algae or just dirty

Maresa

Active member
Aug 28, 2014
31
Haverhill, Mass
IMG_5037.jpg

So frustrated that I cannot show picture, but I continue to have bad numbers as I try to open my pool (water looks great, but I keep failing SLAM!) Could my problem be my skimmer? It is blackish around the waterline and slightly below and does not come "clean" with the scrubbing I have done so far. Is it just normal accumulation of years, AKA old and dirty, or could that black really be mold? Is everyone's old previously white skimmer blackish with age? I am assuming this is the case, but I am desperate to find the cause of my problem. It's been 5 days - 4 days of clear water.
 
I think plastic parts tend to discolor with age. If you've attempted to scrub that off and it doesn't change it, I'd say that is *not* your problem.

Have you checked behind any lights? Actually take them out of their niche and seen if there is a garden of ick behind them? It happens.

Got test results?

Maddie :flower:
 
When the pool store guys opened the pool they immediately threw in 2.5 gallons of "shock". I tested and found CYA to be 0. I then added too much (mistake #1) and the CYA went to 45. I then started to add chlorine to get the level to 18. (Mistake #2 was not testing and balancing pH). Although I have tested all chemicals a couple times in the past few days, my understanding is that the only thing that would have mattered is CYA, which is stable, and pH which is blood red high. So I have tried to keep FC at 18 but it has ended up ranging from 16 to 21. CC has ranged from 0 to 1.5. Mistake #3 was that my husband turned off the pump on the second night. Other than that, the pump has been on for 3 nights and 5 days. Water has been beautiful for last 3 days. We have brushed sides 2 or 3 times a day. Vacuumed between 1 and 3 times a day. Mistake #4 may be that we have not filtered to waste because I only read recently that that would be preferable. The only in pool equipment we have is one light which we have not taken apart.
This is the first year that I have tested like this and therefore SLAMmed. Tomorrow I have a crazy day so I cannot keep up with the frequent testing. I am almost at the point of quitting tomorrow whether or not I have good numbers. Hope it doesn't come to this, and I might change my mind, but I am at a loss for where to look (except I WILL take the light apart!) Thank you all so much.
 
The point where you are ready to give up is often the point at which things are ready to turn around! Don’t give up. You are almost there!

You say you are failing the slam test - which part? Water is clear so I’m guessing you are either not passing OCLT or you are showing more than 0.5 CC, or both.
 
You are doing better than you think. Changes in CC is normal during a SLAM......Failing the OCLT test is often normal, too.

You are using high levels of chlorine to kill the organics in your pool. Until they are all killed, (and that may take a little while longer) you will consume FC overnight.

STOP brushing 2-3 times daily. Pointless. Switch to one brushing every couple of days at the most. Don't filter to waste either.......you don't have enough dirt/junk to get rid of......let your filter catch it.

So since your water is clear, simply test your overnight FC consumption. That it! No need to test for cc's until you stop consuming FC.

Once you consume 1 ppm or less of FC overnight, do a cc test and I bet you will pass.

There! The SLAM is done and you can go swimming!

Re-read the SLAM article and get a good grip on what you are doing. You seem to be doing all the right things but not understanding them well......yet.

Stay the course :D
 
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