Opening my pool and using SLAM procedure

[lee.tonya]

Hi everyone!
I’m using the SLAM procedure to get my pool up and running!
My TC- 22
FC-0
PH- 7.2
CYA- 20
I’ve checked it several times between yesterday and today using the T-100 test kit. My TC keeps going higher but no change in the FC. I continually add Bleach in according to my pool math guide. I’ve been cleaning religiously twice a day and cleaning my filter god I don’t know how many times!!
Am I missing something or doing something wrong? Please help!!!
P.S pool is mainly blue but seems darker at the deepend. This is my first pool ever and still learning!!!

 

[mknauss]

Let's be sure we are on the same page as far as terminology. You are doing the Chlorine test by taking 10 ml of water, adding one full scoop of R0870 powder, mixing it well, and then adding XX drops of R0871. Multiply XX drops by 0.5. That is FC.
If so, you are using way more chlorine than is necessary for your CYA. To the level it can be damaging to your pool surface. Follow the SLAM tab on FC/CYA Levels
Read SLAM Process

 

[lee.tonya]

Let's be sure we are on the same page as far as terminology. You are doing the Chlorine test by taking 10 ml of water, adding one full scoop of R0870 powder, mixing it well, and then adding XX drops of R0871. Multiply XX drops by 0.5. That is FC.
If so, you are using way more chlorine than is necessary for your CYA. To the level it can be damaging to your pool surface. Follow the SLAM tab on FC/CYA Levels
Read SLAM Process

Yes that is exactly how I’m doing my testing. Pool math tells me to put 4.5 gallons of chlorine in according to my CYA. I check every hour to 2 hours and no change to FC so I add the 4.5 gallons again. Check in a couple hours still no change! This morning I checked and my TC has gone up to 22 but still no change in my FC. It’s still at 0. I cleaned my filter and vacuumed out pool and cleaned filter again. I just added another 4.5 gallons of bleach according to Pool Math before I asked my question.

 

[woodyp]

Doesn't sound like an ammonia problem if your CYA is holding 20 and not zero..........hmmmm. Can you see the bottom in the deep end?

 

[Donldson]

You aren't reading your test correctly. The first number you are getting is "FC", not "TC". The second number you are getting is "CC", and you want it to be zero.

Your FC is 22 and your CC is 0. Please don't add more chlorine at this point.

 

[woodyp]

FC + CC = TC

 

[mknauss]

I checked and my TC

TC is not a test result. Do you mean CC?

 

[lee.tonya]

Doesn't sound like an ammonia problem if your CYA is holding 20 and not zero..........hmmmm. Can you see the bottom in the deep end?

Yes I can

You aren't reading your test correctly. The first number you are getting is "FC", not "TC". The second number you are getting is "CC", and you want it to be zero.

Your FC is 22 and your CC is 0. Please don't add more chlorine at this point.

Omg! I can’t believe I was reading it wrong! Thank you! I was ready to rip my hair out thinking I had missed something or done something wrong!!

 

[Donldson]

It happens to all of us. I've dumped a ton of calcium in to someone's pool that already had too much because I misread the test.

The excessive chlorine will burn off fairly quickly in the sun, so no worries there and you can just let it drop back to something more acceptable.

 

[lee.tonya]

As you know I started out yesterday with 22 FC
0 CC
7.2 PH
20 CYA
This morning I retested-
5 FC
5 CC
Under 20 CYA
7.2 PH
Can I add more bleach to bring my Shock level back up to 10 FC since u guys said no more bleach at that point! And why would my CYA drop dramatically overnight?

 

[lee.tonya]

Regarding my CYA- I vacuumed to waste 4 times since yesterday and had to add water all 4 times! Is that the reason why my CYA dropped to below 20? Should I add more CYA at this point or wait until the SLAM is over since I will continue to vacuum to waste and add water each time?

 

[mknauss]

Have you read the SLAM Process? Do, as soon as you can. You need to MAINTAIN the SLAM level FC. Testing and adding chlorine as often as possible (not less than 4 or 5 times per day to start, 2-3 times per day once the pool is blue and cloudy).
Are you sure your CC was 5? That is very unusual. Remember - TC = FC + CC. TC is meaningless. Report the test results of FC and CC when that test is done.

 

[lee.tonya]

Have you read the SLAM Process? Do, as soon as you can. You need to MAINTAIN the SLAM level FC. Testing and adding chlorine as often as possible (not less than 4 or 5 times per day to start, 2-3 times per day once the pool is blue and cloudy).
Are you sure your CC was 5? That is very unusual. Remember - TC = FC + CC. TC is meaningless. Report the test results of FC and CC when that test is done.

Yes I’ve read the SLAM process several times. CC was 2.5. Forgot to times it by 0.5.

I added 2 gallons of 10% per pool math 2 hours ago. Just retested FC dropped to 9 so added 1/2 gallon of 10% per pool math. Going to check it again in 2 hours and see where I’m at

 

[lee.tonya]

 

[mknauss]

Great. As stated in the SLAM Process article, you need to get your CYA to at least 30 ppm and then follow the SLAM FC for that level of CYA.

 

[lee.tonya]

Great. As stated in the SLAM Process article, you need to get your CYA to at least 30 ppm and then follow the SLAM FC for that level of CYA.

Ok. So stop what I’m doing and add the dry stabilizer before going any further? Do I assume it’s all in there once I put it in? Or do I need to wait until it tests at 30?

 

[mknauss]

I doubt your current CYA is 0. So I would suggest adding 10 ppm CYA worth of stabilizer. Start it dissolving using the sock method and immediately assume your CYA is 30 ppm in the pool water for SLAM FC purposes. Test the CYA again a day or two after it is fully dissolved from the sock.

 

[lee.tonya]

I doubt your current CYA is 0. So I would suggest adding 10 ppm CYA worth of stabilizer. Start it dissolving using the sock method and immediately assume your CYA is 30 ppm in the pool water for SLAM FC purposes. Test the CYA again a day or two after it is fully dissolved from the sock.

Thank you so much! You have definitely been a great help!

 

[lee.tonya]

Testing:
FC 3
Cc 0.5
Ph 6.8
TA 70
CH 300
CYA 30
Added 33 pounds Calcium Hardness
Added 22 pounds Borax (20 Mule)
Had a FC loss of 3 overnight when I did my OCLT and CC stayed the same at 0.5.
Pool is blue and clear! What am I missing? I’m ready to swim and don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[mknauss]

Please tell me those tests are after you added all that stuff.