Mysterious chlorine loss... SLAM even though not failing entrance criteria?

[TriangleMan]

Failed the OCLT...
16 ppm at 9:00pm
14 ppm at 5:00am.

CC=0

I definitely feel as if I'm feeding chlorine to the sun...

Here is what the light looked like when taking the tests:
Night (sunset at 8:32, test at 9p)

Morning (test at 5a, sunrise at 5:17):

 

[TriangleMan]

Some bugs and a couple leaves found their way into the skimmer last night. They're organic contaminants... Would that cause a failing OCLT given its sensitivity?

 

[Mdragger88]

Some bugs and a couple leaves found their way into the skimmer last night. They're organic contaminants... Would that cause a failing OCLT given its sensitivity?

Not likely- the niche & the ladder are prime suspects as @Newdude said.
Also skimmer throats, weir doors, & their foam.

 

[Newdude]

The bugs and leaves are fresh / still alive and aren’t all decayed yet. Even the brown leaves in the fall, while dead, never affected anything.

Now, the same leaves that got under the cover and festered all winter on the other hand, will chew through chlorine like no tomorrow in the spring if you don’t get them out ASAP when opening.

 

[Bperry]

Failed the OCLT...
16 ppm at 9:00pm
14 ppm at 5:00am.

CC=0

I definitely feel as if I'm feeding chlorine to the sun...

Here is what the light looked like when taking the tests:
Night (sunset at 8:32, test at 9p)
View attachment 345930
Morning (test at 5a, sunrise at 5:17):
View attachment 345931

I’m almost think you’ve been making this problem up so you could post a picture of that awesome scenery in the backyard.

 

[TriangleMan]

Thanks Bperry! I do love our paradise in the backyard!

Update: I drained the ladder and a whole ton of stuff came out. I'd describe it as if the people who opened the pool must have put a half bag of dichlor or cal-hypo down each side. (Maybe not a bad idea??)

I'm convinced I'll need to open up the niche at the next opportunity.

Also, there was this black gooey crud at the water line in the skimmers this morning... Any idea what that could be? Just want to make sure the high chlorine levels aren't taking off a protective film from the liner or something... (The brown discoloration below the water line is from the high alkalinity fill water from the well)

 

[Bperry]

Thanks Bperry! I do love our paradise in the backyard!

Update: I drained the ladder and a whole ton of stuff came out. I'd describe it as if the people who opened the pool must have put a half bag of dichlor or cal-hypo down each side. (Maybe not a bad idea??)

I'm convinced I'll need to open up the niche at the next opportunity.

Also, there was this black gooey crud at the water line in the skimmers this morning... Any idea what that could be? Just want to make sure the high chlorine levels aren't taking off a protective film from the liner or something... (The brown discoloration below the water line is from the high alkalinity fill water from the well)

View attachment 345959

Maybe scoop some of the black stuff out and drop it in a cup of chlorinating liquid to see if it gets lighter and dies over time. It may be algae.

 

[Mdragger88]

When it comes to algae you must declare war to eradicate it - looks like you’ve won 1 battle, now on to the light niche!

 

[TriangleMan]

Welp, I'm sure this will come as no shock to any of you, although I was mildly surprised. When I pulled off the underwater light, I was greeted by a burst of brown party favors from a most unpleasant welcoming party. Not only had the algae set up shop behind the light, but it also set up an algae headquarters, full algae city, functioning algae transportation hub, and even an algae daycare for the wee littl'uns.

I promptly issued them an eviction notice, complete with a fast-track suction-powered hyper-loop ride-of-their-life into the filter (although I wish I'd had that ready from the very start).

The hypochlorous denizens of New Swimming Pool are now eagerly anticipating an upcoming Algae Independence Day sometime in the not too distant future.

Reached for comment, Mayor Algae confirmed on behalf of the entire decimated outpost that they, too, had not been shocked. Clearly.

 

[Newdude]

Thats the answer we needed !!!! I mean, it's kinda disheartening to watch the cloud milk up your nice water, but it's killed quick and this is a MONDO win today !!!

 

[TexEdmond]

When it comes to algae you must declare war to eradicate it - looks like you’ve won 1 battle, now on to the light niche!

Triangle man, Triangle man. Triangle man hates Algae Bloom man. They have a SLAM, Triangle wins.

Triangle man.

 

[Msch99]

Awesome job keeping your good humor during all this! Helps to have side benefits of sympathetic and helpful experts too!

 

[TriangleMan]

What else can I do? Just gotta keep plugging.

Seems like a setback today though... Still failed the OCLT. (17 --> 13.5) (could be because we FINALLY got a half inch of rain?) Plus Ace Hardware ended their $3 sale on 10% bleach.

Sigh. It's no fun to SLAM for three weeks, but I guess I'm still going...

I'm not down though... The crystal clear pool looks beautiful!

Time to check WalMart prices...

 

[Bperry]

What else can I do? Just gotta keep plugging.

Seems like a setback today though... Still failed the OCLT. (17 --> 13.5) (could be because we FINALLY got a half inch of rain?) Plus Ace Hardware ended their $3 sale on 10% bleach.

Sigh. It's no fun to SLAM for three weeks, but I guess I'm still going...

I'm not down though... The crystal clear pool looks beautiful!

Time to check WalMart prices...

Is that black goo in the skimmer gone? I’d for sure clean that out.

 

[TexEdmond]

What else can I do? Just gotta keep plugging.

Sigh. It's no fun to SLAM for three weeks, but I guess I'm still going...

The "graduated high school in the 90s" kid in me is so happy right now...

 

[TriangleMan]

Is that black goo in the skimmer gone? I’d for sure clean that out.

It does seem like it was algae... I soaked the brush in chlorine and it did get lighter over time.

I've been cleaning that out daily. That day I posted was the worst it's ever been. Since then you could be forgiven for thinking it was just a little dirt that was being skimmed off the surface, but I know better.

Something's going on... Hopefully the chlorine will get it eventually. Do you guys dump the ladder rails and remove the light to brush every day?

 

[TriangleMan]

WalMart is $3.74/gallon of 10% around here... Except their shelves are bare of anything that says chlorine or shock. (I pity the tablet buyers now...)

Edit: $4/gal of 12.5% at American Sale

 

[TriangleMan]

NO. SLEEP. TILL ALGAE-FREE!

 

[Newdude]

Something's going on... Hopefully the chlorine will get it eventually. Do you guys dump the ladder rails and remove the light to brush every day

Usually just once for the ladder. You got rid of the old hidden stuff and replaced it with highly treated SLAM water. For the light it is best to leave it on the deck for the duration so the niche gets good and SLAMMED. Make sure to disable the power to the light though so it doesn’t get accidentally turned on. They need the water to stay cool / not blow.

 

[TriangleMan]

For the light it is best to leave it on the deck for the duration so the niche gets good and SLAMMED.

Will do.

Maybe the dead mouse in the pool this morning had some effect. He's gotta be worth at least a ppm or two...