7.2 and 7.8.
Tap water, depending on the area of the country, can either have a low or high pH
Overestimating the amount of pH Decreaser or pH Increaser needed is often the problem
Using chlorine tablets (Trichlor), or bromine tend to lower pH over time, while
using shocks like Calcium Hypochlorite or Lithium Hypochlorite may raise the pH over time.
High bather loads will tend to lower pH.
Swimmer wastes, such as perspiration, urine, saliva and other body oils will also lower pH.
A high alkalinity reading will raise the pH.
Dirt, debris or leaves that blow into the pool as well as rain that is often acidic will lower pH.
pH is the abbreviation for “potential hydrogen” and the reading indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water. Basically, it is the measure of how acidic or basic (alkaline) the water is.
Total alkalinity is the measure of how stable the pH is. It measures the
pool water’s
buffering capacity to resist pH changes. Without control of the total alkalinity,
the pH will rise and fall abruptly.
Weather affects the chlorine level in the pool as well
as the pH. Hot weather will increase the water temperature, which
causes the chlorine to be consumed more quickly. Cool weather will
result in no chlorine demand. Your sanitizing unit may need to be
turned down to avoid too much chlorine entering the pool when very little is needed.
Rain is often acidic which can drive your pH down. Always check the
water balance after it rains.
Calcium Hardness (or Total Hardness), as the name implies, refers to the hardness of the water, measuring the amount of mainly calcium and also other minerals. Swimming pools require hard water – defined as water with more than 100 ppm of hardness ions.
Like pH and alkalinity, calcium hardness affects the tendency of pool water to be corrosive when it is low and scale forming when it is high. Generally, calcium hardness levels should be kept between 200 and 400 ppm.
If the water is hazy or you can’t see to the bottom of
the pool or spa, a shock treatment usually will clear it up. If this persists
or the shock is not enough, clarifiers or flocculants may be used.
Yes. Landscaping chemicals often contain nitrates that
consume chlorine and make it difficult to maintain the proper sanitation
levels.
Try to cover the pool when using fertilizers and keep trees or shrubs
that lose their leaves as far from the pool as possible.
Algae is one of the most persistent forms
of plant life. Algae common to pools include green, yellow,
black or pink slime. It can be free floating in the water or it
can cling to walls, floor and equipment. Nourished by sunlight and heat,
algae thrives in water with a high pH level and water with a high nitrogen
or phosphate level.
Run filtration continuously while adding a
chlorine shock and brushing the walls of the pool and vacuuming.
Clean and backwash filter every day until clarity returns.
An algaecide, such as FROG BAM,
may also be used with the same brushing and vacuuming routine.
Cloudy water is due to a build up of contaminants from
body oils, cosmetics, etc due to a dirty filter, high bather load, drop
in sanitizer level or the water being out of balance. Use a shock to remove the contaminants and correct any of the possible reasons
to prevent it’s reoccurrence.
Click here for water balance guidelines.
Colored water results either from algae blooming or the oxidation
of minerals in the water. Algae comes in a variety of colors and can be found on
the surface of the water or the pool itself. The more likely reason occurs after
shocking a freshly filled pool that is full of natural minerals like iron, copper or
magnesium. The shock oxidizes the metals causing the discoloration of brown, green or red.
The filter not only removes impurities from the water
but it is responsible for proper water flow throughout the pool.
If the filter is dirty, it cannot do it’s job. If the pressure gauge
on the filter is more than 10 pounds above its normal operating pressure
or if water flow out of the return jets is sluggish (i.e. two-thirds of
its normal force),
your filter is probably dirty and should be cleaned.
Other filter issues to watch for include:
Channeling in sand filters caused by dirty sand contaminated with oils.
Backwash valves not operating properly; leaking cloudy water through the
returns after backwashing the pool.
Rips in the DE support fabric, which results in DE being put into the
pool water.
If the cartridge is torn, debris particles are not stopped by the filter
and reenter the pool.
The hair and lint strainer is filled with debris, reducing circulation rate.
The skimmer basket is filled with leaves or other debris, reducing circulation.
A suction side leak causes air to enter the pump and filter, resulting in poor circulation that could result in cloudy water.
Minerals have been used for centuries. The Romans put silver
coins in urns to help maintain water clarity longer.
In more recent times, minerals are used every day in the medical
industry with tremendous results. Some of these same minerals, like silver,
are found in the FROG products.
In our pool products the minerals will last six months or one pool season whichever is shorter.
Once activated by water, the minerals are effective for only six
months or one pool season. Once removed from the water, the minerals may not be reused the following season.
A check valve is recommended to
prevent chlorinated water from backing up into the heater
when the pump is off. Off-line models will also require a drill. The smaller units will need a hose adapter, one section of 1 1/2" flex hose and pipe thread tape. Larger units will need PVC cement and pipe thread sealant.
Teflon tape may be used only on the threaded end of
the hose adapters on above ground installations. Pipe thread sealant
should be used on all in ground installations as these ports are tapped (rough) not molded (smooth).
A by-pass should be considered which directs the
water off the main line to reduce flow through the unit.
Consult
your manual for additional instructions.
Special installations may be required when water flow
is higher than 80gpm, an in-floor cleaner is installed, the pool
and spa share common equipment, or solar heating is present. Special
features put a lot of stress on the sanitation unit. When they
turn on, they create a spike
in the pressure, which causes a force of water to shoot up
higher than normal inside the sanitation unit which can cause cracking that leads to leaks.
Less work. Less chlorine.
The POOL FROG system offers innovative mineral
Technology for pool care. With POOL FROG, water will look and
feel better without a lot of work or chlorine. This system controls
bacteria using a combination of minerals and
reduced chlorine levels. The end result is softer water that has an
added sparkle.
The POOL FROG System is 4 parts in one. First, the
POOL FROG Cycler serves as a “Water Treatment Center” and controls the flow
of water. Second, the POOL FROG Mineral Reservoir, the essential part
of the system, is
placed inside the Cycler and holds one season’s worth of minerals. Third, a
Chlorine Bac Pac is placed inside the POOL FROG Mineral Reservoir. Fourth,
your
pool can receive guaranteed algae protection for 90 days by using FROG BAM before inserting a Bac Pac.
Click here to
receive a reminder to replace your POOL FROG Mineral Reservoir every
pool season.
The smaller Bac Pac will last 7-10 days on in ground pools and 2-3 weeks on above ground pools. The larger pacs will last 3-5 weeks. Actual times will vary depending on pool
size, pump size and run time, number of swimmers, water and air temperatures.
Yes, but you do need to use an alternative source of
chlorine in the pool at all times. Most methods for adding chlorine
will not be as precise as the Bac Pac so your chlorine levels may be higher than
0.5-1 ppm. Set the dial on maximum if using minerals only.
You should not attempt to convert the POOL FROG System
into a bulk feeder for a number of reasons. The cycler will experience a
loss of control, which could result in over chlorination, and more importantly
the warranty would be void for not using as directed.
The POOL FROG, when used as a complete system with periodic
shocking, offers complete pool care in one complete unit. Some builders
promote the addition of
other systems to compliment the POOL FROG, such as Ozone Systems or
Salt Chlorine Generators. Both of these systems are compatible with
the POOL FROG. Ozone acts as a shocking
mechanism reducing the need for shock. We still require a low-level
chlorine residual in the pool at all times. Salt Chlorine Generators
would eliminate the need for
POOL FROG Chlorine Pacs. The Salt Chlorine Generator should be adjusted
down to maintain a lower level of chlorine in the pool.
The most common cause is that the chlorine tablets
have not fallen down into the area where the water flows through.
Shake the pac to make the tablets fall into place. Low back pressure
may also be the reason. By reducing the size of the eyeball fitting
in the
return will correct this. Please visit Under-Chlorination if
problem persists.
The POOL FROG has a limited two-year warranty, which
can be extended to ten years if the warranty card is returned or submitted
online
within 60 days of installation. Click
here to register your product online. For full warranty details,
see the back of your instruction manual.
For in ground models, use the cap tool to loosen cap by hitting the handle
counter clockwise. Note: A quick blunt hit from the
palm of your open hand or hammer works best to loosen a tight cap. Sometimes two cap tools will provide greater leverage.
Lubricate cap o-ring with silicone lubricant every
time you replace a pac or refill the unit.
Do not use petroleum based lubricants!
Call our customer service department at 800-222-0169 to place a warranty claim.
We may direct you to your dealer for a replacement cap.
Please provide the model number, serial number, date of purchase
and exact description of the crack/problem.
There are many factors that impact chlorine output
into the pool including weather, pool usage and pump run time.
That means every year your dial setting may be different.
See your manual or
click here for directions on how to achieve the correct setting.
The pressure relief valve burps any built up chlorine gas
into the lines when the pump is off. A missing pressure relief valve
in the bottom of the cycler increases the water level in the unit.
This can lead to over-chlorination.
Yes, and the result can be over or under chlorination.
Simply by going to a larger eyeball fitting in the return jet,
you can reduce the back pressure, which reduces the water level
in the Pac, which cuts down on chlorine output. This same logic
applies to low back pressure and under chlorination. By using
a smaller eyeball fitting at the return jet you increase
back pressure raising the water level in the Pac, and increasing
chlorine output.
Our standard Pool Frog product uses the same Mineral
Reservoir for controlling bacteria so up to 50% less chlorine is required.
However the low chlorine level comes from a replacement pac that fits
inside the Cycler. Mineral Hybrid uses the generator to manufacture
the chlorine electrically
and continuously. Click here for a comparison of salt systems and FROG.
A label on the colored square of the cell has the model number on it.
If purchased prior to Sept. 2009, you likely have a 6425 or 6440. If you purchased after Sept. 2009, you likely have a 6470. Click here for a product manual.
3000-4500 ppm. Have a pool professional check your water periodically to make sure you are within this range.
If you are too low or too high, the model 6470 will notify you. On the older models, a light will come on if the salt is too high, or you cannot turn the lights all the way to the top if the salt is low.
Occasionally you may have to add salt due to water splash out. The model 6470 will notify you when the salt is low. On the older models when turning the dial all the way and the lights do not reach the top, your salt is low. Follow the directions in your manual for adding salt
How often will vary depending on individual pool conditions – particularly how stable the pH is. With the self cleaning cell, expect to clean it once or twice a season.
Remove the cell from the line, put the cap on one end and pour muratic acid into the other letting it soak until the bubbling stops. Pour the muratic acid into the pool as you walk around the perimeter. Rinse the cell with clean water and replace inline.
Every 6 months or one pool season whichever is shorter. Even if you hear the spent minerals inside, they are no longer effective and must be replaced. The model 6470 has a convenient mineral out indicator to remind you to replace your minerals.
For the older models,click here to
receive a reminder to replace your POOL FROG Mineral Reservoir every
pool season.
Due to the electrical process of generating chlorine, these systems are not compatible with copper products like FROG BAM. If algae is a concern, use a polyquat algaecide.
The system is producing chlorine but something is consuming it. Have you experienced extreme weather conditions or heavy use of the pool? Add a pool shock to the water.
It could be early algae growth. Have your water tested for phosphates as these are food for algae. Your dealer will help you if the phosphate level is high.
The system needs to be reset. Turn off power to the unit and remove the fuse found on the bottom of the control panel for 30 seconds. Put the fuse back in and power up.
Algae are a pool’s worse nightmare. Even with a
great water care system like the POOL FROG, those steaming summer days,
poor circulation pockets or accidental drops in chlorine levels could cause
what no pool owner ever asks for. How can you guarantee that algae won’t
ruin your summer this year? With FROG BAM!
It’s so easy; just follow our 90/90 rule.
Insert FROG BAM into the Mineral Reservoir, set your
control dial to maximum and run your pump for 90 minutes, allowing BAM to circulate in
your pool water. After 90 minutes, remove the BAM cartridge and discard.
If using the Bac Pac, insert into the Mineral Reservoir.
Your pool is now protected from algae for 90 days!
The main active ingredient is copper. Unlike many
algaecides FROG BAM uses a very low level of copper, just 3%, and it
stays in suspension for 90 days!
