I am just starting my second season as a pool owner and I have been reading around your site extensively. I have also read Pool School. I am so appreciative of the advice given here! I feel like I have finally found a place that offers truly reliable, scientifically-based advice, so thank you!
We bought our current home, with pool, last May. I followed pool store employee advice for my first year. As of last week, I now use only TFP as my guide on all pool issues.
So, I've been trying to get my pool up and running for almost 2 weeks now. Long long long story short, I am now in day 3 of the SLAM process using the recommended test kit and it has been going well. Here are my numbers and pool conditions:
Before starting SLAM:
FC: .39
TC: 2.29
CC: 1.9 (down from 8 earlier last week!)
pH: 7.2
Hardness: 156
Alk: 95
CYA: 53
Copper:0
Iron: .2
Phosphate: over 2283 (after one treatment already - no change)
3 Days into SLAM:
FC: 35
CC:.5
pool water is crystal clear
Here are my questions:
1. I tried OCLT and my FC was 25 at 11:30 last night with CC of 1, 40 minutes after adding 1 gal 8.25% bleach all around pool, as per PoolMath directions. I had to raise it from 17-21. My CC was 0 all day yesterday except for the last test, but we had rain in the evening, so I'm guessing that did it. In-line chlorinator has been empty since closing and there is no way for chlorine to get into my pool, except for that elusive chlorine fairy. Today, FC was 35. User error? Considering I've tested about 15 times in the last 3 days, I don't think it's that as much as 40 minutes wasn't enough time to circulate the bleach. So my main question is, do I have to maintain shock level of 21 all day today and assume I'm not done SLAMming so I can test again tonight? My second question has to do with my FC levels. I'm using PoolMath for all recommended dosages, however my FC rockets up 10-20 ppm over what it is supposed to and I'm not sure why.
2. CYA test: I'm using the pool store CYA results for now because my home CYA testing is not going well. They've been consistent within 5 points or so for the last 2 weeks. Yes, I've taken my water to the pool store 4 times since opening since my test kit wasn't here yet. I waited for the test kit to SLAM. When I did the test of the 50ppm sample, I got a reading of 25. I had my husband read the directions himself and do the test, and he got the same. I tested my pool water and got 35. I'm not sure what is going on there. Any advice?
Thank you so much!
We bought our current home, with pool, last May. I followed pool store employee advice for my first year. As of last week, I now use only TFP as my guide on all pool issues.
So, I've been trying to get my pool up and running for almost 2 weeks now. Long long long story short, I am now in day 3 of the SLAM process using the recommended test kit and it has been going well. Here are my numbers and pool conditions:
Before starting SLAM:
FC: .39
TC: 2.29
CC: 1.9 (down from 8 earlier last week!)
pH: 7.2
Hardness: 156
Alk: 95
CYA: 53
Copper:0
Iron: .2
Phosphate: over 2283 (after one treatment already - no change)
3 Days into SLAM:
FC: 35
CC:.5
pool water is crystal clear
Here are my questions:
1. I tried OCLT and my FC was 25 at 11:30 last night with CC of 1, 40 minutes after adding 1 gal 8.25% bleach all around pool, as per PoolMath directions. I had to raise it from 17-21. My CC was 0 all day yesterday except for the last test, but we had rain in the evening, so I'm guessing that did it. In-line chlorinator has been empty since closing and there is no way for chlorine to get into my pool, except for that elusive chlorine fairy. Today, FC was 35. User error? Considering I've tested about 15 times in the last 3 days, I don't think it's that as much as 40 minutes wasn't enough time to circulate the bleach. So my main question is, do I have to maintain shock level of 21 all day today and assume I'm not done SLAMming so I can test again tonight? My second question has to do with my FC levels. I'm using PoolMath for all recommended dosages, however my FC rockets up 10-20 ppm over what it is supposed to and I'm not sure why.
2. CYA test: I'm using the pool store CYA results for now because my home CYA testing is not going well. They've been consistent within 5 points or so for the last 2 weeks. Yes, I've taken my water to the pool store 4 times since opening since my test kit wasn't here yet. I waited for the test kit to SLAM. When I did the test of the 50ppm sample, I got a reading of 25. I had my husband read the directions himself and do the test, and he got the same. I tested my pool water and got 35. I'm not sure what is going on there. Any advice?
Thank you so much!
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