Ready for the Slam and need guidance PLEASE.

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Pool Newbie!

Well-known member
Apr 11, 2019
48
Gadsden AL
Ok, so I have definitely been delayed with getting started on this due to unforeseen problems but hopefully I am ready to get started.
So just to give you a mental picture, the pool was left open and unattended all winter. It was a green swamp with lots of debris and critters in it. Have managed to remove all the debris that we can but still green and smells terrible. Ordered and received my TF100 test kit. Tested the water the first time 5/29/19 and this was the results:
PH - 8.2 (or higher -highest in registers)
Chlorine- 0 (because it didn't turn pink I didn't go further testing FC & CC)
CYA - 20 (or lower)
TA - 140
I used pool calculator and purchased Muratic Acid and Stabilizer,
On the evening of 5/29/19 at 7:30 pm with the filter going, I added 3qtrs and 2 cups of Muratic Acid to raise PH.
I poured 1 lb 11oz of stabilizer in 2 different socks, suspended 1 over return jet and put the other one in the skimmer.
Retested the pool 5/30/19 at 6:30 and these were the results:
PH - 7.5
Chlorine - 0
CYA - 20 (or lower) no change but stabilizer has not all dissolved.
TA - 130
CH - 100 (I didn't check this the first time)
I went at lunch today to test the CYA. All the stabilizer is now dissolved but the test showed no significant change. My daughter has been brushing down the walls and bottom of the pool several times today.
I was hoping the CYA level would be up and we could start the slam. I read it is not recommended at 20, to wait until 30-40. I also read not to test until the next day after stabilizer dissolves which would be tomorrow. Is this correct or can I go ahead and start adding bleach when I get off this evening?
I have probably gave way more info than needed but if I left something out let me know.
Please advise me, and step by step is appreciated because I am very new to this and teaching myself as I go.
 
You can start the SLAM. Assume the level you were targeting for CYA is in there.

Do me a favor, add 10 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine. Circulate / brush the pool and 15 minutes after adding the LC, test your FC and CC again. Post the results.
 
Adjust your pH to 7.2 prior to the step I requested. Do post here after you do the test. Then if OK you can go ahead and start the SLAM tonight.
 
Ok didn’t get home before dark last nt so started this morning.
Added 3lb ph down (Lowe’s was out of muriatic acid) to bring ph down to 7.2.
Brushed pool down.
Retested 30 min later and ph is 7.2
12:00 added 3 1/2 gal 6. Bleach. Kept brushing pool. 12:30 retested here are numbers
FC- 2.5
CC- 0.5
PH- 7.2
CYA- 20 still not registering any ?
I’m starting SLAM by adding 2 Gal 1 qt 3 cups 6% bleach.
Am I on the right track?
Please advice from here.
 
That was a quick drop in FC. Did you raise it back up to 10 ppm and test FC again in 15 minutes?
 
At 2:15 tested pool.
FC- 3.5
CC-1
Cya-20
According to pool calculator to get to shock level added 2 gal & 2 cups bleach. Brushing sides after. Will retest in an hour.
This is what it has started to look like since starting.
 

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From earlier post - Do me a favor, add 10 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine. Circulate / brush the pool and 15 minutes after adding the LC, test your FC and CC again. Post the results.
 
No, that is great. I just did not glean that from your earlier posts.

So, you need to continue that drill. Raise your FC to 10 ppm, circulate for 15 min, test FC, repeat until when you test your FC you get greater than 5 ppm remaining after 15 min.

Then you can add CYA to get to 30 ppm and SLAM.
 
mknauss said:
No, that is great. I just did not glean that from your earlier posts.

So, you need to continue that drill. Raise your FC to 10 ppm, circulate for 15 min, test FC, repeat until when you test your FC you get greater than 5 ppm remaining after 15 min.

Then you can add CYA to get to 30 ppm and SLAM.
Click to expand...
Ok so technically I am not slamming yet? And why do you think I’m still not showing any cya? Was it not good stabilizer? And so I need to go buy more? And is there a certain kind better than others?
 
It appears from your rapidly dropping FC that your pool has a bacteria that consumes CYA that results in ammonia. The CYA you just added may just need some time to increase to be readable. If still tests non detectable tomorrow, add 20 ppm CYA again.
 
mknauss said:
It appears from your rapidly dropping FC that your pool has a bacteria that consumes CYA that results in ammonia. The CYA you just added may just need some time to increase to be readable. If still tests non detectable tomorrow, add 20 ppm CYA again.
Click to expand...
Ok. Should I be vacuuming or backwashing or anything at this point?
Is it normal for it to be foaming and floating on top like in the pic? Do I get worse before better?
 
That is a sign of ammonia.

You may be in for a lot of chlorine to be consumed. With a liner pool you cannot drain. An exchange would work. Interested?
 
It is very likely you have ammonia in your pool. The ammonia is a by-product of bacteria that consumes CYA. If you add more CYA before you eliminate the ammonia you are basicly feeding the bacteria and producing more ammonia. The way to get rid of the bacteria and the ammonia is to slam the pool, however the FC is depleted much faster when it is killing bacteria and ammonia than when it is killing algae. As a result, you need to test the FC and dose the pool to 10ppm every 15 minutes until your rate of FC depletion slows down. It will take much longer to slam the pool when it has ammonia present if you only test and dose the pool every couple of hours. This is why we recommend the 15 minute test/dose cycle until the bacteria and ammonia are eliminated and the chlorine can then start working on clearing the algae bloom.
 
Ok so at 2:15 FC was 3.5
3:30 FC was 7
3:51 FC was 8.5
4:15 FC was 8.5
4:45 FC was 11
Since was over slam target of 10 waited and hour to check
5:45 FC was at 9
Using pool calculator I am adding bleach each time recommended to bring to 10 ppm.
I will go back to testing every 15 mins.
 

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