Algae 1st Time Pool Educate Me

[Ryandarrington]

Hello All,
Have been doing lots of research and reading. I updated my signature so hoping everything shows up. We set the pool up 1 week ago, 1st time pool owners. Pool chems and supplies just arrived Friday
We have cloudy water, I am suspecting from reading it is algae. I am guessing it’s due to lack of chlorine and CYA?? Would like to get further educated

Tests taken today, Monday with Taylor K2006C
FC - 1.6ppm
TC - Unable to test with current kit
CC - .2ppm
Ph - 7.8
TA - 240ppm
CH - 210ppm
CYA - 0

We are running currently using 3” Trichloro pucks in a floater. Sounds like we should be using liquid chlorine.
We have shocked the pool 2 times, 1lbs each time Friday and Saturday the pump has ran for 24 hours each of those days.
All day Sunday the pool was visibly clear, but today it went cloudy again.
I have performed a backwash and rinse on the sand filter.
Pool has been cleaned daily, but only surface to mid level cleaning. No vacuum at the moment, but will be coming.
We are in a wide open space, no leaves etc. just grass clippings.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! You have a good test kit, so now we can help you get on track. Do the following:
1 - Add CYA (stabilizer) for an initial CYA goal of 30. The PoolMath APP can help you with the dosage.
2 - Lower the pH to about 7.2 with muriatic acid.
3 - Using liquid chlorine, increase the FC level to 12 and follow the SLAM Process page.

During the SLA, there will be no need to test the pH, TA, or CH. Just focus on maintaining that FC level until you pass all 3 SLAM criteria. Hopefully it won't take long since the water is fairly new and you caught it early.

Pool Care Basics

 

[Texas Splash]

Also, I know Taylor puts in their FC test instructions to use the 25 ml sample size with 2 scoops (x 0.2). Instead, do the FC test as follows:

10 ml water sample with ONE generous/heaping scoop of powder. Add drops and stir until clear then divide the number of drops in half. Example: 24 drops equals an FC of 12.

 

[Ryandarrington]

Thank you and love it! I was just reading through another post that you replied to and they were advised to follow the SLAM method as well.
I have read through the pool school and downloaded the pool math app.
Only been a week but I am learning a lot. I appreciate your help and everyone else’s that has contributed to this forum and website.

 

[Ryandarrington]

I apologize but I need some more information to make sure I am performing the SLAM correctly as to not waste an additional chemicals.

Do I perform the steps 1 thru 3 in that order?

After I add stabilizer and the CYA is at 30 how many days does it need to maintain 30 before advancing to the next step?

Or can I perform all 3 steps at once and then just ensure I maintain the correct levels?

 

[mknauss]

Lower the pH to 7.2
Start dissolving CYA stabilizer to get to 30 ppm
Add liquid chlorine to 12 ppm and maintain.
All in a sequence. No wait time.

 

[Ryandarrington]

Ok thank you. After 1 day there is already major improvements.
I believe this happened from opening the pool and not having any sort of chemical/treatment in the pool for a week. Lesson learned

 

[Ryandarrington]

The SLAM has been completed successfully. I am meeting all 3 criteria and the water is beautifully clear. Thanks for everyone’s help

 

[Texas Splash]

 

[Oly]

Check out these short videos: