First time pool owner

[Richard320]

Ok Thanks! Is 12 the number of gallons of bleach I need? And do I add it all at once? I read the slam process but it didn't specify.

No no no no no.

12 is the parts per million.

To convert ppm to gallons you use poolmath. Enter your pool volume and the strength of the bleach you have and your current FC reading and then set the target to 12. It will give the dose to you in fluid ounces. More details: Pool School - PoolMath

 

[Fingaling]

12ppm chlorine. You'd have to use pool math to figure out how much to use.

 

[DanielJ]

Use pool math from this site to calculate how much bleach is needed to bring your FC up to 12 ppm. You'll need to know the volume of your pool in gallons.

 

[hewing_05]

Ok got it! So I only need to add 263 oz. That doesn't seem like a lot to add. It says it takes a couple days so do I continue to add 263 every day? Or if I add this this evening will this make my fc 12 tomorrow? Sorry I just want to make sure I understand the slam process.

 

[RonsPlc]

The more often you can check, and adjust the chlorine level in your pool, the faster a SLAM will go.
Remember to brush OFTEN!
Pool School - SLAM - Shock Level And Maintain
It took me about 2 weeks to bring my swamp under control. That was 2 years ago, and I haven't had an issue since.
The majority of us have been where you are now... How do you think we found this site to begin with.

 

[Richard320]

Ok got it! So I only need to add 263 oz. That doesn't seem like a lot to add. It says it takes a couple days so do I continue to add 263 every day? Or if I add this this evening will this make my fc 12 tomorrow? Sorry I just want to make sure I understand the slam process.

You add that amount of bleach and it gets to work. In a few hours, it will be well below 12. How low? Who knows. That's what the tester is for. You test FC again, and enter your value in the NOw Column again, and 12 as the target, and it gives you the next dose. Early on, you'll be needing a lot. As the algae dies off, the FC will stick around longer and you'll need less and less each go around. Once you start doing, it will make sense. Dose it now. Test it later, recalculate the dose, and then go reread the SLAm article. The second go-round it will start to make sense.

 

[Fingaling]

Adding the bleach, and keeping the pump and filter on, will bring your FC up within 15 minutes.

Re-Check every 2-4 hours ( or as frequently as possibly). Test the FC and if it's dropped below 12 add enough to bring it back up above that.

Ideally dose it to 14 or 15 and never let it drop below 12. When your FC is above 12 it will kill algae faster then it grows. When it drops below 12 the algae will grow faster than it dies. The more frequently you can check and keep yourself above 12 the quicker your SLAM will go!

**If you're unsure of your cya level, as it is a subjective test, you could also bump it up a level and use the shock level for 40 (which works be 16ppm of FC instead of 12).**

 

[Fingaling]

Also remember to brush the pool walls frequently. And keep an eye on filter pressure. When it rises 25% from your starting pressure, you'll need to backwash.

 

[hewing_05]

So I added my sick of stabilizer and in one hour I'm going to add 3 jugs of bleach. 2 hours later I will test my fc and recheck chart and add what it tells me. I think I got it! I have 9 jugs on hand so I will probably need more?

 

[hewing_05]

Sock*** not sick! Lol thanks everyone for the help.

 

[Fingaling]

It's hard to say really, how much you'll need. Every pool is different. Some people just need 3 or 4, some need 30 or 40.

Make sure you scoop any leave or debris out of the deepend as those will use up FC.

You've got the seafoam green thing going on so it's not too far gone.

 

[hewing_05]

Can this be swam in during the process or would this be too much bleach? Also, is 12 the main number I need to aim for even after this process? Depending on Cya levels?

 

[Fingaling]

Nope. 12 is only for the slam. For regular use and with 30cya, target 3-5 with 2 as an absolute minimum. You may also want to up your cya when your slam is finished which will require higher chlorine levels for daily use.

I believe the official TFP stance is not to swim during a slam. The criteria for swimming is "visibly free of algae, being able to see the bottom, and chlorine below shock level for your cya (12ppm) and CC of 0.5 or less"

That being said it's probably no worse than swimming in a lake (algae and bacteria) or an indoor pool (high chlorine for cya, combined chlorine). I usually swim as soon as I can see the bottom and no algae and forget the other stuff

 

[hewing_05]

Ok. How long do I aim for 12 and when do I stop the 12 and aim for 3-5?

 

[Fingaling]

The criteria for ending the Slam are:

1) clear water, free of visible algae
2) CC of 0.5 or less
3) passing the OCLT

 

[hewing_05]

2 hours past and I did another test
Fc is 12.5
Cc is 1.0
Cya is cloudy now and the dot disappears at the top of glass. So somewhere between 10 and 20 now.

So if I'm shooting for 16 fc then I will now add 88 oz of bleach.

Sound about right?

 

[JimMarshall]

2 hours past and I did another test
Fc is 12.5
Cc is 1.0
Cya is cloudy now and the dot disappears at the top of glass. So somewhere between 10 and 20 now.

So if I'm shooting for 16 fc then I will now add 88 oz of bleach.

Sound about right?

Hiw many gallons is your pool?

 

[hewing_05]

12pm test
Fc 12.5
Cc 1
2pm test
Fc 10
Cc .5
4pm test
Fc 11.5
Cc .5
6pm test
Fc 10.5
Cc .5
8:45 pm test
Fc 25
Cc .5


Does this sound about right? I'm not adding anymore tonight since its 25.

 

[Fingaling]

Alright. That's a good start.

Make sure to keep an eye on the filter pressure and backwash when it's needed.

Every day, take and post a picture looking down into the deep end... Put a pool pole down in the water for contrast... It will help you see the improvement.

 

[hewing_05]

Hiw many gallons is your pool?

According to pool math it's 18,000 gallons.

Hiw many gallons is your pool?