Pool still green after a month of SLAMing.

[Axil]

I had to replace my pump this year so the pool got pretty bad before I could start cleaning it.

I have a CYA of 20 and have kept the FC between 12 and 20 since the end of June. Starting PH is 7.4 but my pool is still green.

It does seem to be slowly getting better i can see the bottom now but at this rate I'm still looking at weeks to go. What am I doing wrong?

I'm using the Taylor test kit to get my readings

 

[reggiehammond]

You should consider logging results in pool math so we can see your results.

How often do you dose chlorine and how often are you testing? Which Taylor kit - the 2006C?

If you're dosing and testing 1-2x a day on a really bad pool, then SLAM could take a while. If you can get to where you test and dose 5-6x daily, you'll speed up process.

Work to fill out your signature - I'm going to guess you have a sand filter? They're the slowest to resolve heavy algae debris.

Also can you share a photo of current status? Green/brown tint can also be a side effect of heavy iron and high FC.

PoolMath
SLAM Process
Test Kits Compared

 

[Axil]

I'm only able to dose once or twice a day. However it's been weeks since the pool ever went under slam level (12 FC). I've been bring it up to 15-20 and it drops to around 12 in 24h

And yes I'm using the 2006c. I have another one coming as yesterday I used the last of my FC test powder and the CYA regents have been out for a couple weeks.

I'll look into linking all my info to my account later, for now here is a pic:

*edit* And yes I have a sand filter. Shouldn't the slam kill the algae though even without removing it I don't understand why it's still green and not white or brown.

 

[reggiehammond]

How large of a pool? Perhaps draining and removing the existing water can get you a leg up.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Looks like active algae growing on those stairs. I would do the following:
1. Double/triple check your CYA number when you get your refills. Its odd to me that you would still have active algae growing on surfaces after being at the SLAM level for several weeks.

2. Stairs are notorious hiding spots for algae. Can you remove them and also check any other hiding spots for algae?

 

[reggiehammond]

*edit* And yes I have a sand filter. Shouldn't the slam kill the algae though even without removing it I don't understand why it's still green and not white or brown.

Yes - SLAM works with a sand filter. With sand, however, you can see slower results later in the process, specifically when dead cells are being removed, making the water more visually clear.

Your pool - man, I'd have thought you were wanting to start SLAM, not that were already in it!

What are you using to raise FC levels? Liquid chlorine? Any chance it's really old?
I'm just surprised it's still THAT green!

 

[Axil]

Thanks for the replies.

I can't remove the stairs without taking 16 bolts out of the deck and getting at least one person in the pool with one or two people ok the deck to help lift... I hate these stairs. I did brush them really well just now. I thought it was just dirt but maybe it was algae there causing problems.

Under the stairs is a bigger problem. The only way to get debris out of there is someone blowing them out with a hose while in the pool. And it's still difficult.

I am on a well and can't refill more than a couple inches before having to let the well rest for a few hours.

Pic of stairs post cleaning:

 

[Axil]

Your pool - man, I'd have thought you were wanting to start SLAM, not that were already in it!

What are you using to raise FC levels? Liquid chlorine? Any chance it's really old?
I'm just surprised it's still THAT green!

Yeah me too, hence my frustration.

I've used the SLAM system before and it never took more than a week or so to either be done or at least *much* better than that.

It is slowly getting better. The first week my sand filter was clogging every hour or so, and it was hard to see my hand if I was wrist deep in the water.

Now my filter only has to backwash every few days. Still I was figuring worst case the pool would be brown and full of dead algae by now. I don't understand how anything can survive when the pool spends weeks over SLAM levels.

And I'm using liquid chlorine that's new plus the Taylor kit gives expected FC

 

[reggiehammond]

I know this isn't helpful now - but you don't need a pump to keep FC levels in check. You can simply add chlorine, push a brush through the water to agitate some and you're done. A small $50 sump pump can also be dropped in the pool with a water hose pushing water to the other side of pool, etc.

You might inquire with a water hauling service - might still be financially better to dump water and refill given how far it appears you still have (chlorine $$.)

 

[Bperry]

Yeah me too, hence my frustration.

I've used the SLAM system before and it never took more than a week or so to either be done or at least *much* better than that.

It is slowly getting better. The first week my sand filter was clogging every hour or so, and it was hard to see my hand if I was wrist deep in the water.

Now my filter only has to backwash every few days. Still I was figuring worst case the pool would be brown and full of dead algae by now. I don't understand how anything can survive when the pool spends weeks over SLAM levels.

And I'm using liquid chlorine that's new plus the Taylor kit gives expected FC

Your CYA should be at 30ppm for a SLAM. It may be that the FC is burning off too fast because you’re low on stabilizer. How sure are you of the 20ppm number? The Taylor test only goes down to 20ppm.

 

[Axil]

Yeah I definitely should have just dumped chlorine in earlier. In didn't anticipate I'd be looking at a month+ to clear the water. It's been really nasty before and the SLAM process has always cleared it in a reasonable amount of time if I stayed on top of the FC.

I may look into paying for water. It was pretty expensive when I had to do it before and I need to make sure they have an extra long hose as it's a really long run from the driveway to the pool and the truck can't get any closer because of how my yard is.

Was able to find 12% chlorine for 6$ a gallon which is helpful since I was paying g 4-5$ for 6-7.5% before

 

[Axil]

Your CYA should be at 30ppm for a SLAM. It may be that the FC is burning off too fast because you’re low on stabilizer. How sure are you of the 20ppm number? The Taylor test only goes down to 20ppm.

The Taylor test was registering 0 CYA so I manually added enough to get it to 20. I didn't have enough regents to repeat the test. I've ordered more now.

I did use strips and they are registering 0 CYA I know they are inaccurate but I would think if the CYA was actually higher than 20-30 I should get *some* indication on the strip.

I would think the sun was a problem but I don't actually see a big FC drop most days.

I scraped out the rest of my powder to do one more FC test today and got a 9 which is the lowest I've seen it in over two weeks now.

 

[RLP]

You need to follow the slam process. The closer that you follow the process, the better your results will be.

Those stairs will need to come out, and be cleaned inside and out.I doubt youll ever eradicate the algae with them in the pool.

 

[Axil]

You need to follow the slam process. The closer that you follow the process, the better your results will be.

Those stairs will need to come out, and be cleaned inside and out.I doubt youll ever eradicate the algae with them in the pool.

I'm not sure which part of the process I'm not following. That's why I posted here. I reread the SLAM article. The only thing I might be doing differently is adding more chlorine than required.

As far as the stairs go I can't be the only person with permanent stairs. I realize it's not an ideal situation but I have managed to turn green water clear plenty of times with the stairs in the pool.

The stairs are screwed directly into the wooden deck and filled with over 100lbs of sand.

 

[Mdragger88]

The stairs are screwed directly into the wooden deck and filled with over 100lbs of sand.

The fact they are filled with sand is the problem- if they need to be weighed down use sealed external weights.
If water can go there algae can thrive there - they gotta come out if you want this to end. They are the epicenter.
Can you use a shop vac to suck the sand out of them so you can move them?
I unscrew & re screw my steps to the deck each season so I can remove them & clean them.

 

[Axil]

I didn't think algae could grow without sunlight.. how is the sand in the interior of my steps different from the sand in my filter?

 

[aussieta]

I didn't think algae could grow without sunlight.. how is the sand in the interior of my steps different from the sand in my filter?

the sand in your filter is constantly "washed" with chlorinated water
the sand in the steps is static

 

[Bperry]

I'm not sure which part of the process I'm not following. That's why I posted here. I reread the SLAM article. The only thing I might be doing differently is adding more chlorine than required.

As far as the stairs go I can't be the only person with permanent stairs. I realize it's not an ideal situation but I have managed to turn green water clear plenty of times with the stairs in the pool.

The stairs are screwed directly into the wooden deck and filled with over 100lbs of sand.

I might add another 10ppm of stabilizer, the SLAM process says 30 minimum doesn’t it?

 

[Axil]

I might add another 10ppm of stabilizer, the SLAM process says 30 minimum doesn’t it?

Yeah I will after I am able to get a retest ajd confirm (regents coming monday) I was conservative when I added the cya because I know it's not somthing that's easy to get rid of.

Unless I've missed something though thr only consequence of low CYA us the rate the sun eats through the FC. Since I've been able to maintain a high FC confirmed by testing I'm not sure how that could delay the process.

I'm starting to wonder if my CYA regents being old is why it read zero and maybe I have a higher CYA number than intended that would make sense why the pool improves but very slowly. My strips still don't react to the CYA at all but maybe they are just that bad.

As far as the stairs go I don't see any practical way to get the sand out. Sand is what was recommended on the instructions for the steps.

I had to take the stairs out once before and it was an awful experience. It took three people and the weight water and sand broke the feet off and I had to repair the whole thing. It's not somthing I'm willing to do every year.

 

[Mdragger88]

It would be a one time deal & then weigh the steps down differently with sealed weights that are removable individually.
What steps do you have?