Just refilled and testing, need advice please

[pabeader]

The trick is to Maintain until clear. That's the hardest part for a lot of folks. Clear is when you can see every little detail on whatever is on the bottom of the deepest part. I usually suggest a quarter dropped in the deepest part. If you can tell heads or tails, you're good.

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Here is an example: Cloudy pool

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The fact that it dropped that much overnight means it's still working on stuff. As you know from the SLaM instructions, more than 1 ppm lost overnight is considered significant.

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You have been brushing often, right? At least once or twice a day?

 

[nlindelldc]

You'll need to bring that FC back to up to 39+ continuously for awhile yet. Be sure to run your pump 24/7 and clean your filter cartridge EVERY DAY. That was the hardest part for me. Also, you need to brush the pool EVERY DAY also. I know it's a pain, but once you pass the OCLT it gets so much easier to maintain. Hang in there.

Don't worry about other water parameters until you get through the SLAM

 

[Unclenard]

Thanks! Only brushed it once yesterday. I go do that now and then add more bleach to bring it back up. Pump was on all night and still is, I'll leave it on until the SLAM is done. I work from home but have calls all day long, so I'll be running out in between calls as I can to maintain it.

 

[Unclenard]

With the rain I have been getting all day since last night, should I test the CYA level again or will it not be accurate during a SLAM?

 

[kimkats]

Your CYA will not change that much. The only thing to really watch during a SLAM is FC. Don't worry about anything else for right now.

Brushing and adding chlorine=clear pool!

I can really see a color difference already! Good work!

Kim

 

[Unclenard]

Ok, last night at 7:00 pm FC measured 41 and this morning at 8:30 am it measured 40. Here is a couple pictures from this morning, it is still raining some and overcast so the pictures aren't great.

 

[pabeader]

Wow. We can almost see the whites of his eyes! I looked at the link you have in your sig. Now that's what we want your pool to look like.

 

[Unclenard]

Even though the FC seemed to hold overnight well, I'm going to keep the levels up since it isn't completely clear yet. But it is continuing to get better.

Thanks everyone for all the help.

 

[pabeader]

Don't forget that there are 3 criteria for passing/stopping a SLaM.
Clear water. No visible algae anywhere.
<1 ppm loss overnight
<.5 ppm CC

 

[Unclenard]

I believe I'm meeting all 3 criteria now. My cell phone can't seem to take good pictures of the pool. The water is clear, the liner isn't white to make it look as clear as it really is. There are pebble sized dots on the bottom and they are very clear to see with my eyes but doesn't pickup with the camera.

What would be next steps?

 

[pabeader]

What are your current readings?

 

[Unclenard]

I've been maintaining the FC around 40.

 

[Unclenard]

What are your current readings?

Did you mean the FC level or to go ahead and do all the tests again?

 

[pabeader]

All tests, please. That way we know if you are close to done...

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Remember, this is clear: Cloudy pool

If you are passing all three criteria, then all you do now is let the FC drop to the proper level and then follow the maintenance routine.
Basic Pool Care Schedule

 

[Unclenard]

Yes the pool is as clear as it has ever been. My cell phone just isn't showing it well.

Will all the tests be accurate now or do I need to wait for the FC level to drop closer to normal levels first?

 

[pabeader]

pH is the only one that get wonky if FC is over 10. No real harm in waiting to until you get there. I wonder about your CYA level though, we need that to know what to let the FC to drop too.

 

[Unclenard]

FC = 25
CC = 0
TC = 25
TA = 210
CYA = 80
CH = 350
ph = 7.8

 

[pabeader]

As far as I'm concerned those look fine. Let the FC come down to 9 and then check pH again

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With a CYA of 80 the chart says target FC is 9
. That's where I got the number from.