Warning: First post by pool newbie
This is my family's first year in a new home that has a pool. Prior to this home, I've never had any experience with a pool. I've been following TFP since early Spring and am grateful for all the advice I've garnered from the forum, and have been managing/learning our pool by the TFP method.
Bought the house during the winter, and although we had a "pool inspection," prior to purchase, the inspection failed to uncover a number of issues with the pool, but thanks to the TFP forum, I have acquired a not-so-expensive education.
As stated, I've been managing the pool by the TFP method, following recommended guidelines on chemistry, and using a TF-test kit to monitor. Up until the past 1 1/2 weeks my numbers routinely were:
pH: between 7.5 and 7.8
TA: 65-70
CH: 125
CYA: 65(ish) normally but in past week or so has gone down to 40-50.
Salt: 3200-3400
FC: 3.5-5.5, usually around 4.5
CC: Has always been 0, since I started testing with TF-Test Kit in April.
Other background info: I have added DE to my sand filter per the Pool School directions. To the best of my knowledge and research the sand in my filter has never been changed since the pool was install in 2008. I discovered that the motherboard on my AquaLogic had the "No Cell Power" issue which I fixed for $5 thanks to info on this forum (No idea how long the Salt cell could have been non-functional). I think I have a slow leak somewhere, but have yet to determine where.
Up until this past weekend, I felt that there was no obvious sign that I needed to shock my pool. My chemistry always fell in line with recommendations, and I managed additions and adjustments using Pool Math. As stated above, my CC has always been 0. This past weekend, however, we had a "poop in the pool" emergency thanks to a friend's 3yo sans swim diaper. I headed to the TFP forum to find out what the recommendations are, and proceeded to begin my first SLAM the following day.
Day 1: Outside temp 90+ degrees and sunny. Started by adding bleach (around 2:00 PM) to bring FC up to 27.0 ppm. After 1.5 hours the FC had dropped to 25.0. After three hours FC was at 20.0 ppm. Water was clear and CC was (as always) 0. Decided to perform OCLT. First reading was 18.0, then morning reading was 15.5, thus a 2.5 overnight Cl loss. I know this means keep slamming.
My weekday schedule makes it difficult to be there during the day to measure and dose to maintain FC above shock level. I think the sun is inactivating the Cl more than residual organics, though from the OCLT there obviously is some organics still in there somewhere.
1) If I wait and dose at dark, remeasure at dawn, with no maintenance doses during the day, will a subsequent OCLT be undermined? Am I "spinning my wheels?"
2) Does dosing above and beyond the shock level (to compensate for FC falling when I can't be there to re-dose) run any risk of equipment damage or other problems?
3) Does dosing above shock target accelerate the SLAM?
If I seem to be missing something, I'm very interested to learn. THANKS!
This is my family's first year in a new home that has a pool. Prior to this home, I've never had any experience with a pool. I've been following TFP since early Spring and am grateful for all the advice I've garnered from the forum, and have been managing/learning our pool by the TFP method.
Bought the house during the winter, and although we had a "pool inspection," prior to purchase, the inspection failed to uncover a number of issues with the pool, but thanks to the TFP forum, I have acquired a not-so-expensive education.
As stated, I've been managing the pool by the TFP method, following recommended guidelines on chemistry, and using a TF-test kit to monitor. Up until the past 1 1/2 weeks my numbers routinely were:
pH: between 7.5 and 7.8
TA: 65-70
CH: 125
CYA: 65(ish) normally but in past week or so has gone down to 40-50.
Salt: 3200-3400
FC: 3.5-5.5, usually around 4.5
CC: Has always been 0, since I started testing with TF-Test Kit in April.
Other background info: I have added DE to my sand filter per the Pool School directions. To the best of my knowledge and research the sand in my filter has never been changed since the pool was install in 2008. I discovered that the motherboard on my AquaLogic had the "No Cell Power" issue which I fixed for $5 thanks to info on this forum (No idea how long the Salt cell could have been non-functional). I think I have a slow leak somewhere, but have yet to determine where.
Up until this past weekend, I felt that there was no obvious sign that I needed to shock my pool. My chemistry always fell in line with recommendations, and I managed additions and adjustments using Pool Math. As stated above, my CC has always been 0. This past weekend, however, we had a "poop in the pool" emergency thanks to a friend's 3yo sans swim diaper. I headed to the TFP forum to find out what the recommendations are, and proceeded to begin my first SLAM the following day.
Day 1: Outside temp 90+ degrees and sunny. Started by adding bleach (around 2:00 PM) to bring FC up to 27.0 ppm. After 1.5 hours the FC had dropped to 25.0. After three hours FC was at 20.0 ppm. Water was clear and CC was (as always) 0. Decided to perform OCLT. First reading was 18.0, then morning reading was 15.5, thus a 2.5 overnight Cl loss. I know this means keep slamming.
My weekday schedule makes it difficult to be there during the day to measure and dose to maintain FC above shock level. I think the sun is inactivating the Cl more than residual organics, though from the OCLT there obviously is some organics still in there somewhere.
1) If I wait and dose at dark, remeasure at dawn, with no maintenance doses during the day, will a subsequent OCLT be undermined? Am I "spinning my wheels?"
2) Does dosing above and beyond the shock level (to compensate for FC falling when I can't be there to re-dose) run any risk of equipment damage or other problems?
3) Does dosing above shock target accelerate the SLAM?
If I seem to be missing something, I'm very interested to learn. THANKS!
Welcome to TFP!!!
