Brand new pool - needs to be SLAMMED but using SWG for first time

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JessB412

JessB412

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Aug 17, 2018
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Mars Hill, NC (western NC near Asheville)
Ok .....So I am in the final steps of using our pool from the pool build from heck which I can share at another time. Bottom line — our pool was finished and admired for 2 whole weeks and we closed late October and bc we could not swim we did not add salt and just kept clean and balanced based on chlorine. We have a circupool RJ-45. We are finally officially open today after trying to open 2 weeks ago when it was crystal clear to only find our heat pump (brand new) was defective and now I’ve got a scummy pool and zero chlorine. Not thinking about slamming and focusing on getting our salt chlorinator going i added 10 of the 14 bags it’ll probably need (I was told to go less than we think we need and add slowly from there). So should I get the SWG working and then vase SLAM calculations off that chart? Now I’m realizing I should have slammed it and then focused on salt but too late now. These were our test results today. I will test salt tomorrow to see where we are at with PPM but just a few hours after adding salt it was at 3200PPM.

pH: 7.2
FC: zero
CYA: 35
Any feedback for a TOTAL newbie? Am I on the right track of getting SWG going first and then slam? Can I do both at the same time?

oh And we are using Borax and the pool ppl said we should be using soda ash and borax could harm our pool? I plan on using up our borax for now and then switching unless I hear otherwise from you guys. IMO this forum is like my Pool Bible and I have WAY more faith in all of you than anyone else lol ?.

can’t wait to post some pics and actually be able to help others some day instead of being so needy!

pss Pic is of my girls getting in dirty pool that was FREEZING bc they literally coulnt stand it anymore ? just sharing for fun
 

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Ps I also realize we probably won’t need more salt if PPM stays there tomorrow ...apparently our pool is smaller than I realized? It’s 3.5’ to 5.5’ 18 x36 vinyl with bench. I thought it was just under 22k gallons...I put salt in for 15,000gal pool and got that reading. If it is 3000pm tomorrow I guess I turn on SWG and start SLAM process?
 
If the pool is cloudy and you need to follow the SLAM Process, leave your CYA where it is and use liquid chlorine. I assume you have your own test kit. If so, put what you are using in your signature.
If you tested your CYA, then round up to 40 ppm. Use SLAM level FC of 16 ppm.

Why are you adding borax? It is rare that pool water pH lowers. It is fine to use. Soda Ash is a big hammer. It will really raise your TA.
What is your TA?
 
Hi. You are not going to want to use your SWG for the SLAM. In a SLAM you are essentially super chlorinating the pool for an extended period of time. Trying to maintain your SLAM FC with the SWG will put too much strain on it. So just use liquid Chlorine. Also you are going to want to keep the SWG off when you do your OCLT for obvious reasons. you are trying to see if the pool has no algae using the CL and can make it through the night with no loss. Running your SWG at the same time will skew the results. Then use the SWG to maintain your chlorine levels once your SLAM is done.
 
mknauss said:
If the pool is cloudy and you need to follow the SLAM Process, leave your CYA where it is and use liquid chlorine. I assume you have your own test kit. If so, put what you are using in your signature.
If you tested your CYA, then round up to 40 ppm. Use SLAM level FC of 16 ppm.

Why are you adding borax? It is rare that pool water pH lowers. It is fine to use. Soda Ash is a big hammer. It will really raise your TA.
What is your TA?
Click to expand...


I think last year we just bought every chemical we thought we could possibly need lol (again my inexperience shining through). I remember reading in pool school you could choose either and for whatever reason we went with Borax to have on hand. Oh, and TA was 50. So I'm just going to add liquid chlorine until it tests 16 ppm. I will re-read SLAM process with that in mind too. And according to mguzzy I leave off the SWG until pool FC is stable (along with other readings). Correct?
 
mguzzy said:
Hi. You are not going to want to use your SWG for the SLAM. In a SLAM you are essentially super chlorinating the pool for an extended period of time. Trying to maintain your SLAM FC with the SWG will put too much strain on it. So just use liquid Chlorine. Also you are going to want to keep the SWG off when you do your OCLT for obvious reasons. you are trying to see if the pool has no algae using the CL and can make it through the night with no loss. Running your SWG at the same time will skew the results. Then use the SWG to maintain your chlorine levels once your SLAM is done.
Click to expand...


OK so no SWG until SLAM is complete. And still learning -- what does OCLT mean again? And here I was all excited I thought I had all the acronyms down lol Is SLAM complete once we go 24 hours with FC staying stable?
 
JessB412 said:
OK so no SWG until SLAM is complete. And still learning -- what does OCLT mean again? And here I was all excited I thought I had all the acronyms down lol Is SLAM complete once we go 24 hours with FC staying stable?
Click to expand...
Slam is complete when the water is crystal clear (no visible algae), CCs test 1 or less, and OCLT is passed (FC is stable overnight when no sun is on it).
 
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mguzzy said:
Here is the link... . Overnight Chlorine Loss Test its a requirement of a successful SLAM

BTW... Isn't it fun to learn new acronyms, OMG, LOL.
Click to expand...


So that link was super helpful and I re-watched SLAM on the TFP-TV. I LOVE those videos -- so simple and straight forward. It actually feels good using my brain again. I left teaching Math so I could raise my girls (and I homeschool) and in all honesty its been a decade since I've learned something new (like a new skill). I'm really excited to learn and master this pool thing. I never thought I'd actually own one and this was a "bucket list" type of thing for me. I will punch in the face the next person that says to me "Oh you're going to hate it -- they are so much work" lol. Well maybe not but I will smile and imagine doing so and not think of them again as I float around on my Tubey ;) Now if I see another pool contractor running away with all my money.....then I really may end up violent. Ok, my rant is over. Thank you both for helping me feel confident and starting this process!! I'll return back with either my success picture or crying for more help!
 
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JessB412 said:
...I will punch in the face the next person that says to me "Oh you're going to hate it -- they are so much work" lol. ...
Click to expand...
And yes maintaining a pool is a lot if work, if you don't know what you're doing...and its expensive if you follow what most chain pool stores say. This site provides a lot of good info to take the mystery out of it...

We like before and after pics!
 
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ok folks -- dare I say I think SLAM is over after 1 day. Yesterday we thoroughly brushed, manually cleaned, and then used robot for pool. The water was cloudy (could not see bottom drains in 5.5 depth) but was not green just murky blue. We SLAMmed b/c the reading was 0 FC so it would make sense I think that it would only take 1 day right? We did test it at 4pm and 7:30pm yesterday including CC which was 0.5ppm and FC was 17.

TODAY here are all the results from early morning (before sun hit) test:
FC: 19 (is that possible -- user error? -- but definitely didn't go down)
CC: 0.5 (same as last night)
pH: way off scale so higher than 8.2 (I guessed 8.4 for test input data on app)
TA: 70
CH: 25 (did just b/c I haven't done it since last year and wanted to update but I have vinyl pool so my understanding is not to worry about this)
CYA: 30 (and really we got to 20 and I could still see a cloudy eye --- I hate this test lol I always feel like I'm doing something wrong or my CYA is crazy low which is possible)
SALT:3400 ppm
Water temp: 49 degrees F -- (and I turned on my heat pump today -- should I turn that off while water is balancing or is it okay to do corrections from SLAM with it on?)
Water clarity: CRYSTAL CLEAR!!!

So next step I'm guessing is to correct CYA by adding stabalizer in a sock correct? The app is telling me 7lbs ish but we were going to do 5lbs and test again so we don't overshoot anything since you can't correct CYA once it's too high. I'm assuming FC will come down on it's own over the next few days or should I be correcting that too? We are lined up for 3 sunny days ahead. On that note --- I have a VERY anxious family to try this baby out (2 years from signed contract to us right now) thus why I threw on heater and trying to get it swimmable for Sunday. When is it SAFE to swim in? The FC is what I'm assuming dictates that....not sure..

Lastly, I know we don't need to produce chlorine yet but we were thinking we should now turn on the salt chlorinator and it will just kick on when readings fall to where it needs to produce chlorine? Or should we wait until we are back in the more normal range of FC? post some pics soon too!
 
Yeah, you can swim at slam levels. You just need to see the bottom of the pool for safety reasons. Let the FC drop, It will be perfect by Sunday. And start adding CYA, it takes a day or so to dissolve and register on a test. And your strategy of adding about 3/4 of what you estimate to keep from over shooting is a sound idea.
Wait until the FC falls back in range before you turn on the SWG. It can detect your salinity, but not FC.
Well done
 
So, you said you used to teach math and miss using that part of your brain?.. well here's a little assignment for you. I did this with my pool and it really gives you some insight as to how the pool "lives" yes, (which is an ironic term, since SLAMing is actually killing everything in it. ;)). See how the chemicals balance with respect to each other.and whatnot.

When you start adding the CYA test your water for FC and CYA and regular increments. You decide the interval based on your patience for doing mini science data collection and chasing your kids. And log the results in a spread sheet so you can make some graphs. I did this with my pool one year after a rough winter and opening to a green mess and bringing it back to "life". I added the CYA incrementally (maybe a pound at a time) would let the addition stabilize and watched my FC adjust accordingly. There is a sweet spot that you will find where your FC retention will peak for a particular CYA, %SWG output and pump runtime. That is where you want to maintain for your pool.
 
mguzzy said:
Yeah, you can swim at slam levels. You just need to see the bottom of the pool for safety reasons. Let the FC drop, It will be perfect by Sunday. And start adding CYA, it takes a day or so to dissolve and register on a test. And your strategy of adding about 3/4 of what you estimate to keep from over shooting is a sound idea.
Wait until the FC falls back in range before you turn on the SWG. It can detect your salinity, but not FC.
Well done
Click to expand...

answers I needed! Thank you! I had a feeling we should delay CYA until FC was down but I wasn’t sure.
 
mguzzy said:
So, you said you used to teach math and miss using that part of your brain?.. well here's a little assignment for you. I did this with my pool and it really gives you some insight as to how the pool "lives" yes, (which is an ironic term, since SLAMing is actually killing everything in it. ;)). See how the chemicals balance with respect to each other.and whatnot.

When you start adding the CYA test your water for FC and CYA and regular increments. You decide the interval based on your patience for doing mini science data collection and chasing your kids. And log the results in a spread sheet so you can make some graphs. I did this with my pool one year after a rough winter and opening to a green mess and bringing it back to "life". I added the CYA incrementally (maybe a pound at a time) would let the addition stabilize and watched my FC adjust accordingly. There is a sweet spot that you will find where your FC retention will peak for a particular CYA, %SWG output and pump runtime. That is where you want to maintain for your pool.
Click to expand...

oh this does sound fun and my 9 year old will love this too!
 
JessB412 said:
answers I needed! Thank you! I had a feeling we should delay CYA until FC was down but I wasn’t sure.
Click to expand...
No don't delay the CYA, start putting that in now... the CYA helps protect the chlorine from the sun degrading it. Delay turning on the SWG until the FC comes down. Just making sure.

BTW: Nice looking pool, good looking kids and beautiful setting.
 
ok so just put in CYA -- I misunderstood -- ok CYA is in -- question we tried a new way of putting it in (I couldn't find an old sock and I was rushing and we used plant baskets you use for ponds we had on hand and ziptied them together. I noticed some stabilizer fell through basket and is sitting at bottom of pool ...is that okay or do I have to go make my husband swirl that around until it dissolves lol ...

Just tested water this evening
FC: 5.5
pH: 7.5

Another question: Put CYA in for overnight -- will recheck cya tomrrow evening since you said it needs to be 24 hours. I did turn on my salt chlorinator although I have no idea how that works or where I should set it. Hopefully in a month I'll be a "pro". I do have more chlorine if I need to add tomorrow if salt chlorinator doesn't produce fast enough since it will be in direct sunlight all day and I didn't put CYA in until now. Yes? or just ramp up salt chlorinator (there is a "super chlorinate" feature -- again I still have to do my reading on this machine.

Thanks it is pretty and I'm grateful for my spot. However, I'm super anxious to put jewelry on my pool (plants) lol ....Although I'm SUPER grateful for today --- it's the FIRST official day all things are functioning on my pool and I have HOPE I will be swimming this summer lol ..Do you know how many pool toys we have collected in the last 1.5 years of this build? Once I'm chilling by the pool relaxing this summer I will make some posts of what I have learned along the way from this build in hopes to help others who are doing a new build.
 
You should sweep the CYA stuff around. I'm told it can stain, but it as never done that in my pool. The reason for the socks, is so you can squeeze the socks and the dissolved CYA will go into solution. The stuff takes is slow to dissolve so that is why this techniques speeds it up a bit. I'm not sure how you can "squish it" while it is in a basket. And never follow the directions on the container. Dumping it in your skimmer will just clog up the works.

Yeah, at least overnight. You will see it CYA concentration level off in your tests.
 
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