First SLAM - High CYA do I have to drain/refill?

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Major_in_MS said:
Yeah, the hydrostatic relief valve is located in the main drain housing under that cover. You would have to remove the cover to see if the valve is present.

If your pool is 3 feet above the rest of the yard, then I think lowering the water 2.5 feet or so would be no problem. As long as your water level does not drop below the level of the saturated and spongey part of the yard. But, understand, your actions on draining or not draining your pool is completely your decision. I'm not an engineer or any kind of expert in groundwater or construction or anything like that.
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I appreciate your help!
 
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jasonb81 said:
I appreciate your help!
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You are welcome! Please continue to post to this thread (if you want) to let us know what you decide to do and how things are going. And we, or at least I, love to look at pictures, so snap a few during your drain/fill and of your progress towards crystal clear, trouble free water and share them here. That first picture you posted looks beautiful and makes me want to see more of your landscaping and pool area.
 
Well, the sun came out and I decided to attempt to drain the pool via closing my skimmers, using the main drain to waste. I was able to remove ~ 3,000 gallons with the water an inch or so below the water of the skimmer. I stayed next to the equipment the entire time and heard the pump making a gurggling noise. Saw a lot of air turbulence in the pump water pot and then the pump lost prime. I think the deep end skimmer was sucking some air into the system. Not sure why though as the valve is closed. Tried to reprime the pump a few times still with the skimmers closed and main drain open, not working. I've given it a minute or so and then shut off the pump as I don't want to ruin it.

I also tried filling the skimmer with water from a garden hose and then priming the pump without luck.

Any suggestions?
 
Use a sump pump. Using your pool equipment to drain entails risk. Losing prime is the biggest one.

You can rent a full size sump pump at Home Depot etc. if you are draining your entire pool. You can buy a low power sump pump from Harbor Freight, Amazon, etc. A 1/2 hp version is a good idea. It will move 6+gpm if using a garden hose for the effluent.
 
mknauss said:
Use a sump pump. Using your pool equipment to drain entails risk. Losing prime is the biggest one.

You can rent a full size sump pump at Home Depot etc. if you are draining your entire pool. You can buy a low power sump pump from Harbor Freight, Amazon, etc. A 1/2 hp version is a good idea. It will move 6+gpm if using a garden hose for the effluent.
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Any tricks to get the pump reprimed without refilling midway to the skimmers and opening them back up?
 
To operate the pool pump correctly, the pool water level needs to be at or near the middle of the skimmer.
 
Yeah, we knew that using the pool pump to drain would be a dead end if it lost prime. Really no way to overcome that additional head pressure to re-prime it. I would check with your local rental centers. A sump pump will set in your pool to pump water out. A trash pump will set on the pool deck with a hard walled intake line going into the water and a soft walled discharge hose directing your water to a safe direction. The trash pumps are usually gasoline operated and faster than a sump pump. Sump pumps usually need a pretty heavy duty extension cord if you don't have a good 20a outlet close enough.
 
If it were me, I'd rent a trash pump. But that may be because I've used them so many times during my career as a firefighter. I've never really used a sump pump except in a basement.
 

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Got the pool refilled in about 12 hours. Reprimed the pump and got the water circulating. Tested the water and now have CYA at 60!
Test results after refill:
FC .5
CC 0
TC .5
CH 150
TA 60
CYA 60
Salt 1600
PH 7.2

Have my SWG turned to 0% and on "Standby".

I am going to start the SLAM this afternoon after my last conference call. Should I go ahead and add Salt now or after the SLAM? What about the CH, should i adjust now or after SLAM?

Thanks!
 
CH and salt can be added anytime. You do not show what type of filter and pump you have, can you add that to your signature?
 
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How much should I overshoot the 24 FC SLAM goal for good buffer so I don't frequently drop below 24? I've been shooting for 26 FC and able to test every 2 hours but i've been consistently dipping below the 24FC target. I'd rather test less because I'm waiting on a refill of my TF-100 supplies. Atleast it will be cloudy and rainy today so the sun won't eat up my chlorine as much.
 
jasonb81 said:
How much should I overshoot the 24 FC SLAM goal for good buffer so I don't frequently drop below 24?
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None. It really does no good to go over the established SLAM level because the additional chlorine will not be as productive as you might think. Without the correct ratio of CYA to adhere to, that additional FC will probably get oxidized by the sun as opposed to doing the sanitizing you might expect. Just stick as close as you can to 24, if it falls increase it back up. That's generally best.
 
Texas Splash said:
None. It really does no good to go over the established SLAM level because the additional chlorine will not be as productive as you might think. Without the correct ratio of CYA to adhere to, that additional FC will probably get oxidized by the sun as opposed to doing the sanitizing you might expect. Just stick as close as you can to 24, if it falls increase it back up. That's generally best.
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Interesting, glad I asked! Thanks.

Another question, the guidelines say "clear water". How subjective is clear water. My shallow end is crystal clear. I can see to the bottom easily in the deepend but I feel like it has been clearer in the past.
 

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