Yeah I have my FIRST algae bloom! IE: Looking forward to a learning experience!

[Jedisparky]

Ok,
Much wind and rain for a prolonged period of time, mixed with a lousy work schedule left me falling behind in keeping up with all the tree debris falling into my pool and creating this situation and here I find myself. Trying to stay positive and not freak out.

Lets get right to it shall we:

SWG Pool Specifics in Profile,

Medium green algae can't see the bottom of 3' to 6' pool.

PH=6 (I added a little too much acid this morning to start, ugh. I imagine it will rise again quickly.)
Salt 1600 (will definitely need to add salt, enough rain to overflow the pool several day in a row)
CYA=0 (could only test the algae water, but my test showed no cloud at all.)
FC= 0 (Obviously SWG is on full but can't keep up, combined with low salt. Could not get DPD Powder to turn color nomatter how much I added)
TA=10
CH 320

So that seems pretty ugly.
Questions:
1) Where to start? Obviously a Shock based on the Pool School SWG chart. Do I need to wait till my PH is 7.2-7.4 till I start the shock.

2) Should I use Clorox Bleach vs. Leslie's Powder plus? (my first instinct is "not Leslie's)

3) I have an attached Spa with spill over. The Spill over runs for a few hours a day. Do I treat these two separately? Don't run the spill over? While I will be running my pool 24/7 during the shock I wont have movement in my spa and will have to integrate the water with the pool at some point but don't want to introduce algae water to the pool once the pool is back. Best way to handle that?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Michael

 

[ajw22]

Follow the SLAM Process process step by step. No shirtcuts. First step, add stablizer to get your CYA to 30.

Ph of 6 is way low and can corrode your heater. Raise your pH up to 7.2 asap.

Don’t use Clorox bleach. It says it has Cloromax Technology and contains polymers. You don’t use Leskies shock. Find a source for liquid chlorine or bleach with no additives.

Run your spillover during the SLAM Process and treat it as one body of water.

 

[cfherrman]

Your ta and pH is dangerously low, add some of the chemical to raise both first. Sorry I can't remember which does first just look in pool math. I would wait till the pH is in the 7's and the ta is close to where it's supposed to be so it does crash while slam

Generic bleach, you could use diclor for a little cya but I like to keep it simple

Your cya is zeroed, I would add just enough to get to 20-30 so the sun doesn't kill the clorine, then raise it later after pool is fixed

3) idk you can pour a little bleach in there and brush it around, most likely it's better to combine both bodies

Follow the slam article

 

[Donldson]

Hold up, have you recently tested your CYA as higher than zero? Is this a sudden drop?

If so, any guess as to how much rain you have gotten since that time? It could just be dilution (which if your salt level dropped would point to that as a possibility) but it could be indicative of a bigger problem that would need looked in to before adding more CYA.

The easiest thing to do would be to add enough bleach to bring your FC up to 10 before doing anything else. Test your FC and CC 15 minutes later and as long as you don't have really high CC you should be good to add some CYA and start the SLAM.

 

[Jedisparky]

So my pool overflowed ALOT, plus I pumped out a lot of water to help it. LOTS of Eucalyptus debris That hung around for longer than it should have because I couldn't get to it. Probably 10 to 15" of rain in the last month. I know my CYA was low (50-60) going into winter. Since the days were shorter I wasn't worrying too much about it until we started getting warmer weather which is usually around now but it's exceedingly cold so I think I did drop the ball on the CYA. At any rate I've already added conditioner salt and a product to bring up my TA so I can bring my ph up so I can start slamming. I'll be monitoring with my test kit perodical throughout this process and keep you all up-to-date thank you for your input.

 

[Teald024]

I'll be monitoring with my test kit perodical throughout this process and keep you all up-to-date thank you for your input.

No... No... No.... follow the SLAM process exactly!!
You need to test frequently and add bleach as needed. At least 4 times a day at the beginning.
It was lack of chlorine that allowed the algae to take hold. Get out as much organic junk as possible so the chlorine can focus on the algae.

 

[Jedisparky]

Good morning from L.A.,

Ok, here is my results this morning after doing what i could to balance my water in preparation for the Slam.

PH=7.2
FC=0
TA=80
Salt=2000
CH=310
CYA=40

So.....it seems to me I can finally start the SLAM process EXACTLY. That was always going to be the plan all along, I just needed my PH, TA, and CYA in a good place to start my SLAM so that's what I did and here we are with your much appreciated help.

Quick question, 50% chance of rain today, I would REALLY like to start the SLAM today, anyone think the rain potential posses a problem.

Thanks Again,
Michael

 

[Jedisparky]

No... No... No.... follow the SLAM process exactly!!
You need to test frequently and add bleach as needed. At least 4 times a day at the beginning.
It was lack of chlorine that allowed the algae to take hold. Get out as much organic junk as possible so the chlorine can focus on the algae.

Yes,

I know my statement sounded as I would half Rear my testing, no, I will be extremely diligent.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[ajw22]

You should check your FC ever 2 hours or so when you start the SLAM Process. Keep the FC topped off above the shock level following the FC/CYA Chart. Once you see the FC holding after 2 hours then you can extend the test interval. If you see lots of FC loss after a 2 hour check then check more frequently. With real bad algae it may initially take checks every 15 minutes.

Rain will not affect the SLAM Process although you may get a bit wet adjusting the FC.

 

[Jedisparky]

OK, here's today's update,

So I have to start of being embarrassed by saying I added WAY to much Chorine 12.5 solution. So in half hour increments I added 1 gal= 2.5 FC, then a second gallon =6 FC, then a third gallon =10 FC, then a fourth gallon and I don't understand what happened but suddenly (even after 24hrs) I can't get a reading it's so high off the charts. I suppose I should have waited longer between gallons, please remember I'm on a learning curve here So my DPD powder turns dark pink with one powder scoop, and it doesn't matter how much DPD Regent #3 I add (100= drops) the test won't turn clear. On the plus side my water is much bluer, milky but bluer, and I see no brown Algae on my steps or wall anywhere. I'm still brushing 3 times a day just to make sure. From what I have read I going to have to wait this out till the chlorine dissipates unless someone here tells me I'm in trouble and should use a Chlorine Neutralizer which seem scary in and of it's self.

Opinions welcomed.

The #'s:
FC = Off the charts
PH = 7.4
TA = 6
CYA =50
Salt = 3400
CH = 320

Thanks,
Michael

 

[mknauss]

A gallon of 12.5% raises your FC by 6 ppm. So if you did 4 gallons that is 24 ppm. It should not be higher than that.

Are you using 10 ml of water sample for the FC test? Then each drop of reagent equals 0.5 FC.

The FC will burn off quick. I bet by this evening it is way down. Your SLAM FC is 20ppm.

 

[ajw22]

Too much FC is not a major problem when doing a SLAM Process. Just let the CL do it job against the algae and it will come down. The longer it takes to come down the closer you are to a clear pool.

 

[Jedisparky]

[QUOTE="mknauss, post: 1568269, member: 62252"

Are you using 10 ml of water sample for the FC test? Then each drop of reagent equals 0.5 FC.

Yes, that's exactly what I'm using. I've tested a number of times. Very puzzling.

Thanks

 

[Jedisparky]

Too much FC is not a major problem when doing a SLAM Process. Just let the CL do it job against the algae and it will come down. The longer it takes to come down the closer you are to a clear pool.

Awesome, thanks much!

 

[Jedisparky]

Hey Everyone,

Bonehead here. So I was using the wrong regent DOH! We'll just leave that there and not talk about that

FC is 11.

Ill maintain my testing (correctly) and watch how quickly or slowly it drops. It seem everything is on schedule. I been staring at these chems WAY too long.

 

[mknauss]

We all are learning! Keep that FC at 20 ppm.

 

[Jedisparky]

Ok,

Quick update: FC @ 21 and holding. I'll continue to test hourly.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[kimkats]

If you are at the milky blue stage you are doing great! Now will come the hardest time where you will need POP aka pool owner patience as your filter works to clear all of the dead algae from the water. Good job getting this far!

Kim

 

[cowboycasey]

Good Morning, great job getting to SLAM level, just keep it there as much as possible and you will be great

 

[Jedisparky]

Morning,

Thanks all,

Ya, I'm happy things are going good. Took a reading this morning and a solid FC of 21 still. Should be a full day of sunlight so I'll do a reading when I get home from work.

Thanks again everyone, enjoy your day.
Michael