First time SLAM question.

[nathandantzler]

First off, I want to say thank you to TFP and all who contribute, this site has been a lifesaver for me as a new pool owner trying to turn a swamp into an oasis.

My wife and I bought a house a month ago with a 30,000 gallon liner pool with a sand filter that was quite literally a swamp when we bought it.

Since we're new to pools we started at our local pool store and spent for $700 in the first two weeks on all their chemicals and potions, The pool went from cloudy green to cloudy blue, but never got past that. Everyday the FC would read 0 within a few hours of shocking with CalHypo. They kept pushing more potions...I knew it was time to ditch the pool store as soon as I found TFP, so THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Ok, so I got the 2006 test kit and started the SLAM 10 days ago with the following numbers:

FC:0
CC:0
PH:7.2
TA:80
CYA:30
CH:250

I work at home so I've been able to stay vigilant and test every few hours keeping the FC around 12, brushing and vacuuming 2x daily and using a LOT of 10% liquid chlorine. So far I've used over 70 gallons, and it's getting slightly better everyday. It started so cloudy that I couldn't even see the vacuum head on the bottom of the shallow end. It's now the end of day 10 and I the shallow end is crystal clear and I can finally start to see the drain in the deep end.

I know I need to pass all 3 tests to end the SLAM, and I'm not quite there yet, but is it normal to use THAT MUCH liquid chlorine??? I've been buying so much that I have to go to multiple stores because I'm clearing the shelves (Walmart and home depot both have 10% LC for around $3.50 a gallon locally).

It's been really hot here in Nashville, TN and my pool gets full sun all day. Should I raise the CYA or wait until I complete the SLAM?


Thank you all for everything you contribute, I don't know how anyone could even own a pool without the info on this site.

Nathan

Here is a pic from a month ago and another from 2 days ago (It's more clear now, I'll post an updated pic tomorrow)

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
You have a large pool. So you will take a lot of chlorine to clear it.
A lot of the potions you added from the pool store have to be oxidized by the chlorine. And none of them will help the cloudy water, most may increase it.

Pool Owner Patience -- you really need it with a sand filter. They take the longest to clear a pool.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Pool School eBook.

 

[zea3]

Hi, welcome to TFP! If you had a really swampy pool then yes, you could go through that much chlorine in a slam. Congratulations, you are on the home stretch! When was the last time you tested the CYA?

 

[nathandantzler]

I forgot to mention that I've been adding 1/2 cup DE to the skimmer for the last 2 days, raising the pressure from 12psi to 13psi and backwashing every few hours when it climbs, then repeat. It seems to have helped nudge the process along a little faster.

 

[nathandantzler]

Thanks guys! I tested the CYA today and it's either 30 or just under (it's hard to tell)

 

[zea3]

Keep it at 30 until the slam is completed. When the pool is clear you can do the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test and make sure all the algae is dead. Keep adding the DE to your filter, you are doing great!

 

[nathandantzler]

I can finally see the bottom of the deep end clearly! I'm literally having to drive all over town to find liquid chlorine now, I've bought up everything from my local Home Depot, Lowes and Walmart stores, and it looks as thought none of them will be stocking up on more since it's late in the summer now. 2 local pool stores sell liquid chlorine, but it's $6 a gallon and they store it outside in the sun...nope.

 

[nathandantzler]

Ok so I bought chlorine at the only store that had any in stock (a Lowe’s 30 miles from my house), but after testing I saw that it wasn’t working, I looked at the bottles and saw that they’re manufactured in 2016.

I’m so close to finishing the slam but I’m not sure what to do other than buy 6% Clorox. Do you guys have any other suggestions?

 

[zea3]

If you didn't use all the bottles I would take them back and get a refund. You can use plain, unscented bleach, you'll just buy more of it to get the same results. If you have an Aldi's I would recommend their bleach, or Walmart's Great Value bleach.

 

[critter783]

I don't know how accurate their inventory is, but I see a bunch of Home Depots in Nashville that have 3-packs of HDX Chlorinating Liquid in stock for $10.33 (bulk discounted to 9.30 if you buy 4 or more).

 

[nathandantzler]

Thanks @critter783, yeah I saw that too but most we out of stock when I got there I finally found one that had some so I loaded up and got 10 more boxes.

 

[nathandantzler]

Ok so I've passed the OCLT and water is perfectly clear in the shallow end and just a touch cloudy in the deep end. I'm new to owning and maintaining a pool so I'm not sure how clear it should be in the deep end (8ft deep). Here are pics, what do you guys think?

 

[Mr Bruce]

Not clear enough! You should be able to tell if a quarter is heads or tails in the deep end.

Back to your chlorine sourcing, my last days of being a jug hauler I would buy 5 gallon jugs of 12% from a local cleaning supply company. That'd last me pretty much a week. Be worth calling around but it sounds like you may never need that much bleach again

 

[nathandantzler]

Thanks @Mr Bruce! I'll keep SLAMMING then! And yeah that's a good call, I'll try that next time.

Thanks!

 

[IceShadow]

I recommend pointing a return jet down toward the deep end to help mix that water up to where the suction valves can get it and send it through the filter.

 

[zea3]

You are very close!