Serious help needed
- Thread starter richardc
- Start date
Pool shock on sale at Menards, about half price for those of you in the mid-west area
Hey, congrats, you're entering the turqoise phase...that's a few days out on the trip to blue 
I'm seeing the change now so feel more comfortable you can get there from here.
One thing that in your specific case might help a tiny bit extra is called The Slime Bag | The Easiest Way To Maintain Crystal Clear Pool Water.
If you order one, get the part also that lets you attach it to a return.
In addition to helping with some finer filtering (1 micron vs 30 micron sand) its also pretty good on well, I'm told, to help filter out iron etc. so you would use it AFTER the slam again any time you filled with a hose. This double duty is why I mention it...its not "necessary" - just elective, non-destructive option
I'm seeing the change now so feel more comfortable you can get there from here.
One thing that in your specific case might help a tiny bit extra is called The Slime Bag | The Easiest Way To Maintain Crystal Clear Pool Water.
If you order one, get the part also that lets you attach it to a return.
In addition to helping with some finer filtering (1 micron vs 30 micron sand) its also pretty good on well, I'm told, to help filter out iron etc. so you would use it AFTER the slam again any time you filled with a hose. This double duty is why I mention it...its not "necessary" - just elective, non-destructive option
I think it's hard to tell from the pictures due to different lighting conditions. Did you check it with the tape measure today?
When I did my SLAM, I'd compare pictures that were a few days apart. I would occasionally make a collage to compare them, too.
When I had stalled
Start to finish: (before sparkle,lol)
Met my goal
When I had stalled
Start to finish: (before sparkle,lol)
Met my goal
I would second that recommendation on slime bags which are bio-diesel filters. Besides buying from the Slimebag company if you want to save money you can buy them fairly inexpensively online from Amazon or Duda Diesel. Here is a thread on how to modify as well as a thread on using as a filter for removing iron from well water. I would recomend the 1 micron.
I have the Slime bag from the company and I am still using the first bag and this is my second year, I used it to finish a slam and now use it to polish the water 1 day a week instead of using DE. The Slime bag company was very good and responsive, no problems, the only thing they are sewn so that it fits the barb better but can not turn inside out I think turning inside out would allow faster easier cleaning. Again they are a luxury and by the time you get them hopefully you would be close to done the slam, but also good for the iron filtering from your well water..
I have the Slime bag from the company and I am still using the first bag and this is my second year, I used it to finish a slam and now use it to polish the water 1 day a week instead of using DE. The Slime bag company was very good and responsive, no problems, the only thing they are sewn so that it fits the barb better but can not turn inside out I think turning inside out would allow faster easier cleaning. Again they are a luxury and by the time you get them hopefully you would be close to done the slam, but also good for the iron filtering from your well water..
Hey, congrats, you're entering the turqoise phase...that's a few days out on the trip to blue
I'm seeing the change now so feel more comfortable you can get there from here.
One thing that in your specific case might help a tiny bit extra is called The Slime Bag | The Easiest Way To Maintain Crystal Clear Pool Water.
If you order one, get the part also that lets you attach it to a return.
In addition to helping with some finer filtering (1 micron vs 30 micron sand) its also pretty good on well, I'm told, to help filter out iron etc. so you would use it AFTER the slam again any time you filled with a hose. This double duty is why I mention it...its not "necessary" - just elective, non-destructive option
Thank you for the tip on the slime....I will look into it...so is there indeed a "turquoise" phase?
Do you have a best guess as to how far away I am? Thank you for everything !
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When I did my SLAM, I'd compare pictures that were a few days apart. I would occasionally make a collage to compare them, too.
When I had stalled
Start to finish: (before sparkle,lol)
Met my goal
Wow those pictures really tell the story! How long did it take from start to finish?
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Thanx for your input!
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No, I didn't take any measuements today. Perhaps tomorrow.
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Test results at 745PM July 10th:
FC 15.5
added a bit; also more DE in the skimmers, and I changed the hairnets. Down for the night.
My SLAM was about 3 weeks, due to not having enough sand in the new filter. (Had added the water like it recommends in the directions, should have added extra sand to account for it.) Once I corrected it, it was about 6 days. Mine wasn't as bad as yours, and I was able to physically get in and scoop the debris out, even though it was kind of cold. But there were times I wasn't sure if it looked clear or not, so the pictures helped encourage me.
For me there was...I'd started black like you and am on well, so the filter also had to clear some oxidized metals, going from black, to brown to pea green to teal/turquoise to lighter tuquoise to blue
. Its hard to gauge for YOU time wise because my swamp was clearing in early spring with cold water temps still, whereas you're up against summer so the algae can grow back faster, which is a bit more challenging. Overall, mine was 12 days of sustained, TFP-style slam (eg without dropping below slam level...I ran home at lunch hours to dose.)In my case, once I could clearly see the bottom and wasn't losing chlorine overnight, I finished with a very slow, careful vac-to-waste and had turned off the pump entirely overnight. That way all the silty stuff had time to settle. The pump basket still clogged a few times, etc., but we'd just stop, clean out the pump basket, add a bit ow after in a clear area to stay halfway above the skimmer, and slowly go back at it to avoid kicking up the dust, so to speak.
It's too early for you to do that, but I do see you clearing, so stay vigilant and you will slay this monster
Test results at 6:45 AM July 11th:
FC 21.5 *****
CC 1.5
Added more DE; visibility about 30-31 inches;more turquoise showing in the pool;still more green in the shallow end compared with the deep end; two more frogs DOA, and lots of catepillars in the nets. I think the catepillars are gypsy moths...just a guess. I'll post pictures a bit later.
****not sure about the accuracy of this test I was having trouble with the titrating dropper giving off some double drops
FC 21.5 *****
CC 1.5
Added more DE; visibility about 30-31 inches;more turquoise showing in the pool;still more green in the shallow end compared with the deep end; two more frogs DOA, and lots of catepillars in the nets. I think the catepillars are gypsy moths...just a guess. I'll post pictures a bit later.
****not sure about the accuracy of this test I was having trouble with the titrating dropper giving off some double drops
For me there was...I'd started black like you and am on well, so the filter also had to clear some oxidized metals, going from black, to brown to pea green to teal/turquoise to lighter tuquoise to blue
In my case, once I could clearly see the bottom and wasn't losing chlorine overnight, I finished with a very slow, careful vac-to-waste and had turned off the pump entirely overnight. That way all the silty stuff had time to settle. The pump basket still clogged a few times, etc., but we'd just stop, clean out the pump basket, add a bit ow after in a clear area to stay halfway above the skimmer, and slowly go back at it to avoid kicking up the dust, so to speak.
It's too early for you to do that, but I do see you clearing, so stay vigilant and you will slay this monster
Thank you for your support....just to know I am on the right track!...a bit more turquoise in the water this morning...visibility about 30-31 inches down......I'll be on it all day
.Test at 845 AM July 11th:
FC 15.5
backwashed as the DE caused a flow issue; added lesser amount of DE; turquoise color slowly gaining ground; added chlorine
FC 15.5
backwashed as the DE caused a flow issue; added lesser amount of DE; turquoise color slowly gaining ground; added chlorine
Test at 615 PM CST July 11th
FC 21.5 *
I overshot the last addition by 1/2 gallon, hence the high FC number at this test. Backwashed as I added DE last time, which disrupted flow. Added new DE after backwashing.
FC 21.5 *
I overshot the last addition by 1/2 gallon, hence the high FC number at this test. Backwashed as I added DE last time, which disrupted flow. Added new DE after backwashing.
Test at 700 AM July 12th
FC 16
That is a loss of 4ppm of FC overnight. Two frogs DOA, and one alive this morning. Added some additional DE.
FC 16
That is a loss of 4ppm of FC overnight. Two frogs DOA, and one alive this morning. Added some additional DE.