Chlorine monster? FC / TC not moving much... SLAM

[MorningStar]

*EDITED*
Greetings,

• Need some encouragement/help...keep shocking or SLAM? My kids are going to make me walk the plank soon...
  • Note on pictures: Pictures are chronological; Picture 3 is at dark dusk; Lots of seedling/leaf debris that gets cleared 2X day
  • 3X vac to waste
  • 2X cartridge rinse

Issue: Free Chlorine (FC) is not getting to acceptable levels. I haven't seen it get over FC = 5 other than one test that may not have been valid (10). I don't want to throw more $$$ without some results.
So far, 12 gal 12.5% Shock, 4 bags 68% Shock.
Next steps: Purchasing a FAS-DPD kit arriving today. Replace filter (I have a backup), Try a SLAM
Pool Specs: In ground | 33,000 gal | Vinyl | Cartridge | Tightly Woven Mesh Cover for Winter | Chlorine Sanitization
Background:
Opened pool Sat May 29th. Greener than expected. First few days a part of the cover had the main drain covered (I suspect). I found the cover moving on the bottom while scrubbing when I had the pump off. The green went away nevertheless, but was very cloudy.

Testing NT-Not tested | (Me)- home test | (St)-store test | ?- no record/forgot/maybe inaccurate

Day 1 5/27 ---------------------------------------------
FC - 0
TC - 0
CYA - 0
Alk - 120
pH - 8.2+
Phosp - 0

• Action: 8 gallons 12.5% Cl, 80oz Muriatic acid
• Strenuous scrubbing

Day 2 5/28 -------------------------------------------------
FC - 10+
pH - 6.6
Phosp - 0

• Action: 4 lbs Borax
• More scrubbing

Day 3 5/29 -------------------------------------------------
FC - .5
TC - 3
CYA - 0
Alk - 80
pH - 7.2

• Action: 7 lbs CYA, 4 bags 68% Shock
• More scrubbing

Day 4 5/30 ------Store Test------------------------------------------
FC - .13
TC - .13
CYA - 35
Alk - 103
pH - 7.2
Ca - 177

• Action: 18lbs Calcium, 4 gal 12.5% Shock, 4 bags 68% Shock

Day 5 5/31-------------------------------------------------
FC - 0
TC - 3

• Action: Ask TFP for help....!!!!!!!

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! No secret here at TFP - follow the SLAM Process until you pass all 3 SLAM criteria. Test strips will do you no favors. They are very poor measuring devices. It's good you have the FAS-DPD on its way, but you also need to know your accurate CYA so that you can go to the FC/CYA Levels to determine what your SLAM "FC" level should be.

The SLAM Process works when followed carefully and with accurate water testing. If you have any questions about it let us know. Enjoy the forum.

 

[Texas Splash]

Also be sure to bookmark our Pool Care Basics page for lots of great info. Hope that helps.

 

[MorningStar]

Thanks, looking forward to the community! I've had a pool for 5 seasons and enjoyed about 2 of them. I updated my sig. The strips were posted just for a broader overview. I have a K2005 kit that I test for CYA. Is that accurate enough? I bought the large refill bottle (16oz) to do lots of testing.

 

[proavia]

Do yourself a big favor and toss the strips in the trash.

Use your K-2005 and K-1515 (essentially a K-2006 with both kits).

Do a proper SLAM Process - not just a "shock".
If you need proof a SLAM Process is needed, complete an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test first.

In looking at your latest PoolMath results, the TA, CH and CYA numbers are suspect - the test kit doesn't provide results such as TA 103, CH 177 or CYA 38.

A CC of 11.0 is troubling as well.
How are you chlorinating? Use liquid chlorine.
Have you added an other products? Maybe one containing MPS?

Review the extended test kit directions here:

Extended Test Kit Directions Archives

www.troublefreepool.com

Then retest and post new results.

 

[MorningStar]

Do yourself a big favor and toss the strips in the trash.

Use your K-2005 and K-1515 (essentially a K-2006 with both kits).

Do a proper SLAM Process - not just a "shock".
If you need proof a SLAM Process is needed, complete an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test first.

In looking at your latest PoolMath results, the TA, CH and CYA numbers are suspect - the test kit doesn't provide results such as TA 103, CH 177 or CYA 38.

A CC of 11.0 is troubling as well.
How are you chlorinating? Use liquid chlorine.
Have you added an other products? Maybe one containing MPS?

Review the extended test kit directions here:

Extended Test Kit Directions Archives

www.troublefreepool.com

Then retest and post new results.

Thanks for the help! It is very much appreciated. I'm in the dog house at home.

• It looks like my original post is a bit scrambled. Sorry, I'll change it later for others.
• Just the shock shown in the pics. Also added:
  • 7lbs CYA
  • 18lbs Ca
  • clarifiers
  • 90oz Muriatic (lower pH)
  • 4 lbs Borax (raise pH due to overshoot)
• The OCLT will fail... FC doesn't raise much and is gone in a few hours. I am going to SLAM. I'll post results tomorrow.
• I've done a fair amount of poking around here at TFP, just looking for some reassurance/guidance from experienced people.
• *The CC 11.0 was from the suspected bogus test*
• Results today @ 9am (after adding from 2am-4am and testing frequently, FC didn't raise much during the first few hours):
  • 4 gal 12.5% Liquid Shock
  • 4 bags 68% Shock (DRY-TEC)
  • FC: 0
  • TC: 3
  • CC = TC - FC = 3 - 0 = 3
  • CYA: 35 (store test), Using Taylor K2005- Full beaker, dot is visible but cloudy water... so 20-30?
  • pH: 7.3
  • alk: 100

 

[MorningStar]

***EDIT

1. I'd like to backtrack once I get the pool in order for lessons learned
2. I'm also working on a chart/calculator for Dummies like me (3 degrees so I'm pretty dumb). I added a snippet of the draft. I'm thinking of a 1 page "brochure".

Update #1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SLAM History:
Testing Kits: Taylor K2005 (using for Cl verification) + K-1515

SLAM 1 (Thu Fri 1-JUN-23): Pool is blue but cloudy, several accumulation spots of "dirt"---------

• 8PM
  • Test 1-1 (K-1515): FC - 0, CC - 0
    • Action: 7 gallons 12.5% Cl
    • Scrub entire pool
• 9PM
  • Test 1-2 (K2005): FC - +10
  • Test 1-3 (K-1515): FC - +20(28 drops then stopped), CC - not tested
    • Obviously I made a mistake and should have put only 4 gallons in not 7
• 11:30PM
  • Test 1-3 (K-1515): FC - 2.5, CC - 2.0
    • Action: 4 gallons 12.5% Cl

SLAM 2 (Thu Fri 2-JUN-23): Pool is looking better, can see main drain clearly now, 60% reduction in accumulation spots of "dirt"

• 7AM
  • Test 2-1 (K-1515): FC - 3.5, CC - 1.5
    • Action: 2 gallons 12.5% Cl
    • Scrub entire pool

 

[MorningStar]

SLAM 3 (Fri 2-JUN-23):

• 9:30AM
  • Test 3-1 (K-1515): FC - 8.5, CC - NT
    • Action: 1 gallon 12.5% Cl

 

[MorningStar]

SLAM 4 (Fri 2-JUN-23): Getting clearer!

• 2:30PM
  • Test 4-1 (K-1515): FC - 9.5, CC - 0.5
    • Action: 1 gallon 12.5% Cl
    • Light scrubbing, will scrub more this evening

 

[Texas Splash]

Stick with it. Good work trying to maintain the proper SLAM FC level. Inspect & brush everywhere.

Have a nice weekend.