First time with slam

[narlwill]

So the short story is I had a green pool since July of last year and I am now trying to get it clear. I had a testing kit that I had bought last year (t 1004k I thank) but it didn't have the cya test. Just got that in today. I did adjust the CYA last week with the help of a friend that tested it for me. I wasted so mouch money already I just want to make sure that I am not missing anything.

FC 0
CC 0
pH 7.5
TA 80
CYA 40

25000 k Vinyl sand bleach

Here is where I am at. I only had 3 gallons (pool math said 4) of 10% bleach so I went ahead and pour it in and gave the pool a brushing for tonight since I don't have time to run to town. I also have some de from last year if that will help clear the pool faster.

 

[Texas Splash]

Start tomorrow fresh and ready to go. Add the chlorine required to hit an FC of 16 and do your best to maintain it while reviewing the other tasks on the SLAM Process page and you should do fine. Let us know if you have any questions.

 

[narlwill]

Well I had an issue come up and couldn't start on the pool till 1 this afternoon. FC was 0 CC was 3. So 4 Gallons of bleach.

Just now I had FC at 2. Pool math says 3 gallons which I put in and I swept and skimmed. Pic is from before skimming. It's a lighter green then last night I just forgot to take a pic then.

 

[reggiehammond]

SLAM Process
Test Kits Compared

SLAM process is a process but will have good results. It requires a proper test kit (FAS-DPD chlorine testing) and some diligence. Is the pool floor clean or full of debris? Just fair warning, this won't be clear and clean in a few days, but can get there.

 

[narlwill]

SLAM Process
Test Kits Compared

SLAM process is a process but will have good results. It requires a proper test kit (FAS-DPD chlorine testing) and some diligence. Is the pool floor clean or full of debris? Just fair warning, this won't be clear and clean in a few days, but can get there.

Thank you,

I have gotten most of the debris over the last week while I was waiting on the testing kit to arrive. There is still some down there but it will be hard to get the rest out without being able to see. I am going to keep vacuuming every day until it clears. Just been doing that at dusk since it's so hot right now. I guess I just some encouragement and someone looking over my shoulder to catch if I miss something. This might be more of a blog at the moment then a forum posting but this will help keep me motivated and focused.

 

[reggiehammond]

Which test kit are you using? Are you logging in the pool math app? Best $7 per year you'll spend, and allows us to see testing progression.

For SLAM, provided you have the correct FAS-DPD chlorine testing, you'll need to dose every few hours for maximum effect. As you get further along, time between additions can relax a bit.

 

[narlwill]

Which test kit are you using? Are you logging in the pool math app? Best $7 per year you'll spend, and allows us to see testing progression.

For SLAM, provided you have the correct FAS-DPD chlorine testing, you'll need to dose every few hours for maximum effect. As you get further along, time between additions can relax a bit.

K-1004 that I had bought late last year. I just bought a CYA test kit from tftestkits. It looks like it's staying between 2 and 3 FC testing every two hours and adding more Bleach. I only bought 12 gallons of bleach today so I will need to go and get more tomorrow.

 

[reggiehammond]

You have to have a K-1515 FAS-DPD test to follow SLAM. It can be purchased separately, but it's included in both kits TFP recommends.
Test Kits Compared

2-3 FC levels are likely not even sufficient for non-SLAM, for CYA 40.
Make sure you read and understand FC/CYA Levels. It's the whole basis for how to clean up a mess and keep it from happening again.

 

[narlwill]

You have to have a K-1515 FAS-DPD test to follow SLAM. It can be purchased separately, but it's included in both kits TFP recommends.
Test Kits Compared

2-3 FC levels are likely not even sufficient for non-SLAM, for CYA 40.
Make sure you read and understand FC/CYA Levels. It's the whole basis for how to clean up a mess and keep it from happening again.

Ah ok I had missed that page and I am glad you pointed that out. I'll have to order the test kit next week. That also answers question I had as how to maintain SLAM if the FC starting testing above 5.

That aside the pool is starting to turn blue and cloudily instead of green and I am just beside myself at the moment. I wish I would have found this forum 3 years ago when I bought this house it would have saved me a lot headache and money.

 

[reggiehammond]

Once you understand the FC/CYA relationship and have ability to self-test, pool care is actually incredibly simple. If you keep the water clean, where algae can't survive, then all you're left with is occasionally management of pH, CYA levels, etc.

K-1515 is usually avail quickly on Amazon. Would be great to have for the weekend as the first few days of SLAM usually benefit from frequent testing and dosing.

For now - just use pool math and add 5ppm of chlorine daily. You'll see improvement just from that even before SLAM.

PoolMath

 

[narlwill]

So I think I am good a this point I was able to source the k-1515 locally and will go pick it up today.

I think I fully understand what was happening when trying to work with the pool store. There wasn't enough CYA in the pool and the chlorine was just evaporating out before it could really work. On top of that they was only having me add shock once every other day so the chlorine wouldn't have had time to work even with proper CYA levels. Which is where all the other stuff they were selling me came in and would clear it temporally just to have the cycle to start over because there was never enough CYA and chlorine in the pool in the first place.

Right now it just cloudy and I can see the bottom of the sallow end so now I just need to maintain the SLAM level until it finishes clearing and then move on to maintain.

I can't thank you enough for your help.

 

[PoolStored]

I can't thank you enough for your help.

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[reggiehammond]

So I think I am good a this point I was able to source the k-1515 locally and will go pick it up today.

I think I fully understand what was happening when trying to work with the pool store. There wasn't enough CYA in the pool and the chlorine was just evaporating out before it could really work. On top of that they was only having me add shock once every other day so the chlorine wouldn't have had time to work even with proper CYA levels. Which is where all the other stuff they were selling me came in and would clear it temporally just to have the cycle to start over because there was never enough CYA and chlorine in the pool in the first place.

Right now it just cloudy and I can see the bottom of the sallow end so now I just need to maintain the SLAM level until it finishes clearing and then move on to maintain.

I can't thank you enough for your help.

Glad you're seeing how simple it all actually is... make sure you have enough FC. To make sure your FC is durable, make sure you have enough CYA. Always have enough FC based on your CYA and you're good to go.

Pretty soon you'll be looking at salt water chlorine generators (SWCG) which make it even simpler because you're buying all the FC upfront, and it just does its thing without you worrying.