SLAMing, CYA, prolonged green, and filter questions during SLAM

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NocturnalDoc

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LifeTime Supporter
May 14, 2012
24
Redding, CA
Looking for help/advice.

Heavy green algae burden, trying to reclaim the pool now. I did BBB last season, successfully, but lazily let it get out of hand this spring. It's swamp green.

Starting:
pH 7.2
TA 110
CH 220
Borate 30
CYA zero (!) - this surprised me as it was around 40 all last season

I had 5 lbs of dichlor on hand, so added that (should bring CYA up to 12), and brought FC the rest of the way up to shock level with bleach, and have kept it up as per SLAM. I put another 2 lbs CYA in a sock in the skimmer. I put another 2 lbs CYA per the instructions on the bag (mix in bucket of warm water, pour slowly into skimmer). Not sure that was a good idea, but my thoughts were that it's how the manufacturer recommends adding it, and wanted to get the level up sooner than later. If and when all that CYA dissolves, it should bring it up to about 30.

Here's my dilemma. The algae burden is so great that the filter grids (Pentair FNS Plus, 36, DE) clog incredibly fast. Backwash on my system has never worked well, I always remove and hose down the grids. It's impractical (though I may need to) wash them every few hours. So, I decided to just run the filter without the grids, figuring I'd just do the continuous chlorine shock to kill the algae, then deal with the grids and get rid of all the dead biomass after a few days. My other thought was that since I just added all the CYA, changing DE and washing grids every few hours would remove most or all of the not-yet-dissolved CYA. Does this make sense?

After 36 hours of keeping the FC at or near shock level, the algae looks just as dark green as when I started. I would have expected it to lighten, to cloudy grey, or at least look like there's some progress. Shock level is 10 per poolcalculator, I've aimed for 12. Lowest it's been during SLAM (morning) was 6. Is there any benefit to shocking to a higher level? Even using the expected eventual CYA level of 30, shock level would be 12, which I've been doing. I did remeasure CYA, and it was up to about 15 (gross estimate, half-way between the 20 and the top of the cylinder in the TFT kit).

Summary major questions:
1) Leave filter grids out for now or run with them in and risk losing CYA?
2) Any benefit to higher-than-calculated shocking?
3) Should I have seen some progress in killing algae by now?

Thanks!









25,000 gal, plaster
Pentair FNS Plus 36, DE filter
3/4 HP Whisperflow pump
BBB believer, trying to be disciplined enough to make it work!
 
FC 13 at 8 pm.
FC 10 at 3:30 am, CC 0.5-1 (nearly clear with 1 drop, definitely clear with 2)
Added 12.5% up to 14 ppm.

CC has been about the same, 0.5, through the SLAM so far.

Add'l info: first few cycles my FC dropped 3 ppm every 30 min. Busy life, I had a hard time keeping the FC truly at or above shock level, though last cycle it dropped 3 ppm over 7+ hours at night.

Still trying to learn about ammonia. After some initial reading, I'm guessing it's a problem given my CYA went from 40 to 0 over winter. SLAMing should fix it, right?

I see I'm one of dozens fighting the swamp this time of year.
 
You'd probably see some CC if you had an ammonia issue. It's fairly normal to lose most or all of your CYA over the winter in a cold climate. Don't know about your more moderate winters and their effect on CYA.

Running your pump without filtration, either by setting the multiport to recirculate or removing the grids is probably your best option until the algae is dead and you will be around to clean the filter as it clogs.

Stay the course and keep the chlorine at shock level as best you can. You'll soon see the telltale shift to blue-grey from green telling you that you are winning.
 
It is apparent from your post that you have a good grasp of the principles involved. As JohnT says, now you just have to stay the course and keep doing everything that you are doing.......it WILL start to clear...promise!

1) Leave filter grids out for now or run with them in and risk losing CYA?
2) Any benefit to higher-than-calculated shocking?
3) Should I have seen some progress in killing algae by now?
Click to expand...

1. JohnT answered that....leave them out for now.
2. Maybe, but we have to have a limit (much like a neccessary speed limit of 55, if we say 58 is OK, then how about 65? 80?) We provide guideleines and it's hard for us to say, "ignore the guidelines, put in what you want".
3. Maybe, but your symptoms are all classic so it seems like you just really have a lot of algae growth to clear up.


Yes, there are a lot of SLAMmers on the forum lately. Just wait 'til July - August when water temps get 85+ :)
 
Thanks guys!

I'm happy to stay the course, just needed some reassurance especially that the no filtering (at first) wasn't detrimental to my SLAM. With further reading I've also figured out that keeping FC at or above shock is key... and when it drops even a few ppm below, the process just gets prolonged.

FYI today I'm noticing just a little lightening of the green color. Hooray!

vymy5a3e.jpg



25,000 gal, IG plaster
Pentair FNS Plus 36, DE filter
3/4 HP WhisperFlo pump
BBB believer, trying to be disciplined enough to make it work!
 
duraleigh said:
2. Maybe, but we have to have a limit (much like a neccessary speed limit of 55, if we say 58 is OK, then how about 65? 80?) We provide guideleines and it's hard for us to say, "ignore the guidelines, put in what you want".
Click to expand...

There's a speed limit? :)


25,000 gal, IG plaster
Pentair FNS Plus 36, DE filter
3/4 HP WhisperFlo pump
BBB believer, trying to be disciplined enough to make it work!
 
Richard320 said:
If there's any debris in the bottom, it will slow the process down.

Get the leaf rake and start dragging. Or vacuuming blind. Anything to get it out.
Click to expand...

Yes, I raked and raked blind, not pulling out any leaves any more. Also have the APS (pressure type) running, its bag is coming up empty at this point. Had to remove the screen from the APS hose, as it keeps clogging with algae and no pressure was getting to the sweeper.

Unfortunately my brush fell off in the deep end, and I've tried and tried to find it with the leaf rake, no luck so far. I may have to swim in the swamp to find it (yuk).


25,000 gal, IG plaster
Pentair FNS Plus 36, DE filter
3/4 HP WhisperFlo pump
BBB believer, trying to be disciplined enough to make it work!
 
NocturnalDoc said:
Unfortunately my brush fell off in the deep end, and I've tried and tried to find it with the leaf rake, no luck so far. I may have to swim in the swamp to find it (yuk).
Click to expand...
I'd treat myself to a new brush head first. Maybe spring for a Wall Whale. It's unbelievable how well it works - you push down, it holds it against the wall. Much easier on the lower back.

98xc600-WallWhale.jpg
 
Richard320 said:
I'd treat myself to a new brush head first. Maybe spring for a Wall Whale. It's unbelievable how well it works - you push down, it holds it against the wall. Much easier on the lower back.

98xc600-WallWhale.jpg
Click to expand...

Great minds think alike! That's the brush that's currently residing in my swamp.

My problem is the holes in the pole are bent (actually ripped on one of my two poles) and the tabs don't hold tight. I got some "gorilla" heavy duty 4-pin V clips (made for the Gorilla line of pool telepoles), but it doesn't fit in the Whale, even if I cut off one pair of the pins. I think I'll have to drill new holes.


25,000 gal, IG plaster
Pentair FNS Plus 36, DE filter
3/4 HP WhisperFlo pump
BBB believer, trying to be disciplined enough to make it work!
 

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Update:

12 days after starting the SLAM, and losing a day and a half in the middle (broken part on filter housing, couldn't run filter), I could finally see and retrieve the wayward Wall Whale from the deep end, vacuum out the last bits of debris.

Today:
FC 9
CC < .5
CYA 30
CH 260
TA 130
Borate 30
ph ? (will check once the FC drops to maintenance level)

Once again, TFP comes through for me, and I'm thrilled with this amazing resource. Thanks all!


7ama2use.jpg



25,000 gal, IG plaster
Pentair FNS Plus 36, DE filter
3/4 HP WhisperFlo pump
BBB believer, trying to be disciplined enough to make it work!
 
Also, for those in the midst of the process, don't give up! I think I had to clean the filters (either backwash or pull and hose down) about 15-20 times through the process. Up until the last 2-3 changes, the DE would clog with dead algae and the pump pressure would climb to 28 PSI (start at 8 PSI with fresh DE) in under 2 hours. Very frustrating, for sure, but I think it made it that much sweeter to see a clear blue pool and NOT have to change the DE again.


25,000 gal, IG plaster
Pentair FNS Plus 36, DE filter
3/4 HP WhisperFlo pump
BBB believer, trying to be disciplined enough to make it work!
 
JVTrain said:
Please talk me in to getting one of these!
Click to expand...

By all means, go ahead and splurge on one. It makes doing the walls a pleasure. The downside is it's clumsy on the steps and tight areas, and it does put more strain on the plastic V-clip and holes on the pole. I picked up a cotter-pin type thingy for about $2.50 at the hardware store to solve that problem.

aha5ezun.jpg



22,500 gal, IG plaster
Pentair FNS Plus 36, DE filter
3/4 HP WhisperFlo pump
BBB believer, trying to be disciplined enough to make it work!
 
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