New Pool Owner

[spinPHD]

Sounds good, you just do what you can. What I do recommend though is that if your pool is clear, and you get a CC of less than 0.5, you can perform an OCLT.

Before you go to bed and after it is dark, bring FC back up to shock level (12) and test 15-30 minutes later to make sure you hit level. Log that number, and then first thing in morning before the sun comes up test your FC level. If you lost less than 1 ppm of FC, you passed the SLAM and can start bringing your FC back down to target and enjoy your pool.

 

[steele_07]

Copy I just tested again FC at 11, CC at .5 or less. I won't be able to test again for several hours.

 

[spinPHD]

If you can, bump chlorine back up to 12 then just test again when you can. If possible, do the OCLT tonight so you don't have to keep SLAM up through tomorrow.

 

[steele_07]

Will do. How much of an effect will a decent rain have on this?

 

[spinPHD]

Will do. How much of an effect will a decent rain have on this?

That I don't know. I live in the desert, so wrong person to ask about rain. Maybe someone else will chime in about rain during a SLAM

 

[Texas Splash]

Rain? It depends really on the severity and duration. Rain water might pick-up some atmospheric trace elements effecting some levels, and the rain pounding on the surface could impact aeration a little, but typically not so much as to really cause total chaos on your chemistry. Just validate after and go from there. That's what is so good about testing our own water ... convenience.

 

[steele_07]

Tested again after 6 hours, FC dropped to 11.5, CC is below .5 if any at all. I also tested my CYA as well that came in between 30 and 35. I think I'll proceed with the OCLT tonight and hopefully pass because we will be at the softball field all day and I won't be able to test for 12+ hrs.

 

[spinPHD]

Sounds like you're well on your way. That's not much of a loss during the day. so you might be done with SLAM. The OCLT will confirm. If you do pass you can run FC level back down to your target. Since your CYA test is around 35, you should chlorinate at the 40 CYA level using this chart. Pool School - Chlorine / CYA Chart

Basically, you just need to always keep FC level above 3 and 5-7 is a good target. Once you're FC drops below 10, you can then test PH and everything else again. To save on regeant, you don't need to test CYA though. Testing that once a month is pretty standard, unless you replace a lot of water or add anything with stabilizer in it like chlorine pucks or bags of shock.

Let us us know how it goes and post your new numbers and we can let you know if there is anything else you need to do.

 

[steele_07]

FC tested at 11 this morning, so according to the credentials, I passed but barely. Would you advise to bring it back up to 12 one more time or let it drift down?

 

[spinPHD]

It doesn't hurt to do that since you're gone all day anyway.

 

[steele_07]

Brought the FC back up to 12 yesterday morning, dropped to 9.5 by 1130 last night, so I brought it 12 once more for an OCLT which had much more definitive results.......less than .5 if any. So I'll start letting it drift back down now and go from there. I know you said I don't need to test CYA, but should I test it once more now that all the stabilizer has dissolved?

 

[spinPHD]

Brought the FC back up to 12 yesterday morning, dropped to 9.5 by 1130 last night, so I brought it 12 once more for an OCLT which had much more definitive results.......less than .5 if any. So I'll start letting it drift back down now and go from there. I know you said I don't need to test CYA, but should I test it once more now that all the stabilizer has dissolved?

yeah go ahead and test it. In beginning, I tested CYA frequently just to feel secure in my number.

 

[steele_07]

CYA just a shade over the 40 line so I'll chorinate at that level. Thanks for all the help. Now I can comfortably let it settle back down and maintain from there. They're starting our deck next monday so the pool should be in great shape by the time we can get in.

 

[spinPHD]

Sounds good. Once your FC drops below 10 you can test your PH and adjust it accordingly. If you do need to adjust, you should also test TA, because your TA determines how much acid you would need to add.