First Time Using TF-Pro Salt - Some Grey Matter in Pool

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OCLT and SLAM worked out well.

Of course, when doing a final vacuuming, it seems leaves may be stuck somewhere as I can’t prime my pump now 😂

Always something!

EDIT - Leaves were stuck around the main diverter before hitting the pump. Crisis averted.
 
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Hi All - Thank you for all the help during the 2023 swim season! Didn't want to start a new thread so here goes :).

Last year my pool company opened the pool and dumped a ton of algaecide, which created quite a bit of grey matter. I suspect they never did a proper SLAM when closing in 2022.

Did a proper OCLT and SLAM at end of 2023 at closing. Also moved my opening up in the year to April 24 (instead of May 15) to get a jump on algae / warmer water temps.

Pool company will open my pool, but wanted to confirm my understanding of start-up chemicals from reading the Opening Your Pool guide:
  1. Test all chemicals (FC, TA, CYA, pH, CH, Salt).
  2. Adjust as needed. SLAM if water is green. I assume it will probably be brown/yellow, which is okay?
  3. Manually add liquid chlorine until water >70F and SWG is making chlorine.
 
Opened the pool! Chlorine did not last thru the winter so FC is 0, but pool temp is still in 40s and water is clear! However, my CYA went up during the winter in spite of a mid winter drain off and adding a lot of new water yesterday. How is that even possible?

Today's readings:

FC - 0
TA - 80
CYA - 90
pH - 8.2 but its REALLY dark pink
CH - 275
Salt - 2400
CSI - 0.27
 
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bbdude said:
You don’t trust CYA or PH are a full day? Maybe both haha?
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CYA. PH, FC and TA should be good to go in 15 to 20 mins. The others can take a full day.


Which it's had.


Run CYA again as said above, but it's late now for us and you need overhead sun.
 

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Newdude said:
CYA. PH, FC and TA should be good to go in 15 to 20 mins. The others can take a full day.

Which it's had.

Run CYA again as said above, but it's late now for us and you need overhead sun.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Was at Leslie's today so had them test this morning (nearly 4 days since opening). Here's what I've got and my plan:

FC - 0.17 (will add a gallon today)
TA - 87 (this will come down as I get the pH under control)
CYA - 50 (for Buffalo 60 or so is probably ideal ... might just leave this alone for now)
pH - 8.7 (going to add ~40oz every 4 hours until I reach a gallon/128oz
CH - 351 (leaving this alone)
Salt - 2400 (will add 2x40lb bags for now until water temp rises)

MITBeta said:
Let the water sample come to room temperature before testing CYA.
Click to expand...

Didn't know this! So maybe that's why Leslie's looks better than mine because the water had time to warm? I don't think it was room temp, but closer than straight out the pool.
 
bbdude said:
Was at Leslie's today so had them test this morning (nearly 4 days since opening). Here's what I've got and my plan:

FC - 0.17 (will add a gallon today)
TA - 87 (this will come down as I get the pH under control)
CYA - 50 (for Buffalo 60 or so is probably ideal ... might just leave this alone for now)
pH - 8.7 (going to add ~40oz every 4 hours until I reach a gallon/128oz
CH - 351 (leaving this alone)
Salt - 2400 (will add 2x40lb bags for now until water temp rises)
Click to expand...
Dude. You're a riot !!!!!! :laughblue:

You always know how to make me laugh. :hug:


Post real #s and we'll hatch a plan.
 
Newdude said:
Dude. You're a riot !!!!!! :laughblue:

You always know how to make me laugh. :hug:


Post real #s and we'll hatch a plan.
Click to expand...
Are you not entertained?! (in my best Maximus / Russell Crowe voice)

Water is looking great, but OCLT failed. Added two gallons of liquid chlorine Wednesday and we're back to zero. SLAM target is FC of 16 for CYA of 40 or just about 3 gallons of chlorine.

Here are my numbers as of this AM:

FC - 0
TA - 70
CYA - 40
pH - 8.2+
CH - 300
Salt - 3200
Temp - 61
CSI - 0.15
 
Full SLAM ahead !!!! Steady as she goes Cap'n.

Clear water slams with cool water always go easier, no matter how bad it might be. It'd be way worse with green, or in July. (y)
 
Newdude said:
Full SLAM ahead !!!! Steady as she goes Cap'n.

Clear water slams with cool water always go easier, no matter how bad it might be. It'd be way worse with green, or in July. (y)
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Waiting to retest now, but am curious if I should just SLAM as my default opening process when FC is zero? I assumed, perhaps wrongfully, since the water was so cold there wouldn't be bacteria and just dumping 2 gallons would get me to my desired FC w/out SLAM.
 
bbdude said:
assumed, perhaps wrongfully, since the water was so cold there wouldn't be bacteria and just dumping 2 gallons would get me to my desired FC w/out SLAM.
Click to expand...
Cold water just means whatever is in there is mostly dormant. If some algae got brewing on a warmer spell mid winter, having cold water now doesn't cure that it got in there and is mostly dormant right now.

But it's not mid summer yet when the ickies fester exponentially, so there is that. :)
 
Thanks, Newdude!

Added 3.5 gallons of Liquid Chlorine. Tested after 90 mins and only hit FC of 9. I wonder if my pool is actually bigger than 28k gallons and the pool builder was wrong haha.
 
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Thanks again, @Newdude !

Added another gallon of liquid chlorine ... 4.5 gallons total. We're now at FC of 12. Proper SLAM, per calculator is FC of 16.

Think I add another gallon? CYA of 40 w/ FC of 0 in 28k gallon pools only calls for 3.5 gallons haha
 
Whether it's the volume being off, or the jugs aren't as potent as you think, 12 is not 16 no matter how you slice it. Make it 16 when it's not.

The more time it spends at or very near SLAM FC, the quicker it goes. It's best to hit it often at first. Go right until bedtime. As the process plays out, FC holds more and more between tests. When it's still 15 2 hours later, go to 3 hour rounds. When it's still 15 at 3 hours, go to 4 hours. Usually by day 2 or 3 it's holding long enough to get back to work on Monday. (When starting on a weekend, like now).

You can dose early at anytime to buy the next block of time away, or lessen the hit if it's longer than the test window.

Brush and vac at least once a day. Every last inch, both visible and hidden, is suspect until it's been scrubbed/flushed.
 
Thanks for the input. I appreciate it. My inexperience is showing haha.

Up to 8 gallons now since 1230pm. I only bought two boxes. I was not expecting it to take so much chlorine for the SLAM.

Having reread the instructions I missed the buying double the SLAM amount 😬
 
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