Green pool after SLAMing for 4 days now...not getting better!

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C

cmbx2mom

0
Jun 27, 2014
58
Boston, MA
Followed BBB Method all summer and pool looked great. Used it Labor Day but then weather turned cool and we figured we'd be closing pool. I kind of forgot about pool for about 1 week and when I went to check on it, it was green.

I can't see the bottom..I can only see the first 2 steps into the pool. Checked FC and of course was at 0..stupid me. Went to SLAM it this past Thursday. According to pool math with CYA level of 40 should SLAM at 16.

Starting pH pre green was steady between 7.2-7.5 for weeks. Got FC level up to 16 and turned filter on 24/7. By Saturday didn't look any better. BUmped filter as the pressure was getting a bit high. Still no better by SUnday so yesterday afternoon drained the filter and replaced the DE. FC still kept at 16+ (I added a little extra bleach and had it at 20 for a while). CC is never greater that 0.5. This morning still looked just as bad.

One other thing to note, for some reason we didn't get a closing valve between the return and our filter so when we go to drain the filter, eventually it just drains directly from the return too. Need to add one on, but in the meantime I wanted to check the water coming out of the filter to make sure it was clear and the filter is actually working.

What else can I do???
 
Like PAGirl says, give it time.

Test
Adjust FC to SLAM level
Repeat multiple times a day

The more often you are able to test and adjust it to SLAM level the quicker it will go. Bruahing everyday also helps.
 
When you say "not getting better," does that mean no change whatsoever? It's normal for the color to start changing (going less green) even while the water is still cloudy, as the algae is killed by the higher chlorine levels. Do you see any change in the color of the water?

Are you brushing also, so that algae on floor/walls gets into good contact with the chlorine?
 
No change whatsoever! I've been trying to look at color and where I can see the steps (depth) as an indicator and there is no change at all. I haven't starting brushing yet since I"m not sure anything is even happening.
Is it ok to stick your hand in the green water?
 
cmbx2mom said:
No change whatsoever! I've been trying to look at color and where I can see the steps (depth) as an indicator and there is no change at all. I haven't starting brushing yet since I"m not sure anything is even happening.
Is it ok to stick your hand in the green water?
Click to expand...

From the Pool School article on Defeating Algae: "3.While SLAMing, brush the entire pool every day."

Brushing allows the chlorine to get to the algae to kill it. It's an important part of the process.
 
Brushing is really important. My impression, from our own small pool, is that you may be stepping in place if you don't brush -- it's as though the algae in the more protected areas are chomping at the bit, ready to repopulate after their brethren in mid-pool have been killed by your higher chlorine levels. Of course the algae aren't sentient, but it's an image that helps me remember to brush regularly :). Once you stir them all into the soup, by brushing everything you can get to, the progress improves. However, it may look even worse short-term, as you stir additional material up into the water.

Yes, of course you can stick your hands into the green water, especially if you're keeping the chlorine levels correct for SLAM.

All of this isn't meant to dismiss your concerns about filtering (yes, you might have a filter problem also). However, killing the algae is a chemistry issue, not a filtration issue. If the green is still just as vivid as it was initially, you still have a ways to go in the SLAM process.

Here's another thread from someone with a DE filter cleaning up a very green pool -- maybe some interesting/relevant discussion for you to read:
http://www.troublefreepool.com/thre...longed-green-and-filter-questions-during-SLAM
That pool owner actually ran the pump just to recirculate (without filtration) for a while during SLAM, because his filter kept getting clogged with algae.
 
Sorry been MIA all. Let me answer some questions.
CYA has been ~40 all summer and was just a smidge higher ~45ish when tested with green water. I use household bleach to chlorinate.
I had to buy a brush so had a couple more days of just cholorinating before brushing. I did bump up the chlroine a little as the CYA test is sometimes tough to get accurate, so I"m up around 20ppm for chlorine. Water has started changing colors a bit..less green and more turquoise. Still cloudy though (can't see bottom). Started brushing best I could...kind of a pain for above ground pool that goes up to your armpits. :) It's been 6 full days of SLAM and I'm seeing minimal differences but at least I'm seeing some. Will continue brushing and SLAMing. Hoping to close pool this weekend, but may need to wait another week....
 

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cmbx2mom said:
...Water has started changing colors a bit..less green and more turquoise. Still cloudy though (can't see bottom). Started brushing best I could...kind of a pain for above ground pool that goes up to your armpits. :) It's been 6 full days of SLAM and I'm seeing minimal differences but at least I'm seeing some. Will continue brushing and SLAMing. Hoping to close pool this weekend, but may need to wait another week....
Click to expand...
Turquoise and still cloudy sounds very typical, and it means you're making progress! It does take time and patience. Not sure what the ground is like around your pool, but I find that getting up on a small step stool helps with the awkwardness of reaching over the wall and brushing.
 
I've upped the chlorine to stay about 20ppm now. Pressure on filter isn't too bad as we changed out the DE 6 days ago. Went up from ~10 to somewhere between 12-14 now. Definitely less green now. Trying to brush as best as possible, but defintely looking at a robotic brush/vacuum.
 
I had a similar situation with my pool. I've been doing my first SLAM and didn't know what to expect "length-wise". Also, I'm new to the CYA test and think I misread it too low, so ended up needing bump my shock level up and immediately saw improvement once I did. After a number of days I couldn't see much improvement, but then slowly I could tell it was getting a bit better each day.

My experience has been, I SLAMed for 10 days, my pool had improved greatly but was still very cloudy. I couldn't see the bottom of the deep end. I had to go out of town for 9 days and quit my SLAM. I'm now back and have been SLAMing again for 9 days and am almost finished. I have a sand filter which takes longer to clear up all the dead algae and that's where a lot of patience has come in.

Like everyone has said stay the course and continue your SLAM. Check your FC and maintain shock level as much as your schedule allows. Brush everyday and backwash as needed. As you see the dead algae start to settle to the bottom vacuum it up.
 
When you say backwash, do you mean bump? I don't have a "backwash" feature. We flushed and refilled the DE last week. Did bump today. Pool is now cloudy blue rather than green, definitely getting better.
I read that we can't vacuum when at SLAM levels due to hosing not being able to withstand the high chlorine?
 
cmbx2mom said:
When you say backwash, do you mean bump? I don't have a "backwash" feature. We flushed and refilled the DE last week. Did bump today. Pool is now cloudy blue rather than green, definitely getting better.
I read that we can't vacuum when at SLAM levels due to hosing not being able to withstand the high chlorine?
Click to expand...

You may be better off just back washing the DE out rather than bumping it during a SLAM. It'll probably clear faster that way when you have fresh DE in it. ?
 
cmbx2mom said:
When you say backwash, do you mean bump? I don't have a "backwash" feature. We flushed and refilled the DE last week. Did bump today. Pool is now cloudy blue rather than green, definitely getting better.
I read that we can't vacuum when at SLAM levels due to hosing not being able to withstand the high chlorine?
Click to expand...
How do you "flush" the DE? That should be your backwash - i.e. water flows backwards thru the filter washing off the grids moving the junk and DE out of the filter.
 
On a bump type filter you bump it 8-10 times then drain the water and DE out. Repeat until water runs clear. You can run the water in the top of the filter from the return if you have a valve on the return and clean it out that way too. I use both methods to make sure I get it all out. ?
 
pwrstrk said:
On a bump type filter you bump it 8-10 times then drain the water and DE out. Repeat until water runs clear. You can run the water in the top of the filter from the return if you have a valve on the return and clean it out that way too. I use both methods to make sure I get it all out. ��
Click to expand...
I like my sand filter more and more.....
 

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