Long SLAM now this

[Sierra54]

I see those solar ring things in your avatar pic-have u cleaned them?
Did u lower fc back to normal levels? Did the spots get worse or stay the same?

I only use the rings when the temps start to drop. I don't think they help.

I've been trying to maintain slam levels but it's been hard to while working and the temp is upper 90s to100 now. I still get little dusting of light brown along the seams and in little dead zones along the perimeter of the liner at the bottom. Water remains crystal clear.

I plan to get a new baseline chemical readings at sunset when done filling the pool back up. Will resume SLAM based off these new numbers.

Not sure what to do if the sand filter deep clean doesn't help.

 

[Mdragger88]

Have you read this?

Mustard Algae

Today We are going to show you how you can get rid of mustard algae in your pool. By following the steps in this guide and with no expensive chemicals.

www.google.com

I had similar trouble & when I increased to Mustard Algae slam level it turned grey, I vacuumed it to waste & it never returned.
I maintained mustard algae min for a while after the 24hrs of MA slam level was over to be sure I was in the clear.

 

[Orion7319]

The weir door just pries out with a flathead screwdriver. Those slits in it on each side allow the tab to pop out. Just pry on one side gently. Sand filters take a long time to filter dead algae. You can use a bit of DE in you sand instead of clarifier. It usually is a cup or two depending on the size of the filter. Works just as well as any clarifier would, and it doesn’t make the sand in your filter sticky.

Add DE to a Sand Filter

A clean pool filter will increase the efficiency of your pool! ... your filter are to backwash it, clean the manifolds and grids, and add new DE.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[MOpoolattendant]

I only use the rings when the temps start to drop. I don't think they help.

I've been trying to maintain slam levels but it's been hard to while working and the temp is upper 90s to100 now. I still get little dusting of light brown along the seams and in little dead zones along the perimeter of the liner at the bottom. Water remains crystal clear.

I plan to get a new baseline chemical readings at sunset when done filling the pool back up. Will resume SLAM based off these new numbers.

Not sure what to do if the sand filter deep clean doesn't help.

Following this as I have exact same problem only do not have SWG

 

[Mdragger88]

Following this as I have exact same problem only do not have SWG

The SLAM Process is the same for manually chlorinated pools & swg pools,
As the swg isn’t really in the equation during slam. It is only for daily fc maintenance of target values on the FC/CYA Levels.
If u have questions about your particular situation, feel free to start your own thread to get personalized advice

 

[Sierra54]

After deep cleaning the sand filter I resumed the SLAM but now at mustard algae levels. I vacuumed the pool and cleaned every surface including inside the skimmers and behind the light fixtures. I also retested the water and got the following.

FC 13.5
CH 125
TA 70
CYA 40
CC 0.5
SALT 5000

Cl
pH. Did not test due to high FC.

I am trying to keep FC above 24 but having a hard time today due to full sun and temps in upper 90s. Did not see the usual dusting of algae along the seams and dead zones along the liner floor. Maybe 1 or 2 little dime sized spots.

 

[Sierra54]

After deep cleaning the sand filter I resumed the SLAM but now at mustard algae levels. I vacuumed the pool and cleaned every surface including inside the skimmers and behind the light fixtures. I also retested the water and got the following.

FC 13.5
CH 125
TA 70
CYA 40
CC 0.5
SALT 5000

Cl
pH. Did not test due to high FC.

I am trying to keep FC above 24 but having a hard time today due to full sun and temps in upper 90s. Did not see the usual dusting of algae along the seams and dead zones along the liner floor. Maybe 1 or 2 little dime sized spots.

I left the light fixtures unscrewed from the wall so SLAM water would circulate behind them.. While messing with these, it looks like there may be algae behind the lenses of the 2 lights. I'm going to pull up the lights and try to clean behind the lenses. I have a couple O-rings but want to order a few back ups. Not sure what size I will need for these lights.

 

[Sierra54]

I left the light fixtures unscrewed from the wall so SLAM water would circulate behind them.. While messing with these, it looks like there may be algae behind the lenses of the 2 lights. I'm going to pull up the lights and try to clean behind the lenses. I have a couple O-rings but want to order a few back ups. Not sure what size I will need for these lights.

I have removed the lens covers from the lights and cleaned every inch of the pool. I still can't pass an ONCLT even at mustard level slam. Out of liquid shock. Ready to call this summer a failure.

 

[IceShadow]

Skimmer checked? Weir door? Any ladder or main drain?

No reason to raise FC to mustard levels. And you can swim while at normal SLAM level so long as you can see the pool bottom.

 

[Sierra54]

Skimmer checked? Weir door? Any ladder or main drain?

No reason to raise FC to mustard levels. And you can swim while at normal SLAM level so long as you can see the pool bottom.

I tore everything apart to clean this thing. I took off the skimmer doors, removed the main drain covers and cleaned inside the drain, behind the lights, removed light lenses and cleaned algae from there, deep cleaned the sand filter, cleaned the umbrella post hole in the sun deck. I brushed and vacuumed the pool all summer. I have no idea why I can't pass an ONCLT.

While during the slam I am brushing at least 2 times daily and frequently vacuumed before bed. I would brush every surface. I just can't figure out where any additional algae may be hiding.

 

[IceShadow]

How badly is it failing? What is the before and after?

 

[Sierra54]

How badly is it failing? What is the before and after?

FC would typically drop by 1 point each night.

Would a dead tree overhanging our backyard be causing this? It has already dropped most of its leaves. But could it be dropping spores or other small particles that may be consuming chlorine? It is not directly over the pool but is 20-30 ft tall and is close. Any leaves that fall in are promptly removed.

 

[IceShadow]

No, not enough to cause any significant FC drop.

That said, 1ppm loss is within testing error range. Your call but if you want you could call it done and go to maintenance levels. Be careful not to left FC ever get down to minimum level for your CYA.

If your daily FC consumption seems out of whack it might be worth another OCLT.

To confirm you are testing the night before after sundown and in the morning before dawn right? No sun at all even indirect on the pool? No UV system on the pool or anything?

 

[Sierra54]

No, not enough to cause any significant FC drop.

That said, 1ppm loss is within testing error range. Your call but if you want you could call it done and go to maintenance levels. Be careful not to left FC ever get down to minimum level for your CYA.

If your daily FC consumption seems out of whack it might be worth another OCLT.

To confirm you are testing the night before after sundown and in the morning before dawn right? No sun at all even indirect on the pool? No UV system on the pool or anything?

I have been testing for ONCL at night when it is completely dark, around 11 or midnight, then in the morning when it's getting light out but the sun is not visible in the sky.

It's the combination of the chlorine loss and the dusting of algae along the seams of the liner each morning that makes me worried to go to maintenance levels and raise cya.

Thank you.

 

[IceShadow]

The algae dusting is more concerning for sure. It has to be hiding somewhere. Brushed around the return jets and where they meet the liner?

 

[Sierra54]

The algae dusting is more concerning for sure. It has to be hiding somewhere. Brushed around the return jets and where they meet the liner?

Went outside to look around the jets with the lights on and a flashlight. Pump was off and the water was calm. No algea around the jets. I unscrewed the jet directional nozzle and it is clean behind this and around the inside of the jet.

My guess is algae is hiding behind the faceplate of the skimmer where it meets the liner. I think there is a foam gasket between the plastic skimmer faceplate and the liner so I can't be positive if I am seeing a dusting of old foam or algae when I angle a nylon brush to try to clean there. However I do brush this also while SLAMming the pool.

I'm afraid to remove the faceplate because someone had noted that this may let water get behind the liner and cause a bigger problem.

I stopped adding liquid chlorine and am just running the swg at 70% for about 14 hours each day and my FC had slowly dropped to 6.5ppm. Cya was 30 at last check.

Not sure where to go from here. Also HOA is having the dead tree removed this weekend and they want the cover back on the pool while it's behind cut down.

Will algea lie dormant on the mesh cover, as it was a swamp when we opened it this year?

 

[IceShadow]

You can run the pump with the cover on and just undo one corner to add liquid chlorine if the cover needs to be on before the pool is actually closed. The cover might cut down on daytime consumption too.

I wouldn't remove the faceplate of the skimmer. Just brush out the best you can as you are.

I would try running normal FC levels and see what you have to have your SWG set at to maintain FC levels for your CYA. Does the 28 mean it's rated for a 28k pool?