So frustrated with SLAM

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We are just about 3 weeks into our first SLAM. Our water was clear when we started and is still clear, our CCs have dropped from 0.5 to 0, but we haven't passed the overnight chlorine test. We are all over the place with it--- most days we lose 1.5 but it has been as high as 6.5 and as low as 1 (that happened once and I wanted to confirm with a second day in a row but the next day we lost 2.5, so that didn't work). Yesterday it was 4 (I didn't do it today). We've probably spent close to $200 in chlorine and are having a hard time keeping up with it. The only thing we haven't tried is cleaning behind the lights/drain but the water is still too cold for us to do this (the pool is barely a year old though, so hoping this isn't the problem). Are we the first SLAM quitters? We're thinking of just starting our SWG up and dealing with this later if the water gets cloudy. Is this a reasonable approach? @ejr2001r
 
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To clarify, your OCLT is done by testing FC after dark that night, and testing before sun-up the next morning?
 
I’m sorry, I don’t know if there was a previous thread. What was the reason for starting SLAM? Did you have visible algae on surfaces?

There’s no reason why you can’t maintain until the water is warm enough for you to get in and clean out light niches. Just know that as the water warms, algae may grow better as well.

You’ve cracked open the filter and had a look at your cartridges, correct?
 
kellyfair said:
I’m sorry, I don’t know if there was a previous thread. What was the reason for starting SLAM? Did you have visible algae on surfaces?

There’s no reason why you can’t maintain until the water is warm enough for you to get in and clean out light niches. Just know that as the water warms, algae may grow better as well.

You’ve cracked open the filter and had a look at your cartridges, correct?
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No visible algae. We did the SLAM because we were having some trouble maintaining chlorine and had 0.5 CCs. The water always looked good. We have not looked at the cartridges since we started the SLAM but did when we opened the pool a couple of weeks prior and they were clean.
 
pool123* said:
No visible algae. We did the SLAM because we were having some trouble maintaining chlorine and had 0.5 CCs. The water always looked good. We have not looked at the cartridges since we started the SLAM but did when we opened the pool a couple of weeks prior and they were clean.
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I would not worry about 0.5 CC. What is your CYA?
 

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Bperry said:
Yea, with only 0.5 cc, that’s not enough to require a SLAM.
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Oh my goodness... I guess we're justified in stopping then. I am just so confused with these measurements. We ran out of chlorine yesterday and my husband met the truck when the new shipment arrived at the store today. Our FC dropped from 12 yesterday to 10 almost 24 hours later today (that kind of small drop never happens) and we added 3 gallons of liquid chlorine. Measured again 5 hours later and it's only 15! I don't know if I'm just screwing up measuring the FC or what. It's so simple...I can count...I can see pink and white...I'm at a loss. :-(
 
pool123* said:
We ran out of chlorine yesterday and my husband met the truck when the new shipment arrived at the store today.
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Oh my. THIS is how it's done. Not a 'Oh well I'll get around to it' kinda thing...... a meet the truck kinda thing. WELL. DONE.

With all you've been through. You never want to go back. It's simple stuff, but super important stuff. (y)
 
Newdude said:
Oh my. THIS is how it's done. Not a 'Oh well I'll get around to it' kinda thing...... a meet the truck kinda thing. WELL. DONE.

With all you've been through. You never want to go back. It's simple stuff, but super important stuff. (y)
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LOL! I am soooooo over this but we are hesitant to give up now and have these last 3 weeks have been for nothing. Nothing makes sense though.
 
So if I never should have started this with the CC measurement we had, but we can't pass the OCLT test ever, should I stop because I should have never started or keep going because I can't pass OCLT?
 
A multi-week SLAM is very odd. Not passing the OCLT here is even weirder. Let’s look at the simple. Please note that I only peaked at this thread so much of what’s questioned likely has already been answered.
  1. Can you upload a photo of your water?
  2. Can you post a full set of current test results??
  3. Let’s also confirm you’re doing the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test correct. Can you list in full detail the steps you’re taking for this test??
 
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Leebo said:
A multi-week SLAM is very odd. Not passing the OCLT here is even weirder. Let’s look at the simple. Please note that I only peaked at this thread so much of what’s questioned likely has already been answered.
  1. Can you upload a photo of your water?
  2. Can you post a full set of current test results??
  3. Let’s also confirm you’re doing the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test correct. Can you list in full detail the steps you’re taking for this test??
Click to expand...
Happy to! I will upload a photo of the water tomorrow (it's dark) and do a full set of tests tomorrow. Here's how I'm doing the OCLT:

After sun goes down/before sun up:
- Obtain water sample using the same plastic cup every time
- Bring it inside to do the test
- Fill the empty and rinsed "chlorine only" beaker to 10 ml with pool water
- Add a heaping scoop of R-0870
- Swirl
- Add R-0871 one drop at a time until the water turns clear, counting the drops
- Divide the # of drops by 2

We have been taking the water sample from the same spot the last week or two (didn't realize that was important in the beginning). I'll be embarrassed if I am doing this wrong but at this point, if it solves the problem, who cares! :) Thank you for your help.
 
Don't forget that at SLAM level you will have much higher losses to UV during the day. A higher chlorine consumption at SLAM level compared to your usual consumption at target FC is normal to a certain degree. The only conclusive FC loss is the overnight loss with strictly no UV involved.

And then there are testing inaccuracies. Sometimes you add that extra drop when you think there still is a hint of pink. Sometimes you don't. Also important to be reasonably fast once you added the powder. Don't get distracted during the test. Once it's clear, it will start to turn pink again after a while. That's normal, doesn't mean you have to add more drops.

Do you have a Speed Stir (or Smart Stir)? Makes testing so much easier when you don't have to drop, stir and count simultaneously anymore.
 
pool123* said:
Happy to! I will upload a photo of the water tomorrow (it's dark) and do a full set of tests tomorrow. Here's how I'm doing the OCLT:

After sun goes down/before sun up:
- Obtain water sample using the same plastic cup every time
- Bring it inside to do the test
- Fill the empty and rinsed "chlorine only" beaker to 10 ml with pool water
- Add a heaping scoop of R-0870
- Swirl
- Add R-0871 one drop at a time until the water turns clear, counting the drops
- Divide the # of drops by 2

We have been taking the water sample from the same spot the last week or two (didn't realize that was important in the beginning). I'll be embarrassed if I am doing this wrong but at this point, if it solves the problem, who cares! :) Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...

maybe you’re doing this but didn’t write it down, but you need to swirl the sample after every single drop of R-0871. Can’t just swirl one time.
 

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