Couple questions on tail end of SLAM

[chris-md]

Hi everyone

im on the tail end of slamming my freshwater pool, but have a few more questions. Numbers:

FC:30
CC: .5
CH: 250
CYA: 40

1). Color has nearly been restored but excessive cloudiness remains. Once I hit this point approximately how long should the cloudiness take to clean up considering a sand filter? Bottom part of this image was tasked today, time fromtop to bottom is a week and a half.



2) FC target has for me been 30ppm. CYA started around 50 but dropped over a week due to ackwashings and rain, and an unfortunate Polaris incident. According to the CYA/FC chart my target should be in the teens. Is there anything WRONG with keeping my FC as high as I have been for this process?


Thank you!

 

[mknauss]

You run the SLAM until you meet the three criteria - one being clear water. So for the most part, it is now a matter of filtering but you need the shock level of FC to kill of any remaining algae spores.

Your FC above shock is not necessary and not speeding up the process. You have more UV loss during the day which costs you chlorine. It also could be damaging to some equipment, especially any items that are vinyl based. It also precludes you from swimming which you can do once you can see the bottom in the deep end and your FC is at or below shock level.

Take care.

 

[cmderrico]

My photos look the same. Once I started SLAM, it took 9 days to get crystal clear blue water. I recommend running sand filter 24x7, vacuum, brush walls, and backwash each day, test every night and morning using a good test kit - I have Taylor - for OCLT and add chlorine per PoolMath usually at dusk - app is also very handy. Keep going! It will turn blue if you follow SLAM.

 

[cmderrico]

My photos - SLAM 23JUL17 - Google Photos

 

[chris-md]

My photos look the same. Once I started SLAM, it took 9 days to get crystal clear blue water. I recommend running sand filter 24x7, vacuum, brush walls, and backwash each day, test every night and morning using a good test kit - I have Taylor - for OCLT and add chlorine per PoolMath usually at dusk - app is also very handy. Keep going! It will turn blue if you follow SLAM.

thanks!! Great photos, to boot! I've been doing all the above, though possibly backwashing a bit too much (twice a day absent any sign I should, like higher psi). When you vacuum, do you do it to waste or through the filter?

I know now this takes varying times,each pool is different. I admit to some impatience given that I have kept the FC pretty high this whole time. Temper that with mknauss saying that doesn't speed things up any I will let that drift down some to ease any corrosive pressure on the pvc components of some of the piping.

 

[cmderrico]

I only vacuumed to waste once because I had to get CYA down from 100 to around 50 for SLAM and was draining water to replenish with new. Be patient. Easier said! Keep your FC at shock level based on CYA chart and keep pushing through it.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Don't backwash until your pressure shows a rise of 20-25%. A slightly dirty sand filter actually works better than a scrupulously clean one.

Maddie

 

[Topher55]

You could try adding DE to the filter. With the two slams I have had to do it seemed to help me.

 

[JoeSelf]

What Maddie said. Only when pressure goes up 25%. Dirty cleans better.

 

[chris-md]

Maddie/Joe, thank you! That actually solves a couple challenges I'm facing (emptying/ refilling the pool to various degrees constantly, saves me some chemicals) and actually makes sense. "Clogged" filter does catch more debris. If I don't seem much change by this weekend I'll look into adding DE.

 

[Topher55]

Adding de is more or less creating a slightly "dirty" filter getting a jump start on the better filtering.