SLAM has plateaued/stains remain

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TXMagnolia

TXMagnolia

0
Aug 19, 2017
8
Austin/TX
Pool Size
18000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Our pool was stagnant since the TX ice/snow storm in February due to waiting on new (Polaris) pump. Temps warmed up in March and turned our pool into a swamp. I read up on threads and started my SLAM on April 10. I got water cleared up after a few days but am left with yellow-green splotchy staining all over the pool floor/walls. I’d been keeping FC at shock level according to CYA level (except yesterday); testing and adding bleach at least twice daily/more when able. I’m on day 12 of this and nothing is changing. I do still have CC of 1 and haven’t passed OCLT yet either. Is this normal for it to take this long? I’m concerned I may have mustard algae.
The stains do not brush away (with nylon or metal brush), I did a Vit C test with no change; I did a chlorine tab test with no distinct change-surprising because I really think it’s organic. There is some gritty substance on the Polaris/tubing and on tiles and it did fizz when I poured muriatic acid on it. What does this mean?? (Algae trapped in calcium?) And what should I do now?
I will try to attach pics.
 

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Forgot my readings:

FC 7 (I didn’t add bleach yesterday)
CC 2
pH 7.5 (tested today since I let FC get below 10)
TA 70
CYA 35
CH 325
Salt 2200 *I haven’t added any salt yet; have been using only bleach during SLAM. SWG is off currently.
 
CC of 2? That is extreme. Double check that ---

CYA of 40 (round up). Have you been holding 16 ppm FC?
 
Was the pH really high when you first tested it after letting it sit so long without chemistry maintenance?
 
pH was 8.5+ (best I can tell...off the charts) at first, but I brought it down to 7.5 prior to beginning SLAM.
I may have forgotten to half my CC; it’s been staying at 1.
CYA was closer to 30 than to 40. Was keeping FC at 16 initially (CYA 40 on April 10) but 14 the last week since CYA was lower.
This afternoon I dumped in bleach per my pool calculator to continue with SLAM...
 
Okay, will keep up with the SLAM. I have cleaned off my filters as needed during this process but we do have new ones ready to use also. I had planned to wait to change them out until done with SLAM...but maybe the old filters are part of the problem? Is it recommended to throw out “swamp” filters or should they be fine to keep-since whatever may be stin them should be dead?

Do you know what the scaling is that high pH could have caused? Do I need to treat that differently or just keep brushing etc during SLAM process?

I appreciate the feedback and support!
 
If the current filters are filtering, stay with them. Cartridge filters will last many years. Only reason to change them is if the filtering media becomes damaged or the end caps are deteriorated.

Hard to say on the scale. High pH can lead to scale if the CSI gets high enough. As you move forward, keep your CSI in -0.3 range and the scale should go back into solution.
 
I added CSI to my tracking. Currently -0.32. My CC was .5 today and I hadn’t lost FC so feeling good about that. Still continuing SLAM though.
Just to confirm, you don’t think I have mustard algae? (Which I think would require higher FC).
Thanks for advice on filters...kicking myself for disposing of some sooner than we likely needed to in the past.
 

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Read Mustard Algae - Trouble Free Pool
You follow the normal SLAM Process to its completion. Then you raise the FC to 60% of CYA level for 24 hours. 24 hours only.

I doubt what you have is mustard algae. You simply let the pool get overwhelmed with algae. It will take time to clear it. And lots of brushing.
 
Update: Here’s today’s results:
FC 10
CC 1
pH 8.5 (if accurate due to FC level)
CYA 30
CH 300
CSI -0.30
Temp 70

I started SLAM three weeks ago now. I basically paused shocking over the last few days due to multiple reasons...rainy weather, life and feeling my efforts are futile-three weeks feels like a long time to do this. Sigh. I feel like I am so close to completion but still have CC of 1. I have had a successful OCLT; but haven’t checked it this week (since CC remains). We had heavy rain yesterday so I tested today and am ready to get back at it.

My question is: should I continue to shock with current levels or should I begin to add salt/increase CYA etc.
My scaling looks a bit lighter; but is still present.
Anything else I should do/try?
 
Until the slam is over don't bother testing anything except for FC and CC. Slam and as the "M" stands for maintain. Taking a break during slam just sets it back some. One more ingredient is POP (pool owner patience). I may recommend backwashing filter too as it tends to speed things up a little at the end.
 
Taking breaks during SLAM just just makes the process longer. You have to stick with to see results, and that means frequent testing and bringing FC back to SLAM level. The more frequent, the better. Every 4 hours is good, every 2 or 3 hours is even better.

Also, I recommend you re-check your CYA to make sure you are using right FC target.

Check CYA outside in the sun, with sun behind you. Fill tube to first line, and quickly glance (not stare) to see if dot is visible. If so, fill to next line, glance in, and repeat. The line where dot is not visible at a glance is your CYA.
 
Ok, I accept the slap on the hand and will be patient and maintain my shock level FC. :)
I put in new filters today, so maybe that’ll help too. (Though I’m keeping the old ones per previous advice. They are only a couple years old and still intact).

Thanks!
 
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