So I've lurked here for awhile and learned a lot since my new pool was completed last October. What an excellent resource this forum has been for me!
In early February, I let the pool go about three days without testing. when I pulled the cover off the next day, the pool was grayish and a little murky. (my plaster is gray) I immediately tested a sample and found FC at zero.
So, having already read all about algae and the SLAM, I knew what I had to do, and I went ahead and completed my first SLAM, which took about 1 week. After a week and a half, FC got back down to 7 with the SWG off. I was back to my regular routine of checking the water balance every other day and doing a full range of tests on the weekend.
Things were normal for about 1 week. Then, last Sunday AM FC was at 3.5 after having the SWG on at 20% and FC 5 on Friday. So I bumped the SWG to 60% output. CYA was 55 and so I also put about 1-1/2 lbs in a sock in the skimmer to try to approach a target of 75. By Sunday PM FC was 4.5. The pool looked clear and we swam that day. I left the SWG at 60%.
Monday afternoon, I uncovered the pool and found a dead Armadillo in the bottom of my pool. Yuck!
After removing the intruder, I tested FC and found it at 5.5, and left the SWG at 60%.
By Tuesday AM, the FC was down to 3 and the water was cloudy. So I began another SLAM by adding chlorine, brushing, vacuuming, and then cleaning the cart.
Yesterday morning FC was 19. I added 3/4 gallon of chlorine. 3:45 PM FC was 26. 8:30 PM FC was 20.5 Last night I added 1 gallon at 9:30 PM. I tested at 11:15 PM and got FC 34 CC .5. This morning at 7 AM I got 28.5 and ran out of reagent so I couldn't test CC.
My pool looks great, and the filter was pretty clean Sunday after a two day run. I am still consuming lots of chlorine, in fact it doesn't seem to be getting better. I added 1-3/4 gallons of 10% bleach total yesterday. We also swam and had the cover off all day and all last night. I'm estimating my CYA couldn't be above 65, and therefore I am targeting FC 26 as shock level according to pool math. During this SLAM, I have tested at least twice per day, and FC has not gone below 19.
Any advice? Do I just need to stick it out a few more days? How much impact does swimming for a couple of hours have on FC? We are a family of four.
In early February, I let the pool go about three days without testing. when I pulled the cover off the next day, the pool was grayish and a little murky. (my plaster is gray) I immediately tested a sample and found FC at zero.
So, having already read all about algae and the SLAM, I knew what I had to do, and I went ahead and completed my first SLAM, which took about 1 week. After a week and a half, FC got back down to 7 with the SWG off. I was back to my regular routine of checking the water balance every other day and doing a full range of tests on the weekend.
Things were normal for about 1 week. Then, last Sunday AM FC was at 3.5 after having the SWG on at 20% and FC 5 on Friday. So I bumped the SWG to 60% output. CYA was 55 and so I also put about 1-1/2 lbs in a sock in the skimmer to try to approach a target of 75. By Sunday PM FC was 4.5. The pool looked clear and we swam that day. I left the SWG at 60%.
Monday afternoon, I uncovered the pool and found a dead Armadillo in the bottom of my pool. Yuck!
After removing the intruder, I tested FC and found it at 5.5, and left the SWG at 60%.
By Tuesday AM, the FC was down to 3 and the water was cloudy. So I began another SLAM by adding chlorine, brushing, vacuuming, and then cleaning the cart.
Yesterday morning FC was 19. I added 3/4 gallon of chlorine. 3:45 PM FC was 26. 8:30 PM FC was 20.5 Last night I added 1 gallon at 9:30 PM. I tested at 11:15 PM and got FC 34 CC .5. This morning at 7 AM I got 28.5 and ran out of reagent so I couldn't test CC.
My pool looks great, and the filter was pretty clean Sunday after a two day run. I am still consuming lots of chlorine, in fact it doesn't seem to be getting better. I added 1-3/4 gallons of 10% bleach total yesterday. We also swam and had the cover off all day and all last night. I'm estimating my CYA couldn't be above 65, and therefore I am targeting FC 26 as shock level according to pool math. During this SLAM, I have tested at least twice per day, and FC has not gone below 19.
Any advice? Do I just need to stick it out a few more days? How much impact does swimming for a couple of hours have on FC? We are a family of four.