SLAM Hangover

[Basher]

Hello all. I want to thank all the people on TFP who generously help out everyone with their pool issues!

Just wanted to post my SLAM and what comes the morning after... a couple questions.

I have a 35k "L" shaped vinyl SW pool, this is our 3rd year opening and algae was like none other this year! Before the pool opened we put a new filter valve and sand. It took about 2 weeks to get the water clear and issues resolved. I'll say this.. just stick with the process!!! I started a SLAM, when it was pretty darn clear, so I thought, and I think I backed off too soon and bam.. that blueish green water started in the deep end on both sides.

I ramped up the SLAM and stuck with it as well as... made sure one return was pointed down in the deep end, for some reason the pool does not have a return in the deep end, only right where it starts the deep end.

I tested every 2 - 4hrs FC, morning and evening once the pool was shade covered, and added as PoolMath recommended. Ran the filter all day and all night(lowered the speed at night). Backwashed often as I felt it needed. Brushed a few times a day and ran Wall-e robot daily! Our pool is in the sun from 9am till 5pm. We also have to deal with insane Cottonwood seeds, I think we could make a Christmas sweater for every TFP member from what we've collected out of our pool each year! Esp. this year has been worse.

All that to say.. keep with it! If anyone is doubting the process.. it works! My first year following it and it does work and if your levels are still within the chart you can still swim.

CYA chart for SW pools you should be at 70-80 which is where I was, but for SLAM it says 30 - 60, so I added fresh water and backwash/waste until I got to 60 because I know I need to increase that after the SLAM.

Question: Once I meet the 3 criteria, which I did last night but giving it one more night.. what's the next step? Get CYA back up to 70 or 80 and pH adjustment down to 7.2 - 7.4? Any specific ordered steps to take when coming off a SLAM?

Thanks again for all the help!!

 

[HermanTX]

Great job and thanks for the details. I know others will appreciate it when they see that the SLAM works.
Let the FC come down to your target range.
Test pH and adjust as needed. Remember best to test pH when FC is under 10ppm
Adjust CYA to your desired level - do it incrementally so you do not overshoot the target.
Check CH and TA to ensure they are within target.
Double check your Salt levels as well since you added fresh water to lower your CYA at the start.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Yay! Well Done!

Your pool is crystal clear too, right? You didn't mention so I want to make sure?
If you're done the only thing is to hop in and enjoy! You may want to determine why algae set in and address that. Maybe you need to increase the percentage on your SWG, or up the pump hours?
Remember to test as needed.

Maddie

 

[Basher]

Yes, right now it's crystal clear! Another key is to let the filter do it thing, it may take longer than what we think but I stayed with it and very happy where the water is now.

I believe the algae was never totally taken care of at season open, I found in the bottom stair vinyl attachments, and we open the pool late because we have a ginormous Maple tree with the helicopter seeds that drop everywhere, so we always wait till after that thing is done, its a beautiful shade tree so we don't mind. The cottonwoods I'd like to chop and burn!! But they are huge and give incredible privacy between the back of our house and the next subdivision over so they gotta stay.

Tomorrow I'll do a full chem test and see where I'm at and start the decent! Thanks for the replies!!

 

[Synergy2]

As my beloved Buffalo Bills coach says, "trust the process". Glad you nailed it.
Was in the same boat this year, first time ever having to SLAM. Ton of bleach but it is so worth it. Definitely a marathon and not a sprint.

 

[Bperry]

Yes, right now it's crystal clear! Another key is to let the filter do it thing, it may take longer than what we think but I stayed with it and very happy where the water is now.

I believe the algae was never totally taken care of at season open, I found in the bottom stair vinyl attachments, and we open the pool late because we have a ginormous Maple tree with the helicopter seeds that drop everywhere, so we always wait till after that thing is done, its a beautiful shade tree so we don't mind. The cottonwoods I'd like to chop and burn!! But they are huge and give incredible privacy between the back of our house and the next subdivision over so they gotta stay.

Tomorrow I'll do a full chem test and see where I'm at and start the decent! Thanks for the replies!!

Do yourself a favor next year and open earlier. Just net out all the junk for a few minutes every day. I’ve got a similar problem with tree debris but that’s way easier than fixing algae.