It's 12.5%That's an odd drop of FC overnight.You added two more gallons just over 10 minutes ago. Hopefully you are able to test the FC again now. Stick with that 10 min drill for now to ensure it's holding.
What percentage chlorine are you adding?
Chlorine lock why!!!
- Thread starter VinnyFindley
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,854
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
That should give your water a good kick in the pants. Is the FC holding now?
Not really. The 2 gallons I just added only brought it up to .8PPM. Going to dump another 2 gallons in now. I pour it into the return jet flow. 1 at the long end of the pool pointing towards the other that is opposite of the skimmer and is pointed directly at the skimmer. This is beyond unbelievable!!!
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,854
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
You will need to add more. While two gallons "should" increase the FC to about 10 ppm on a normal day, this is not normal. You have a bacteria or ammonia issue that is aggressively consuming your chlorine "immediately" upon hitting the water. That is why it is so important to add the chlorine and re-test no later than 10 minutes after adding. If you have to, test again in 5 minutes if it helps. But the FC cannot be allowed to fall to zero or the bacteria/ammonia in the water will simply remain.
4 gallons to get to 5PPM from 0 this morning and 6 gallons to get to 11PPM last night. Going out to add 2 more gallons. This is crazy. Anyone ever here of an ammonia problem this bad?
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,854
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
We have. They can be quite bad. Next time you test the FC, please show us the CCs. James is looking for that to help us confirm the potential ammonia situation, or to see if there are others issues that should be considered.
Also post your pH please.
Just tested. 12PPM then added 5 drops of R003 and no CC. Didn't even get a faint hint of pink after adding the 5 drops of R003. That's a total of 13 gallons since 5:00 PM yesterday! Went out looking for my dog. Wife closed door to boiler room this morning not realizing he was in there. Called him didn't answer so I didn't bother opening the door to see if he was in there. Drove around the neighborhood panicking looking for him. Came home and checked the boiler room and out he comes looking at me like why didn't you let me out when you came down here!!! 3 year old cream colored 21LB male Shiba Inu.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 7,507
- Pool Size
- 30000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60
I'd re-read the article...follow the process or it will take a long time...
www.troublefreepool.com
- Dose the pool to SLAM level of 10 ppm
- Do not add any CYA until chlorine begins to hold
- Test chlorine every 30 minutes until chlorine begins to hold. Add chlorine as needed to get back to 10 ppm. FC will likely test close to 0 until you get to the next step
- You will know when the chlorine begins to hold when you begin seeing FC testing > 3 ppm after 30 minutes.
- When you see a significant jump in FC from the prior 30 minute test CYA can be added back into the pool. Limit the CYA to 30 ppm for the duration of the process
- Increase the FC target to 12 ppm and follow the steps in the SLAM Process until the criteria of “Done” are all met.
- Follow the SLAM Process FC test procedures. You no longer a need to test every 30 minutes at this stage.
Ammonia - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Have to check when I get home. I have to leave the house for a doctor's appointment. Won't be home until about 1:00.
PH and TA are holding. Hasn't changed since I started the slam.
Is there something that's making you think I'm not following the process? I'm not going to stay up all night to keep FC at 10. It was 11 at 11:00 PM and 0 at 6:00 AM. I brought it back up to 10PPM. It took 6 gallons to get to 11PPM last night. I readded 2 gallons at a time this morning to see how fast it was going up compared to last night. As I understand it my chlorine reading is free chlorine if there's no CC. Water is losing the ammonia smell and steadily becoming clear! FC went from 12PPM down to 9PPM from 10:00 AM until now. I just added 64OZ and will check in 30 minutes.I'd re-read the article...follow the process or it will take a long time...
- Dose the pool to SLAM level of 10 ppm
- Do not add any CYA until chlorine begins to hold
- Test chlorine every 30 minutes until chlorine begins to hold. Add chlorine as needed to get back to 10 ppm. FC will likely test close to 0 until you get to the next step
- You will know when the chlorine begins to hold when you begin seeing FC testing > 3 ppm after 30 minutes.
- When you see a significant jump in FC from the prior 30 minute test CYA can be added back into the pool. Limit the CYA to 30 ppm for the duration of the process
- Increase the FC target to 12 ppm and follow the steps in the SLAM Process until the criteria of “Done” are all met.
- Follow the SLAM Process FC test procedures. You no longer a need to test every 30 minutes at this stage.
Ammonia - Further Reading
- Jun 24, 2021
- 7,507
- Pool Size
- 30000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60
Test chlorine [and replace] every 30 minutes until the chlorine begins to hold. It is a one period of time exercise, not a multiple day exercise...
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,854
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
It's good your pH and TA have not dropped low. The fact you are showing signs of holding the FC is good, so I think you are ready to introduce stabilizer to your pool so that you can transition into the regular SLAM Process. Next time you check your FC, if it's between 8-10 ppm, add 30 ppm of stabilizer via the sock method. Then do your best to maintain an FC of "12" from here on which will be your standard SLAM level until you pass all 3 SLAM criteria. If you have any questions, or if your next FC test proves to be exceptionally low, let us know.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,854
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
In case you need it .......................
Adding CYA:
To increase CYA via granular stabilizer, place the required amount as calculated by the Poolmath calculator into a white sock and place in the poolside skimmer basket. For those concerned about suction flow to the pump, suspending the sock near a return jet or from a floating device will also suffice. Best never to allow undissolved granules to rest directly against the pool surface. After soaking for about 20-30 minutes, squeeze the sock often to help it dissipate. Once dissolved, consider your CYA adjusted to that programmed (target) level. CYA test readings should show a rise in 24-48 hours, however some pools may experience a longer delay to fully register. Best to confirm final CYA in about 5-7 days before adding any more stabilizer/conditioner.
Adding CYA:
To increase CYA via granular stabilizer, place the required amount as calculated by the Poolmath calculator into a white sock and place in the poolside skimmer basket. For those concerned about suction flow to the pump, suspending the sock near a return jet or from a floating device will also suffice. Best never to allow undissolved granules to rest directly against the pool surface. After soaking for about 20-30 minutes, squeeze the sock often to help it dissipate. Once dissolved, consider your CYA adjusted to that programmed (target) level. CYA test readings should show a rise in 24-48 hours, however some pools may experience a longer delay to fully register. Best to confirm final CYA in about 5-7 days before adding any more stabilizer/conditioner.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,854
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Once the stabilizer is all dissolved and in the water, your #1 task is to do your best, schedule permitting, to maintain the FC of 12. Naturally we expect you can't be poolside all day long. Don't try to over-shoot by a few ppm, just replenish it when you return from an errand, work, etc. The stabilizer should help to hold the FC level better from the sun and reduce the amount of tests required each day, but for this early part of the SLAM Process, you may need to continue testing fairly regularly. You should begin to see a pattern where the FC holds better, how long you can go between testing, and chlorine additions to maintain that ~12 mark.
I use the sock method at both return jets. It works really well. I caught a good day to start the slam. Not much sun. A few strong bursts of sunshine but most of the day has been cloudy with a few showers. The ammonia smell is definitely going away! It takes 7LBS of CYA in my pool to get to 30PPM. As I write this the sun is blaring on the pool.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,854
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
With CYA in the water and the FC starting to hold after the initial battle, we'll be curious to know later today how your experience is going. Hopefully the FC will begin to hold better for you and the normal SLAM Process can continue.