Correct SLAM process?

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Skimmer is fine too. CYA is mildly acidic, so we recommend hanging it. It likely won't harm anything, but putting anything acidic in the skimmer may cause damage.
 
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Fortunately, I passed the overnight chlorine test again.
One other question on CYA application. I've noticed when I put it in a sock in the skimmer with the pump at high speed, the whole thing dissolves in about 30 minutes. If the pump is at a low speed, it takes hours to dissolve. Is there a preferred method?
 
VST said:
Is there a preferred method?
Click to expand...
Not putting it through the equipment. And if the pump shuts off while soaking, the acidic water will eat your skimmer/plumbing.

This can be scaled down with sock(s) if need be.

How to add large batches of CYA

Hey Folks !!! With a large pool, I need 4lbs of CYA to only raise it 15, and I don't think I have that many socks without holes in them. So I use a Tshirt. Plus, I like that it's doubled up for redundancy. But it can also be scaled down with socks. So I measure out my dose and...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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Turned my salt cell back on and my chlorine is increasing, so the SLAM has seemed to have worked. Thanks a lot for your help. This is a big relief.

I am getting the calcium flakes near the returns again, though. A lot of them. This is the next problem I have to figure out. I'm going to research CSI. Any other advice on this?

My numbers this morning
FC 16
CC 0
pH 7.6
TA 100
CH 410
CYA 55
Salt 3800

Newdude said:
Not putting it through the equipment. And if the pump shuts off while soaking, the acidic water will eat your skimmer/plumbing.

This can be scaled down with sock(s) if need be.

How to add large batches of CYA

Hey Folks !!! With a large pool, I need 4lbs of CYA to only raise it 15, and I don't think I have that many socks without holes in them. So I use a Tshirt. Plus, I like that it's doubled up for redundancy. But it can also be scaled down with socks. So I measure out my dose and...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
Click to expand...
 
VST said:
I am getting the calcium flakes near the returns again, though. A lot of them. This is the next problem I have to figure out
Click to expand...
Maintain the Ph in the low 7s and the TA will fall. When it hits 60, switch back to maintaining a high 7 Ph.
 
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Glad to see SWCG is working.
As a reminder, we recommend recording CYA in decade numbers, it is easier to compare to the CYA/FC chart. So it is 60. Also that is the minimum for use with a SWCG so keep that in mind.
I punched in your test numbers and got a CSI of 0.07 which is just slightly positive. With a SWCG, you want to keep in the negative area of -0.3 to 0.
Decreasing your pH will also help drive down TA.
Your CH is not outrageous. It appears you are using a 25ml sample as your number ended in a 10. You can save reagent and use a 10ml sample and multiple each drop by 25.
 
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HermanTX said:
Glad to see SWCG is working.
As a reminder, we recommend recording CYA in decade numbers, it is easier to compare to the CYA/FC chart. So it is 60. Also that is the minimum for use with a SWCG so keep that in mind.
I punched in your test numbers and got a CSI of 0.07 which is just slightly positive. With a SWCG, you want to keep in the negative area of -0.3 to 0.
Decreasing your pH will also help drive down TA.
Your CH is not outrageous. It appears you are using a 25ml sample as your number ended in a 10. You can save reagent and use a 10ml sample and multiple each drop by 25.
Click to expand...
Oh thanks that's good to know. I just went by the instructions in the kit. I would love to save reagent. I tried calculating CSI also, but it asked for borates. Do we not need that for the calculation?
 

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The SLAM I did early last month was successful. It actually took a while for the FC to fall back to 7 from 16. We were surprised how well the pool held chlorine for weeks.

However, as soon as we started using the pool again (3 times spaced out over one week to be exact) , it seems I'm in trouble again.

Yesterday, these were my numbers
FC 3
CC 0
TA 80
CYA 60
pH 7.8

I set the salt cell (ichlor 30) at 100% for the last 12 hrs and expected an increase in FC of about 4 per Pool Math, but only went up to 3.5. The water is clear, but not sparking like it was at the end of last month's SLAM.

I will perform an overnight chlorine test soon, but I'm fully expecting to fail it. My question is what did I do wrong? After every use, was I supposed to supplement with a splash of liquid chlorine to help the system. I've heard some people say that is needed here in in FL where it has been very hot and rainy, but others say that defeats the purpose of a salt cell. I thought if I maintained my CYA between 60 and 80, I would be fine. I I was checking the FC daily and kept increasing the percentage on the cell from 20 to 65% to try to maintain an FC of 7, but that strategy didn't work. Seems the moment I fell to about 6.5, the system couldn't recover and it's been a steady decline in FC, despite the increases in salt cell output.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
VST said:
I set the salt cell (ichlor 30) at 100% for the last 12 hrs and expected an increase in FC of about 4 per Pool Math, but only went up to 3.5. The water is clear, but not sparking like it was at the end of last month's SLAM.
Click to expand...
This is probably in margin of error because PM app is based on the volume and most of the time that is just a close estimate for owners. According to my PM app, the predicted increase was 3.7ppm so that is about on target with your testing.

VST said:
After every use, was I supposed to supplement with a splash of liquid chlorine to help the system. I've heard some people say that is needed here in in FL where it has been very hot and rainy, but others say that defeats the purpose of a salt cell. I thought if I maintained my CYA between 60 and 80, I would be fine. I I was checking the FC daily and kept increasing the percentage on the cell from 20 to 65% to try to maintain an FC of 7, but that strategy didn't work. Seems the moment I fell to about 6.5, the system couldn't recover and it's been a steady decline in FC, despite the increases in salt cell output.
Click to expand...
I have added liquid chlorine in addition to having the SWCG, especially after the grandkids are in the pool.
A combination of heat and rain can dilute the CYA (especially if you have an overflow drain and an autofill). You are replacing water and not really aware of it. Let us know if this applies to your set up.
Have you verified your Salt level with a proper test using the K-1766 kit? Do not rely on your SWCG to give you accurate salt levels.

Also it is important to check your FC level at about the same time each day. Are you running your pump 24/7? If so, the SWCG is producing FC throughout the night with very little burn off, however in the day the UV will start to burn it off even with a CYA of 60.
I assumed pump running 24 hrs and SWCG set at 65%, the 24 hr output for FC is 4.9ppm. If you are losing 4=5ppm a day due to UV and bather load, then I would start at 10ppm to have an average of about 5-7 throughout the day.
The goal is to maintain the FC at the high side of the target range

Hope this helps.
 
HermanTX said:
This is probably in margin of error because PM app is based on the volume and most of the time that is just a close estimate for owners. According to my PM app, the predicted increase was 3.7ppm so that is about on target with your testing.


I have added liquid chlorine in addition to having the SWCG, especially after the grandkids are in the pool.
A combination of heat and rain can dilute the CYA (especially if you have an overflow drain and an autofill). You are replacing water and not really aware of it. Let us know if this applies to your set up.
Have you verified your Salt level with a proper test using the K-1766 kit? Do not rely on your SWCG to give you accurate salt levels.

Also it is important to check your FC level at about the same time each day. Are you running your pump 24/7? If so, the SWCG is producing FC throughout the night with very little burn off, however in the day the UV will start to burn it off even with a CYA of 60.
I assumed pump running 24 hrs and SWCG set at 65%, the 24 hr output for FC is 4.9ppm. If you are losing 4=5ppm a day due to UV and bather load, then I would start at 10ppm to have an average of about 5-7 throughout the day.
The goal is to maintain the FC at the high side of the target range

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Sorry, to be clear, it went up to 3.5 from 3. So only increased 0.5 overnight at 100% for 12 hrs.

I have a digital meter for salt, but will order the kit you mentioned.

I don't have an overflow drain nor an auto fill.

I run the pump 24/7.

I think you're right that I need to maintain at the high end of the target range, rather than the low end. Will play with that. Thanks
 
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