5th Weeks of Chemicals - 2 Week SLAM and Deep End Still Cloudy

[Eredwood]

Did you use the fas dpd test? (Where you do powder then drops)
If not use that one.
The first result is FC the 2nd result is CC
The total of the two is TC.
Your cya counts as 40 (no inbetweens on the test, always round up).
*Lower your ph to 7.2
*Then bring fc up to 16ppm & maintain that as often as possible (test & replenish every couple hours if you can swing it).
FC/CYA Levels

For a successful SLAM Process
you need to continue to MAINTAIN Slam level fc for your cya as often as possible (multiple times per day is best) until you meet ALL 3 end of slam criteria-

You are done when:

CC is 0.5 or lower;
You pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
AND
the water is clear.
(Crystal Clear w/no algae dead or alive)

*Check & scrub every nook & cranny where algae may hide (light niches, steps, drain covers, ladder handrails, skimmer throats/weirs, abandoned lines, autofill, overflow drains, etc.)
*If water can go there, algae can thrive there.
*Run slam level water through all water features & lines for at least a couple hours a day during the SLAM Process.
*Brush & or vac daily (this breaks up biofilms that algae uses to protect itself from chlorine)
*Backwash/clean filter when pressure rises 25%over clean pressure.
SLAM ON

Okay, thank you! Yes, FC was 5. That was a typo on my end b/c it was my first time using that kind of test (powder and droppers) and following directions which are totally different from my other test.

So I need to lower the PH first and then start SLAM?

 

[Mdragger88]

So I need to lower the PH first and then start SLAM?

Yes - just as written in the article
SLAM Process

 

[Eredwood]

What is kwikstrip? Maybe a typo for something other than paint stripper? (hopefully!)

Yes, typo…using cellphone. Bioguard stripKwik

 

[Eredwood]

Yes - just as written in the article
SLAM Process

Okay, thank you! I’m so close so I’m really hoping this won’t take long. Any idea how many gallons I should buy today?

 

[Mdragger88]

Yes, typo…using cellphone. Bioguard stripKwik

Here’s some info on that product- it’s mostly unnecessary & you definitely don’t want any of it getting in your pool.

Did StripQuik just destroy my filter and pump?

There is probably human error in here somewhere, but I'm hoping that telling my story that one of you may be able to help me. I just bought a house several months back that has a pool. I have been working up to winterizing the pool, and a part of that was the clean the filter with StripQuik as...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Mdragger88]

Okay, thank you! I’m so close so I’m really hoping this won’t take long. Any idea how many gallons I should buy today?

It will take you 3 gallons of 10% liquid chlorine to reach slam level of 16ppm from 5. No telling what your fc demand will look like during slam.
I would buy 10 gallons so you know you have plenty on hand.
Your pool is large so after slam is over you will likely need .5-1 gal/day just to maintain adequate fc levels anyway. It won’t go to waste.

 

[Eredwood]

It will take you 3 gallons of 10% liquid chlorine to reach slam level of 16ppm from 5. No telling what your fc demand will look like during slam.
I would buy 10 gallons so you know you have plenty on hand.
Your pool is large so after slam is over you will likely need .5-1 gal/day just to maintain adequate fc levels anyway. It won’t go to waste.

Okay, but I plan on going back to the $120 worth of tablets I have once SLAM is complete. I can’t waste them.

 

[Eredwood]

Here’s some info on that product- it’s mostly unnecessary & you definitely don’t want any of it getting in your pool.

Did StripQuik just destroy my filter and pump?

There is probably human error in here somewhere, but I'm hoping that telling my story that one of you may be able to help me. I just bought a house several months back that has a pool. I have been working up to winterizing the pool, and a part of that was the clean the filter with StripQuik as...

www.troublefreepool.com

It was done days ago, nothing got in pool, and I didn’t see any signs of buildup either. It is what it is and that user clearly started out by sayin “…there is probably human error in here somewhere…”

 

[Eredwood]

It will take you 3 gallons of 10% liquid chlorine to reach slam level of 16ppm from 5. No telling what your fc demand will look like during slam.
I would buy 10 gallons so you know you have plenty on hand.
Your pool is large so after slam is over you will likely need .5-1 gal/day just to maintain adequate fc levels anyway. It won’t go to waste.

So .5-1 gallon a day for the entire season???

 

[Mdragger88]

Okay, but I plan on going back to the $120 worth of tablets I have once SLAM is complete. I can’t waste them.

With a cya of 40 you will need to be careful with the tabs in short order.
Here’s what each one does to your water once dissolved

the fc is consumed daily but the cya stays behind & builds up. The only way to lower cya is to replace water.
As the cya increases so does the necessary corresponding fc level


this can make for a hard to manage roller coaster
They will last indefinitely if kept dry. Use them when you need a little cya & fc together & save the rest for vacations.

 

[Mdragger88]

So .5-1 gallon a day for the entire season???

Average fc loss in an algae free pool is 2-5ppm/day depending upon the part of the season you’re in.

 

[Eredwood]

With a cya of 40 you will need to be careful with the tabs in short order.
Here’s what each one does to your water once dissolved
View attachment 489142
the fc is consumed daily but the cya stays behind & builds up. The only way to lower cya is to replace water.
As the cya increases so does the necessary corresponding fc level

View attachment 489148
this can make for a hard to manage roller coaster
They will last indefinitely if kept dry. Use them when you need a little cya & fc together & save the rest for vacations.

Wow, very good info.! All of this is so crazy b/c I’ve been using same products for over 30 years. This was the very first year that the pool wasn’t covered. This will never happen again!!! Hopefully I’m on the road to recovery!

 

[Mdragger88]

Wow, very good info.! All of this is so crazy b/c I’ve been using same products for over 30 years. This was the very first year that the pool wasn’t covered. This will never happen again!!! Hopefully I’m on the road to recovery!

Some people displace enough water between backwashing, vacuuming to waste, & winterizing to not get too out of hand with cya from their use of trichlor pucks but honestly most people end up under chlorinating & have some sort of issue on a regular basis because they are just riding a fine line all the time. Like “oh it rained so now the pool is cloudy, I need to shock”. Rinse & repeat
The SLAM Process ensures you have truly eradicated algae & then you keep it gone by maintaining proper
FC/CYA Levels & hopefully never need to slam/shock again.
Just Wait until you see your pool like this

How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[Mdragger88]

Just so we’re covering all the bases…

For a successful SLAM Process
you need to continue to MAINTAIN Slam level fc for your cya as often as possible (multiple times per day is best) until you meet ALL 3 end of slam criteria-

You are done when:

CC is 0.5 or lower;
You pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
AND
the water is clear.
(Crystal Clear w/no algae dead or alive)

*Check & scrub every nook & cranny where algae may hide (light niches, steps, drain covers, ladder handrails, skimmer throats/weirs, abandoned lines, autofill, overflow drains, etc.)
*If water can go there, algae can thrive there.
*Run slam level water through all water features & lines for at least a couple hours a day during the SLAM Process.
*Brush & or vac daily (this breaks up biofilms that algae uses to protect itself from chlorine)
*Backwash/clean filter when pressure rises 25%over clean pressure.

 

[Eredwood]

Some people displace enough water between backwashing, vacuuming to waste, & winterizing to not get too out of hand with cya from their use of trichlor pucks but honestly most people end up under chlorinating & have some sort of issue on a regular basis because they are just riding a fine line all the time. Like “oh it rained so now the pool is cloudy, I need to shock”. Rinse & repeat
The SLAM Process ensures you have truly eradicated algae & then you keep it gone by maintaining proper
FC/CYA Levels & hopefully never need to slam/shock again.
Just Wait until you see your pool like this

How Clear is TFP Clear?

Wowzers those pools look like glass! I can’t wait to see mine the same way! I don’t mind sticking with liquid chlorine but I’ve got to get use to it and find a rhythm with maintenance levels etc.. My ph should be down to 7.2 now, so I’m planning to start SLAM today. Wish me luck!

 

[Eredwood]

Also, how will the large amounts of chlorine effect my pool liner and pump/filter, etc.?

 

[Newdude]

FC between min and SLAM is safe for all swimmers, equipment and finishes.

 

[Eredwood]

FC between min and SLAM is safe for all swimmers, equipment and finishes.

Okie dokie! Well, I’ll keep all of you posted with results. I lowered ph yesterday and the pool was even clearer this morning. About to add the liquid chlorine now and check FC every 2 hours right?

 

[Newdude]

About to add the liquid chlorine now and check FC every 2 hours right?

2 hours is best at first. If you need to run some errands, dose early before you leave and it will buy you the next couple of hours away.

As the process progresses the pool holds FC longer and longer. 2 hours at a time becomes 4 hours at a time and then 8 hours and only having to add 2 or 3 times a day at that point is pretty easy for anyone's schedule. The more you babysit it at the hard part, the quicker the easy part gets here.

 

[Mdragger88]

Okie dokie! Well, I’ll keep all of you posted with results. I lowered ph yesterday and the pool was even clearer this morning. About to add the liquid chlorine now and check FC every 2 hours right?

Yup you’re on your way!