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We're pretty sure we dealt with algae late last year when our pool was installed because we have massive amount of boatman and backswimmers. We ended the year with an extended SLAM but not sure we ever completed it successfully before closing the pool for the winter. Water was very clear when we...

Northeast Nebraska. Been an unusually cool spring with average high temps in the 60s. Opened pool 5 days ago. Water has been between 45 and 50 degrees. Vacuumed a few times so far and the brownish dust keeps re-accumulating in patches at the bottom of pool. They poof away with brush. We...

Thanks. Could the pump being above the filter cause any other problems? Or is it ok to leave it that way?

Opened pool yesterday with new pump/filter positioning. Last year (our first year) the pump and filter were both placed on the ground right next to the pool. Ideal filter reading was about 12psi. Now that our deck has been constructed, we have the pump set on a framed box just below the deck...

Thanks for the feedback. We addressed the pH right away when we realized how high it was. We've brought it back down to 7.2 with MA. Alkalinity though, has been a constant battle for us. We started very high (250+) when pool was originally filled. We're now down to 150 but obviously a long...

Thanks for the response. We have passed the OCLT a few times since starting the classic SLAM almost a week and a half ago. Also very minimal CC readings. Down to zero lately. Only requirement not me is clear water. There continues to be a little dead algae on the floor daily. Would love to...

I'm back. Yep its the bug guy again with an update and asking for more advice. Here's a rundown of our situation... Started with BUGS...lots of them. Huge invasions of backswimmers and boatman. Have been relying on Dawn Dish Soap to continually kill them. Lots of white/gray powdery...

We just tested CYA again and it's looking closer to 40 now. Must have just taken time to register on the test. Will bump Chlorine now.

We added about 4lbs earlier through sock in skimmer and hanging in front of skimmer. We finished that sock as SLAM was starting. We also broadcast some over the top. It mostly just pooled on the floor and most of it was sucked up during vacuuming and removed through backwash process.

Thanks for the reply. We never actually installed our ladder this year as our deck is still being built around he pool. We've only swum in it a few times so no toys or anything has remained in the pool. So the algae can only be on walls, floor, skimmer and jet. We had no idea about CYA til a...

Last CYA test was 25 pH before SLAM was 7.2 TA before SLAM was 140 these were using TF-100 Since filling the pool, the pool store test has showed really high phosphates. One pool store guy said we can just address that next spring. Other recommended PhosFree which we've used a few times. Any...

No ladder, toys or floats in the water. Trying to keep skimmer as clean as possible. But even if we miss a spot, shouldn't the chlorine be killing it? Latest test was late morning today. FC: 15 CC: 0.0 We have not been testing pH as we understand it to be unreliable at SLAM levels of...

Ugh. We started our SLAM on Tuesday night of this week. Still do not have a great handle on our CYA but we've been seeing readings from lows 20s to mid 30s. We've tried to err on the side of caution with FC and have been trying to keep it at 15 the last couple of days. Wednesday night we saw...

This is reassuring to know. Thanks for reaching out. Finding this site has eased our stress quite a bit but we're still very in edge thinking we'll have a never ending bug issue. I'm hoping the timing of our install is the main issue. Filled late August followed by a lot of heat. Had no idea...

Sorry but we've destroyed all the evidence. 😂

Thanks. We've been doing our testing inside with good lighting. Should the CYA test be done outside?

We received our TF-100 on Saturday. We've been trying to bring the CYA up for a more effective SLAM. Finally had it up to what we thought was 30 so we started our SLAM last night with a target of 14 FC. Then this afternoon we tested CYA again and thought we were closer to 35. So we rounded up to...

3 bags oxidizing shock: Potassium monopersulfate 45% Winter Guard 35: no ingredients but says its catatonic flocculent Metal Out: again no ingredients. Large floater we are supposed to poke holes in and drop in water. Looks like 10+ 2 in tablets in it.

Before finding TFP we purchased a Winter Closing Kit from Doheny's. From their website: Kit #3- for pools up to 35,000 gallons. Includes Doheny's Metal Out ultimate stain, rust, and scale preventer, Doheny's Winter Guard 35 algae control, Doheny's Oxidizing Shock, and Winter Oxidizing...

Unfortunately we broadcast the stabilizer over the water per the package instructions so now its dissolving on the pool floor. We are trying to keep it swept as much as possible. Should we vac up the remaining granules?

Our bout with Boatman and Backswimmers has taught us we definitely have algae in our pool. Nothing green or visibly attached to the walls or floor, but light colored powdery deposits on the floor that slowly turn brown (dead algae?). We've only had our TF-100 test kit for a few days and have...

None overhanging but a few around.

Yikes. That is good to know. Since we got our pool, I've been worried about damaging the liner with too much chlorine. Is that a myth or something we need to consider when slamming?

We really appreciate all your help. Want to mention it is really dry in our area and crops are being harvested all around us. The air is very dusty and blowing around a lot. So I'm thinking there is also a lot of dust and debris flying into the pool making it tough for us determine when the...

We have not seen any algae attached to the walls and we are just assuming the powdery deposits that gather on the floor is dead algae but we are not sure

We are using the TF-100 kit. Just got it yesterday though.

Thank you for responding. This makes sense. But the confusing part is the OCLT. Shouldn't we have seen a loss in free coloring if we're dealing with algae?