A Cheap Pool Cooler

[us7sail]

Dave, nice job and I bet the kids love it too. I might have to try that. Looks like a lot of fun not to mention the drop in temps. chris

[us7sail]

Dave, Are those ends just pvc ends with holes drilled in them. What size holes did you find work best? Chris

[duraleigh]

Hi, Chris,

Yeah, 3/4" pvc end caps.....drilled 1/4" hole.

I'm considering trying new caps with a saw cut across the top. That would give me about a 1/16" x 1/2" opening that I think will give me smaller droplets for better evaporation. Downside is that I'll lose some altitude (goes up about 20-22 feet right now) so the droplets won't be exposed to the air as long....might end up being less effective...I dunno.

The cooler water is a remarkable improvement.

[aquarium]

Heh,

BMTA

Although my version was intended to aereate the water in order to lower alkalinity:





And it works like a champ to lower alkalinity. Which raises the question: Will pools with 'water features' have chronic low alkalinity? Aside from the cool temps...

[docwalker]

...Will pools with 'water features' have chronic low alkalinity?...

Not if you maintain a proper pH. The reduction in alkalinity is a result of lower your pH to 6.8 or so which converts the carbonates into carbonic acid. Carbon dioxide is then released into the atmosphere by aerating.

[aquarium]

Not if you maintain a proper pH. The reduction in alkalinity is a result of lower your pH to 6.8 or so which converts the carbonates into carbonic acid. Carbon dioxide is then released into the atmosphere by aerating.

I've been working on lowering the alkalinity from 220ppm to (now) 70-80ppm. I've -never- lowered the pH below 7.2 during the entire process. I have had to add acid when aerating, but that was my understanding of how it works.

But I see your larger point, that by not adding more acid, the pH -should- hold. When I hit 90-100ppm I was in a reverse situation because the pH kept bouncing back to 7.6. It looks like it's going to hold at 7.2 with the alkalinity at 70-80ppm. I suspect there's a chemical explanation occuring at the watersurface/atmosphere interface. But I'm not smart enough to explain it.

[docwalker]

I suspect there's a chemical explanation occuring at the watersurface/atmosphere interface.

As we're getting off-topic for this thread, you might review Ben's sticky topic on the subject of reducing alkalinity: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=191

[waterbear]

Not if you maintain a proper pH. The reduction in alkalinity is a result of lower your pH to 6.8 or so which converts the carbonates into carbonic acid. Carbon dioxide is then released into the atmosphere by aerating.

Have to differ from my own experiences. I have 2 deck jets, a spillover spa, and 2 waterfalls and when they are all running daily I do see a drop in the TA. It is not much....but it does occur. My pH is usually 7.4 or above (swg)

[ScottS]

very nice, I like it.

I have a fountain that I've messed with in attempts to lower the temp of the water but I have found it doesn't make a noticeable difference. This is probably because it's been sooo humid (90% or so) that there isn't much evaporation occuring.

[jnorris]

And it works like a champ to lower alkalinity. Which raises the question: Will pools with 'water features' have chronic low alkalinity? Aside from the cool temps...

I think that's exactly what happens with my pool! My PH keeps wanting to climb towards 8.0, so I add acid, which brings down TA, and then add baking soda to bring TA back up. It's like a see-saw. Right now, my TA is 100 (up from 70), but my PH is climbing back towards 8.0, so now I have to add acid. I am going to cut off the little bubbler returns in the steps and swim out to see if that helps. But I am going to run my deck jets to see if that cools the water!