Startup SWG chlorinator salt for new pool

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Just another thought here, your pool isn't majorly green but rather had that green patch. I can't believe that you have such a massive algae problem that it's eating the chlorine that fast. I think possibly you have some residue left in the test vial and you're not getting true results. This has happened to me some time ago. It all changed after I cleaned the vial and the magnetic stirr with some dish soap, rinsed very well and started testing again. All of a sudden my numbers were inline with my slam. You need to rinse very well all the time after testing.
 
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ok it was FC 22 at 4pm , just did a 6pm test using the 1 ml method, and yay i got FC 30 highest ever so far, i put in more chlorine and will test again at 730pm , just went had a close look for stain i could see it obviously 2 nights ago around this time 630pm, just looked close and it seems to be gone, i mean if i stare really hard from all angles maybe i see a hint but maybe i am looking for something that's not there, bottom line wow its gone or its extremely faint....
 
I don't see a mention of you using a speed stirr. You will get much more accurate results ALL THE TIME. Also have seen this when using the magnetic bean that it gets dropped into vial prior to the water leaving you with less water to test with . You measure the water to whatever mark your working with and then drop in the bean.
 
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Definitely recommend the stirrer for all tests, makes it so much easier and faster. Especially larger drop counts I constantly got wrong when trying to add drops and keep swirling at the same time - too much multitasking...
 
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at 6pm i got FC 30 pool math says add 1.5 litres, i added 2 litres chlorine to target the FC 35,

test 8pm using speed stir and 5 ml, i got FC 31, so in 2 hours it ate 2 litres of chlorine , so again pool math says add 1.5 litres i put another 2 litres in at 8pm, will leave it till morning now
 
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Wrong, you keep adding and checking till you reach the slam target. If you wait till the morning and check then you may have lost all those hours not being at slam level and lost chlorine too which lowers the FC content without biting the bullet.
 
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62,

Keep up the good work and all you have is an algae infestation. The green patch proved that before you did the rest of the tests. Any massive amounts of algae like patches or green water or any other organics like dead leaves or gunk consume a lot of chlorine until it's cleared up. This is why we recommend removing debris and or scrub patches as much as possible before starting. If you don't physically remove it you have to oxidize it completely with chlorine. Then you finish up by getting all the algae cells floating in the water that you can't see. As others have said, the longer you "maintain" SLAM level the shorter the SLAM so test as frequently as you can. It appears to me much of your testing is too many hours after you add chlorine. If you can't be there right after you get full mixing then that's OK just know it will extend the SLAM process and it will get you the desired result better and quicker than any other method I've found. You just may have to hang in there a little while longer.

Chris
 
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While testing and dosing to 35 at 8pm and waiting until morning to do so again is not technically "wrong" when it comes to following the SLAM directions, what wireform and setsailsoon are both saying is that such a long span between maintaining (SLAM) your SLAM level can prolong the process. The SLAM directions accommodate those that can't logistically test more than twice a day. But those that can test and dose every two hours are going to be better off. Not everyone can stay home from work and stay up all night to test and dose every two hours. But if you could you could bang out the SLAM much more quickly.

Just keep that in mind as you strategize the times you can test and dose...
 
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just tested at 830 am FC 24, added 4 litres to target FC 35

ok i hear you all, i got to test more often, i am home today so can test , but really how often , some said even as short as 30 minutes, i struggle to believe what i add is totally circulated thru entire pool volume in just 30 minutes, can i really retest at just 30 minute ?

just to mention i use a variable speed pump, usually run at 1600 rpm, i guess it makes sense that i run full speed ( 2850 rpm ) during this test and adding process, or maybe mid at ( 2400 ) then once it does get to the FC 35 target i could drop back to 1600 rpm

anyway i am home all day what do u all suggest, 30 minutes between adding and test, 1 hour? 2 hours ? thanks
 
The 30 min really is only to let the last addition mix in and confirm that the FC registers where expected. Waiting shorter means the chlorine might not have mixed in yet, waiting longer means you have already lost some.

That will tell you for example if the chlorine is as fresh as expected (unless the algae infestation is really bad, you're at peak UV time, or there is something more serious like ammonia that instantly eats all of your chlorine). Then you could for example take the chlorine percentage down a nudge in PoolMath to get the required quantity more accurate next time. And you will have a real base line for your next measurement let's say two hours later to get an accurate picture about your chlorine losses.

It doesn't mean that you have to test every 30 min throughout the day. You can of course, if you wanted to, but you'd probably just run out of test reagents in the middle of your SLAM, and get really frustrated by the whole process. But you need a test close to your chlorine additions, so you know how close to SLAM you actually got. Testing two hours after adding chlorine will already be affected by UV and algae losses.

Edit: That's particularly important at the beginning of a SLAM or when changing to a different batch of chlorine to confirm that a chlorine addition shows the expected effect, and to adjust the percentage in PoolMath accordingly. Once you've confirmed that, the 30 min test becomes less important. But it remains important to check your FC reasonably often (I think every two hours sounds reasonable when at home) and maintain SLAM level.
 
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Yes, you can test in 30 minutes, but you may have misunderstood. I only said you could test in 30 minutes if you wanted to confirm you were getting to 35. Every 30 minutes is not necessary for a SLAM.

Just test every 2 hours, dose as needed.
 
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aussieta said:
different percent than set in poolmath
Click to expand...
i just tested at 4pm and for the first time i got target FC 35, i been testing every 2 hours and each time is been down, but this time its bang on target, the Chlorine is good is dated just a few weeks old bought it today,

as for pool math i have it set to , Bleach, 12.5% i think thats correct ? the Chlorine tub says 130g / L available chlorine as Sodium Hypochlorite
 

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