From installation to SLAM and beyond (previously Future Pool Location)

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Richard the cover was brand new from the pool store. For a moment I visualized a pool store employee inoculating the cover with algae...just like what happened with the Native Americans and small pox infected blankets. Forgive me if I got that wrong, I have always paid more attention in Science class than History class.

As far as the appearance of the water, I've only seen what it looks like when I peek under the solar cover for water samples. It has been overcast and rainy so the pool hasn't been overly sparkly. From what I saw, the water looked clear. I'm taking the solar cover off tomorrow even if it is raining so I can get a really good look and run the vacuum if needed.
 
This morning things were worse. Last night I dumped an entire gallon of bleach in the pool so I wouldn't fall below SLAM level. My last reading of the night was 17.5. This morning, my FC was 14, CC was 2. I removed my solar cover expecting to find a dead animal in my pool. Thankfully there weren't any. The water is clear, not cloudy at all.

All I have in my pool are the Confer a-frame ladder steps on loan from the pool store and the Innovaplas majestic 8000 steps that go into the pool from the deck. Both were new as far as I could tell. I saw the pool guys assemble them. I am going to remove the ladder today since we don't need it (it needs to go back to the pool store anyway). This particular ladder is weighted down by water filled steps. I suppose something could be growing in them. No matter on those, they'll be out of the pool by lunch.

The steps have a 30 lb. sand ballast that looks like a canister that drops down into one of the steps. I guess the canister could have some dirty water in it. I'm not sure what to do about that though. I have tried to remove the ballast, but can't seem to get it out. It seems really wedged in there. I can flip the steps forward so I can get a good look at the open back of the steps and scrub it if needed, or even if it's not.

I do have a pool light, but it is also a return. If I have to clean that, I think it will mean draining some of the pool water down below the return. Do you think that is necessary?

Every time I have to add water to the pool, it will come from the same well that I filled the pool with. Am I going to have to SLAM each time I add water? Good grief. I may have to try out some of those hose end water filters to see if that helps.

Oh, BTW, I hate removing the solar cover and putting it on and I've only done it once! I am going to have to get a hose reel or something. Right now I have 4' bubble wrap beach ball on my pool deck.
 
OK, the confer ladder has been out of the pool since 11 am. I just got out of the pool. I flipped my steps side ways and saw nothing. Everything was pristine white except for some staining on the bottom from when they rested on the ground before they put the feet on. The steps have 4 holes in them for water circulation and the placard on the front with the logo on it is removable so I did that and gained another hole for circulation.

I ran my shark for 4 hours, brushed the sides and used my leaf net and skimmer net to get every last bit of anything that was visible in the pool.

Did you know that the wind is strong enough here to fly a 27' solar cover like a kite? Folding the thing was a challenge to say the least.
 
I did my OCLT sort of. I didn't lose any FC. Went to bed with 15 and it was 15 at 5am. I went to do the CC and I got one drop of R0871 and then it was EMPTY. I have done a lot of these tests, I can say with 95% confidence that I would not have passed that test. The solution was too pink after the first drop to expect it to be clear after the second drop.

I ordered my reagent yesterday, so it will most likely be here tomorrow. Going to pick up some DE at pool store today.
 
No DE at the pool store, they were sold out. But, they did have the cellulose fiber replacement for DE. It was $10 less and 22 lbs. lighter. I bought that instead. My little one was being uncooperative so I didn't get to add it today. Tomorrow will be better...my reagent will be here (probably).
 
My reagent arrive in this mornings mail. FC was 14. I retested CYA and registered a 40 so shock level is 17. I added the bleach required waited a while and then decided to get the kids in the pool. The water was nearly 80°, but it still seemed cold to me. The kids didn't seem to notice.
 

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There is a lot of activity on the forum this time of year. I'm so pleased with all the help/support that I've gotten so far. I know that most of the guys and gals that post on here have jobs so that limits the times they can answer posts. I would like to know what to do though, but I'm not doing anything in the dark. It would be great to know what to do by tomorrow morning.
 
I did an OCLT to see if the Zeofiber worked any magic. FC loss was 3 ,CC was 1. No improvement. Only change was that I lost .5 less FC this morning than yesterday. I really can't even imagine what sort of algae or organic matter I have in my pool. It sure has quite a grip and is quite deceptive since my water has been gorgeous clear and sparkly for about 3 weeks now. I need some POP 'cause this numbers waiting game is really frustrating.

There should be some sort of dye that I can drop in my pool that clings to the invisible culprit so I can have the enjoyment of seeing it disappear.
 
The DE or fiber is too help clear up cloudy water, not to help kill off anything. No point in using it if the water is clear. Did like you just need the chlorine to do it's job.
 
I knew the Zeofiber wouldn't kill anything. I was just sort of figuring that since I'm still having trouble with maintaining FC and since my CC is one, I still have either algae or organic matter in the pool. I though that maybe my sand filter wasn't grabbing the particles because they were too small and the Zeofiber would help trap some of whatever is causing my problem. I'm not sure what else I can do to hurry this process along. I'm going out of town Monday morning and won't return until Tuesday evening. I bought a floater and some tabs, no one is going to want to maintain the pool when I'm not around. I know it's just 2 days, but I feel like it's going to a major setback in my SLAM.
 
In post #22 I included a picture of what the nasty water from my pool looks like when filled from the well. One of the posters mentioned a hose end filter. I thought I would look into that for future pool refills. We fill our pool using our water tanker, so I was talking to my husband to see if we had an adapter to reduce the 2" hose to garden hose size.

He says: What do you need that for?
I say: I want to put a hose end filter on the water coming out of the tanker. I think maybe that will give me a head start getting the water cleared up faster.
He says: You don't need to get anything. I already have filters for the 2" hose...I just never use them because I want the water to come out fast when I use it to fill the sprayer tank.
I say: What????? :grrrr:

I can't believe he didn't mention that before.
 
I don't have much to offer in terms of advice, but I greatly sympathize with your chlorine woes. My 2 month old pool has also been consistent only in its inconsistencies with regard to chlorine, with perfectly clear water the whole way through... I'm not ready to declare the TFP method a fail (as I have no better alternative), but it sure seems as though there is something out there that may be chemically more complex than what we appreciate. Good luck, and I'll be following your thread.
 
Thanks Ryno98! I'm really glad I'm not alone and that someone else has had a similar problem. We're enjoying our pool and everyone comments on how pretty the water is, but you and I both know that just a couple of days of inattention and it would be pea soup. I've been keeping track of ounces of chlorine used and number of times I've tested. When I win the battle (for real) I will post all that info.

I'm not ready to give up yet either, my pool looks great. The daily testing is getting a bit tedious so I reduced the number of times I test which saves some on reagent I think. I'm pretty sure there is no way I could have mustard algae since I'm full sun all day, but I'm thinking that I'm going to mustard algae shock during dark hours when the chlorine can really get some work done.

I've always hear that you should work smarter, not harder. So...I have to outmaneuver and outsmart this hidden enemy. Unfortunately I have limited pool experience (less than 1 month).

If anyone has suggestions for getting a stubborn slam finished, I'd really like to hear it. Especially from people that had a beautiful, clear pool for a long time without being able to pass OCLT.
 
Troubleshoot a SLAM

Merge threads. Please keep all posts in this thread until the SLAM is completed. Folks that respond need to have the history handy to best be able to answer your questions. Butterfly

Mods, feel free to move this where ever. It is cut and pasted, but somewhat changed, from my last entry in my thread that seems to have lost the interest of most of the advice givers. I need troubleshooting help! Title of thread...From installation to SLAM and beyond.

I'm not ready to give up yet, my pool looks great. The daily testing is getting a bit tedious so I reduced the number of times I test which saves some on reagent I think. I'm on my 3rd bottle since the 18th of July. I usually average 8-10 tests each day with chlorine added when needed based on test results. I'm pretty sure there is no way I could have mustard algae since I'm full sun all day. Would there be any benefit to going to mustard algae shock during dark hours when the chlorine can really get some work done?

I've always heard that you should work smarter, not harder. So...I have to outmaneuver and outsmart this hidden enemy. Unfortunately I have limited pool experience (less than 1 month).

If anyone has suggestions for getting a stubborn slam finished, I'd really like to hear it. My water has been crystal clear for 19 days now and I still have not passed a SLAM. Especially from people that had a beautiful, clear pool for a long time without being able to pass OCLT.

Most recent test results
FC 17.5
CC .5
CYA 40 (7/10)

Thanks for any help/ideas
 

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