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Salt Water Pool in Tucson, AZ

16 years ago

Hello, I'm working with a PB in southern AZ (Tucson) and have allready signed contracts. Essentially the pool is a free-form in-ground of ~12,000 gallons, 5' deep with raised spa, in-floor cleaning, pebble tec, solar heating, etc.

The PB really pushes their F.R.O.G. sanitization system which I blindly agreed to. Since then I've found this site and poolforum.com and am thinking the frog should be avoided. I'm thinking the PB pushes the frog so strongly because they sell the refill cartridges and is probably a big revenue stream for them.

I'm really leaning now towards a salt water chlorine generation system but when I mentioned it to the designer he said they don't work as well in Tucson due to the low humidity and said they are mainly for Florida and So-Cal where humidity is higher. He also said the salt can break down the decking and the generator needs to be replaced every couple years. Is he just snowing me? I'm wondering if he gets a comission for every frog system he installs... Is there any reason not to get a SWG in southern AZ?

Our decking surface is an acrylic product, called Excel deck I think... I've heard that is not as succeptable to stains and breakind down as the cool deck is.

Also, he quoted me $1400 to go from the frog to the salt but this sounds really steep to me since I thought the SWG's were ~$500... They use Jandy products so he would probably install an AquaPure SWG... Actually I just looked it up and the Purelink 700 (allows remote control via PDA or house pad) runs about $850 on the web so maybe $1400 installed isn't highway robbery...

I'd really be interested in other peoples thoughts on a sothern AZ salt pool.

Thanks!!!

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Comments (5)

jaxd
16 years ago
He is "BS'ng" you. I have had a salt water pool for 4 years. So CA does not have high humidity, right now it is 55%. The salt does not break down the decking, mine is concrete and flag stone. If you clean the SWG regularly and take out the hard stuff it will last up to 5 years. I have Jandy valves and Acqua Link remote control. Don't miss the opportunity to get a SW pool. You are not going to save a lot of money but you will not have to add chlorine, worry about what happens to the pool when you are away. Water feels soft, no red eye.
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eskimopie
Original Author
16 years ago
Yeah, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what humidity has to do with a SWG... I mean the salt doesn't evaporate, and the SWG runs in a closed invironement without any air...
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hindaw30
16 years ago
Eskimopie, we just finished our pool in Tucson! Just found the forum though, wish I would have found it sooner. ItÂs been a bumpy 5 months. Anyways, our take on the SWG here in Tucson- we opted not to install. Too expensive and from our neighbors accounts more maintenance than they were sold on. SWG will have major PH and alkalinity issues and need to run the pumps for extended times due to our summer heat. Chlorine pucks for us, IÂve added 2 to the skimmer, easy compared to pouring acid every couple days. Our PB said red eyes are a PH issue not a chlorine issue. HavenÂt heard of the FROG. Good Luck
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steina64
16 years ago
There are many salt water pools here in Lake Havasu City, which isn't exactly noted for high humidity. Get the SWG; we had solar and an SWG installed 2 years ago and love the way skin and eyes feel after extended swim times.

Steve
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fauxnecian
16 years ago
Phoenix, not Tucson, but I am opting to switch from reg chlorine to a SWG. Should be done in the next week or so. I know plenty of people from all over the valley, Anthem to Chandler that have salt & love it. I do have one friend who has had salt for at least 5 years & they ar eswitching back to reg chlorine. They said it breaks down way too much, not sure what they have. I know two other people who have replaced their cell, one under warranty & the other not. But when you compare the cost ofthe chlorine to the cells, it was still less $$.
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