First test of the year with new test kit...

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elliot.stevens

elliot.stevens

Member
May 27, 2024
8
Montreal
Pool Size
46000
Surface
Vinyl
Hi everyone,

My name is Elliot and I am new to the TPF fourm, 2nd post!

Last summer my family and I moved into a new home and with it came a 46000L inground vinyl pool. First time having a pool and luckily things were pretty much setup by the previous owner and as I had a bunch of other stuff going on with our move in, so I just ran with things and kept everything as clean as I could apart from one green episode which I was able to get control of pretty quickly using my local pool store.

So far so good with lots of time spent in the water last year but I feel like we closed up a little too early then opened a little too late which I will be tweaking for next time. I also feel like didn't clean the pool as much as I should have (we have lots of big large trees surrounding our property) after the cover came off about a month ago, so its taken me a around 2 weeks doing a little bit each day to get to this point. I also just replaced our pump as the old one was making a terrible noise and had lots of trouble with low pressure and vacuuming not really working.

Found this site and picked up a Taylor K-2006 (couldn't find the C in Canada anywhere...) which arrived end of last week. Did a test at the pool store early season then massive rain storm came through last night so just ran my first ever test. Main issue I have been battling is cloudiness in the pool after repeatedly shocking + adding chlorine (have some granules of both left from previous owner) & clarifier so any advice you all can give me on my test results would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Elliot

p.s. looking through some of the other threads while typing this and reading about SLAM now....

- - -

Test results:
FC = 0.2 ppm (had to add a bunch of scoops of 0870 for it to go pink)
CC = 0.4 ppm
PH = 7.4
ALK = 90
CAL = 260
CYA = 56~57
 
Thanks for confirming!

So just to check because this is my first time running through a SLAM, looking at the FC/CYA tool my level is 24 for CYA 60 so I need to get my FC up to this level 3-4 times a day? Just not sure what the 24 number means? Is that 24 FC ppm as my target?

Looking at the PoolMath calculator for my size of pool to do this would roughly be 2.6L of 100% bleach? Would either of these products work for that (looking local here):

1)

2)

Or can I use the granules that I already have at home in shock or chlorine form?
 
elliot.stevens said:
So just to check because this is my first time running through a SLAM, looking at the FC/CYA tool my level is 24 for CYA 60 so I need to get my FC up to this level 3-4 times a day?
Click to expand...
At least 3-4. Every 2 hours at most (goes faster).
elliot.stevens said:
Just not sure what the 24 number means? Is that 24 FC ppm as my target?
Click to expand...
Test your FC. Say it is 5, add enough liquid chlorine to add 19ppm. wait 2 hours. Test your FC, say it is 15, add enough chlorine to add 9ppm.

The first one you listed would be better.

I wouldn't use the granules. What do you have that is in chlorine form? don't understand.
 
elliot.stevens said:
Hi everyone,

My name is Elliot and I am new to the TPF fourm, 2nd post!

Last summer my family and I moved into a new home and with it came a 46000L inground vinyl pool. First time having a pool and luckily things were pretty much setup by the previous owner and as I had a bunch of other stuff going on with our move in, so I just ran with things and kept everything as clean as I could apart from one green episode which I was able to get control of pretty quickly using my local pool store.

So far so good with lots of time spent in the water last year but I feel like we closed up a little too early then opened a little too late which I will be tweaking for next time. I also feel like didn't clean the pool as much as I should have (we have lots of big large trees surrounding our property) after the cover came off about a month ago, so its taken me a around 2 weeks doing a little bit each day to get to this point. I also just replaced our pump as the old one was making a terrible noise and had lots of trouble with low pressure and vacuuming not really working.

Found this site and picked up a Taylor K-2006 (couldn't find the C in Canada anywhere...) which arrived end of last week. Did a test at the pool store early season then massive rain storm came through last night so just ran my first ever test. Main issue I have been battling is cloudiness in the pool after repeatedly shocking + adding chlorine (have some granules of both left from previous owner) & clarifier so any advice you all can give me on my test results would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Elliot

p.s. looking through some of the other threads while typing this and reading about SLAM now....

- - -

Test results:
FC = 0.2 ppm (had to add a bunch of scoops of 0870 for it to go pink)
CC = 0.4 ppm
PH = 7.4
ALK = 90
CAL = 260
CYA = 56~57
Click to expand...
I've been following TFP for three years but this is the first year I am taking balancing seriously. When opening this Spring, I had a lot of algae and used the SLAM method. I buy my chlorine from our local Agway store, but you can find it at many box stores like Walmart. It is 12.5% chlorine, which we use for our well water filtration system. I buy the 2.5-gallon size because it is easier to manage, but you may be able to find it in a 5-gallon size.

As for your FC testing, read the Pool School article on how to test. FAS-DPD Chlorine Test You shouldn't have to add heaps of 0870 powder to get it to turn pink. Once you get chlorine circulating, and you've done this numerous times, you can guess your FC level by how deep pink it is. Still, do the drop count to verify.

Did you download the Pool Math app? It is a great way to log all of your maintenance and testing. It gives you precise recommendations for adding chemicals to your pool. And, if something goes awry, you can see what you might have missed. It also sends you reminders for regular maintenance.

SLAM works wonders. I never want to have that kind of algae again, so I am religiously following Pool School recommendations! I live in Upstate New York so we have to close the pool as soon as the leaves start turning. There are some excellent articles on pool closings with recommendations for those of us in colder climates.

The expert advice I've received from the forums has been invaluable. Wishing you crystal clear water and a sunny summer!
 
Last edited:
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PoolStored said:
At least 3-4. Every 2 hours at most (goes faster).

Test your FC. Say it is 5, add enough liquid chlorine to add 19ppm. wait 2 hours. Test your FC, say it is 15, add enough chlorine to add 9ppm.
Click to expand...
Makes perfect sense, thanks for explaining 🙏

PoolStored said:
The first one you listed would be better.
Click to expand...
Great, will hopefully get some time to pop there to grab some tonight once kids are in bed.

PoolStored said:
I wouldn't use the granules. What do you have that is in chlorine form? don't understand.
Click to expand...
Right now have these two at home:

1)
PISCI-23-chlore-granule-176218_rdge-q8.jpg


2)
aquarius-step-3-shock-chlorinating-granuels-4kg-4ffeac48-3b78-4f96-95aa-7a1d442fcaa9-jpgrendition.jpg
 
During slam test using 10ml line on the vial and each droplet counts for .5 so for example you have 7 droplets till clear that make it 3.5 ppm of FC.
Don't test for CC during slam just keep adding to keep the slam level going. Only at the end of slam will the CC come into play.
 
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wireform said:
During slam test using 10ml line on the vial and each droplet counts for .5 so for example you have 7 droplets till clear that make it 3.5 ppm of FC.
Don't test for CC during slam just keep adding to keep the slam level going. Only at the end of slam will the CC come into play.
Click to expand...
Perfect and hopefully just got it up to 24 ppm testing just now after hitting it twice this evening.

Will do another test in the morning to see where we are.
 

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Ok 24 hours in and been doing my best to keep things at 24 ppm. Think i did 4 tests and numbers ranged from 24~28 ppm where i did nothing to as low as 11.5 ppm. Ive added roughly 1.5kg of granules as i didnt make it to the store before closing last night then close to 11L of liquid chlorine which i picked up. Have around 8L left.

Reading SLAM instructions I just keep going until tick the three boxes? Do i do the overnight test shortly? Water is cloudy enough that i can see the shallow end and just barely the drains in the deep end (6ft depth). Water looks clean with very little debris or dirt after brushing all surfaces twice today.
 
Here is the best way to slam.

Get to clear water. (criteria #1)
When clear, do OCLT. (criteria #2)
If you pass OCLT, do CC test on that sample. (criteria #3).

Easy peazy, lemon squeazy...

The Walking Dead Easy Peasy GIF
 
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