I need some help with my first real SLAM. This is my first full season as a pool owner and so far it has been a huge frustration and struggle. Finding this site has been the first encouraging step thus far so a big thank you to those that keep this site running! The pool started turning cloudy and then green a few weeks ago. I found this site last week and made an attempt at a SLAM without a good test kit by using the results of tests at 2 local pool stores. I added bleach 3 times the first day and once more the next, but I'm not sure I added enough any time and the first day I waited a couple hours between each shock. That was last weekend and since I have let the pool sit out of frustration and also because I knew I needed a good test kit or I was probably going to waste more money.
So now my pool is a light to somewhat dark, cloudy blue; improvement, but I still can't see the bottom of the deep end, only half way probably and I know there is still a problem. I vacuumed early this week and removed a decent dirt/algae film off the bottom, although I couldn't see what I was removing in the deep end.
My TF-100 came today and I completed my first round of tests with a plan to SLAM starting Friday afternoon. Here are my results:
FC, CC = 0
PH = 7.0
TA = 110
CH = 430
CYA = 50
So I know that I need to raise my PH first and will do that with Borax tomorrow or Friday before I SLAM. Using the Chlorine/CYA chart my shock FC should be 20. Does the presence of algae and cloudy water skew the CYA results? I didn't try running the water through a coffee filter first so I'm wondering if maybe my CYA may actually be less than 50. Any concerns with the CH being a bit high?
I'll be making a clorox or liquid chlorine run tomorrow to pick up supplies. Any suggestions or comments on my results and how best to proceed are greatly appreciated. I'll provide updates this weekend as the SLAM progresses.
So now my pool is a light to somewhat dark, cloudy blue; improvement, but I still can't see the bottom of the deep end, only half way probably and I know there is still a problem. I vacuumed early this week and removed a decent dirt/algae film off the bottom, although I couldn't see what I was removing in the deep end.
My TF-100 came today and I completed my first round of tests with a plan to SLAM starting Friday afternoon. Here are my results:
FC, CC = 0
PH = 7.0
TA = 110
CH = 430
CYA = 50
So I know that I need to raise my PH first and will do that with Borax tomorrow or Friday before I SLAM. Using the Chlorine/CYA chart my shock FC should be 20. Does the presence of algae and cloudy water skew the CYA results? I didn't try running the water through a coffee filter first so I'm wondering if maybe my CYA may actually be less than 50. Any concerns with the CH being a bit high?
I'll be making a clorox or liquid chlorine run tomorrow to pick up supplies. Any suggestions or comments on my results and how best to proceed are greatly appreciated. I'll provide updates this weekend as the SLAM progresses.