Can't keep my pool clean this summer!

[kennyjg44]

Following earlier advice in this thread; 5mL sample was 43 drops (did it twice). Can try 10mL if you think it'll be different.

Pool is oblong / free form, documented at 12x24 with 4ft down to about 7ft. My wife is the picture taker but here are a few I have...

 

[Newdude]

Following earlier advice in this thread; 5mL sample was 43 drops (did it twice). Can try 10mL if you think it'll be different.

No need for 10ml. That'd waste even more supplies at this point.

Pool is oblong / free form, documented at 12x24 with 4ft down to about 7ft. My wife is the picture taker but here are a few I have..

Rough calculations on a rectangle with those depths if evenly spaced is about 11k gallons. Subtract some for the curves but not 5k worth.

Maybe the 24 ft measurement includes the footprint with the stairs which doesn't add many gallons for its length.

10 wide (because the bumpout is only some of the distance) by 20 long (no stairs) by 5.5 average depth is 8200 gallons.

 

[kennyjg44]

Going to go out and see if I can get a more accurate measurement; but we would agree that the volume would be the issue as to why my FC spiked higher than SLAM (no other factors)?

 

[Newdude]

Yeah. Dose for 6000k next time and we'll go from there.

 

[kennyjg44]

Welp, I was definitely off (and would have a word w/my pool installer if it wasn't 5 yrs old).

Shallow depth ~ 38"
Deep depth = 70"

(and I'm a bit overfilled at the moment). I had thought we were specked for 42" & 78", respectively.

Putting that into a calculator with 10-12' x 24', gives me roughly 6600 gallons. I'm in shock (pun intended).

 

[kennyjg44]

I won't keep updating, but took an FC reading at 2pm (3 hrs since 1st SLAM); FC dropped from 43 to 30. Just curious if this is expected...

 

[Newdude]

Yeah. FC burns off as a %, with loss increasing the higher it goes, plus whatever is lost to any algae / organics. I saw it myself recently losing 7+ ppm a day in the 20s with 3 or 4 being normal for me. I want losing any overnight so it was all to the sun during the day. Had I been battling algae the loss would have been higher.

As you progress you lose less and the FC holds longer between doses. But for now, hit it as often as you can, right until bed. (No need for more often than 2 hours each, thats plenty). Do the best you can.

 

[kennyjg44]

Thanks for all the help - hopefully this SLAM will solve the algae problem here as well.

 

[kennyjg44]

Just to update you on the pool volume situation...

FC read 22.0 at 5:30p today; added 1.25 L of liquid chlorine (as per pool math) to get back to my SLAM of 28.0

FC just read at 29.0 ppm, so calculation was pretty close (also held since the addition at 5:30p.

 

[Deb04]

Think of all the pool chemicals you’ll save!

 

[kennyjg44]

Took a morning reading and was at 22ppm (down from 29 after sunset last night). Admittedly we've had a little sun this morning before I was able to test, but prob a good 6+ overnight loss.

 

[kennyjg44]

Any particular reason my FC readings would be increasing, without any chemical additions? I've been SLAMing to 28ppm, but have seen FC creep up to 31/32 a few times.

Issue with my testing protocol?

 

[PoolStored]

Your testing vial is dirty (clean it with rubbing alcohol).
You are squeezing the drops out to fast and not letting them form and drop under their own weight.
Time between tests is shorter, and your pool volume is off.
and...

Lots of other reasons...

Water Testing Errors - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[kennyjg44]

I think I've solved the pool volume error, but can stipulate to the possible dirty vial and/or poor dropping techniques. Good article, thanks for sharing.

Still (possibly) showed some ON FC loss so, day 3 of SLAM commences...

 

[kennyjg44]

Here's what I've been seeing over the past few days...continuing to keep FC at SLAM levels unless someone states otherwise .

 

[Newdude]

How's the pool looking ? Any traces of algae ?

 

[kennyjg44]

Pool looks amazing, I wouldn't expect anything different with so much FC constantly available. Haven't seen any algae since I last brushed it on Friday AM. Will vacuum again tomorrow.

Only "complaint" would be that I still see 'stuff' floating when the pool light is on, not crystal clear. Not sure this matters, but I think I read somewhere on here that clean water under the light should be attainable.

 

[PoolStored]

Only "complaint" would be that I still see 'stuff' floating when the pool light is on, not crystal clear. Not sure this matters, but I think I read somewhere on here that clean water under the light should be attainable.

It doesn't matter...you will always see stuff with lights at night.

 

[kennyjg44]

Understood.

This mornings readings were identical to last night's at 26.0 / 0.0

 

[kennyjg44]

Just tested a few items this morning:

FC = 15.0 (I stopped SLAMing as of yesterday AM)
CC = 0.0
TA = 70
pH = 7.4
Salt = 1800 (SWG reads 2100)

Pool looks and feels great. Cleanest it has been all summer. Brushed daily along with vac yesterday.

Can someone point me in the right direction of now transitioning back to me SWG and make sure its properly set to provide enough FC?