Another day, another SLAM

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Wobblerlorri

Wobblerlorri

Bronze Supporter
Apr 16, 2019
2,010
Bremen, GA, 65 m west of Atlanta
Pool Size
4024
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
I've been having a bad week with my RA, could barely walk across the room, much less out to the pool. After the cold front moved through, I don't hurt so bad and went out to inspect the pool. OMG but it was cloudy! Not so bad I couldn't see the bottom, but hazy as heck.

Apparently I didn't get rid of the white water mold.

So I started a new SLAM tonight. I'm going to keep this one going for at least two weeks, just to make sure. I'm also installing the sand filter tomorrow -- will that help clear the pool faster than my little 1000 gph cartridge pump? The sand filter has a 1/2 hp pump, and moves 30 gpm, 1800 gph.

And how do you disinfect the sand in the sand filter? Will the high chlorine take care of that, or do I need to flush it with strong chlorine water when SLAM is over? I hate the thought of mold sitting in my fresh clean sand...
 
Chlorinated pools dont get mold. You may just have an algae outbreak in the very early stages.
 
Nope, they get mold. I had white water mold a couple of weeks ago and apparently didn't SLAM long enough. The affected area had an off-white growth, and that part of the pool smelled musty and moldy.


I should have known I wasn't done when I got in the pool last week and there were little filaments floating in it. Not clumps of algae, filaments like mold.
 
Lorri, you might want to rethink your filter swap. Sand filters are generally at the bottom of filtration capability with cartridge filters in the middle and DE filters at the top.
It seems to me you will actually be downgrading on your filter. You might want to just get a new pump.
 
The cartridge filter is a complete system, pump and filter married to each other, and the pump doesn't have any oomph. So I can't change out the pump. I have a perpetual dead spot in the pool where water just doesn't circulate; in fact, that was where the mold was last time.

This new pump will be able to get the whole pool moving, so no more dead spot. I'll add DE to the filter as needed to help filtration. Plus hubby won't have to schlep out every few hours to rinse the filter (I just can't get the lid off).

It's a delicate balancing act. I think the increased circulation will offset any advantage in continuing to use the cartridge filter. Thanks for your input, though!
 
Last edited:
Those little cartridge filters are really not that good at all. The filter is ok (I guess... they gotta be cleaned way too often though), but the pumps are woefully underpowered. I can not for the life of me figure out why these pools are all sold with too small pump/filters.

How'd today go? Did you get the new filter installed? If you're trying to clear the pool, you can always run your cartridge filter in tandem with your new sand filter. I have some pics from 2012 of how we did it with two cartridge filters before I upgraded to the sand filter here: Index of /images
 
AM water test:

FC 11.0
CC 0.5

Added 3 c chlorine into outlet wash. There was an abundance of brown stuff on my steps. Will brush and vacuum later today, around time for the second dose of the day. (I do SLAMs in three daily parts, AM before sun hits the water, noon, and PM after sun goes down.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: frogabog

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
DorsalSpine said:
Just for the record, if you run your CYA up over 200, white water mold will grow just fine in a chlorinated pool. :eek:
Wobblerlorri said:
Afternoon test:

FC 12
CC 0.0

Add 2 cups chlorine. Brushed and vacuumed. Lots of brown poofing.

Also got my new sand filter installed, and I have NO dead water anywhere! 1800 gph flat moves the water -- I have little waves! So cool. It's a thing of beauty, it is.
Click to expand...
That's great!

What is your CYA level? I'm curious since DorsalSpine mentioned that mold can grow in a chlorinated pool with CYA above 200. I was under the impression that white water mold grows in a Baquicil pool only. That it never happens in a chlorinated pool. I could be wrong but I'm just curious what your level is.
Click to expand...
 
I had a big dead spot by my stairs in my above ground and the FC would drop a bit and algae would pop up there so fast.

I had a sand filter too with hsp way over what it should have been on my pool.

I read about it here but I forget what it’s called. Little piece that goes on the return line. It’s a return cap but it is shaped to give you a lot more force.

Legit made a whirlpool. The water would go all the way around my pool in a circle. You can twist it to adjust it.

Might be worth looking into if you have that dead spot even with the better filter! Hopefully somebody here remembers what it’s called. Know I def read about it here.
 
You keep SLAM till you pass the 3 criteria.

It may take a week, it may take longer.

But I think you may get a beak soon as long as you keep it at SLAM. I think you got this.

I think you will break past your gunk soon. That filter will do better than your undersized cartridge filter. On any pool that isn't intended for babes.
 
Last edited:

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply