Is it time to SLAM?

[MKP11]

Bought a house that came with a neglected above ground pool (no idea how long). We purchased a new sand filter, cleaned out debris, shocked and got it to cloudy blue over the course of about a week. It has now been cloudy for over a month & 1/2 and we can not get it clear. Since the original shocking, we have tried algaecide, flocc to waste, clarifier, 3 more shock treatments, raised ph (not all at the same time) and nothing has helped. Finally found this forum, bought a TF-100 test kit. Last night the results were:

PH -7.2
TA -150
CYA -45
CH -200
FC-5
CC-1
TC-6
Did the overnight loss test and this morning readings are:
FC-2
CC-1
Is it ok the start the SLAM process or do I need to lower TA and CH first? Please advise, we just want to be able to finally use our pool!

 

[IceShadow]

Don’t worry about TA or CH. SLAM away. It might be worth trying a deep clean of the sand filter first, in case the clarifier gummed up the sand or floc got in it.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
Great job on getting a quality test kit and the test results!
Call your CYA 50 (round up) and start the SLAM Process. Your SLAM level FC is 20 ppm, raise the FC to that and maintain it there by testing and adding chlorine 3-4 times per day.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.

 

[MKP11]

Hello again! We started the SLAM process on 6/13 trying to maintain a FC of 20. With the exception of a stormy few days and lots of rain we’ve stayed on top of it pretty well. The CC is .5 or less every time but our water is still cloudy. It made progress for the first few days (can definitely see further down) but overall still cloudy. Is it safe to continue such high levels of chlorine? What do we do now to clear is so we can finally use our pool?

 

[mknauss]

Your tiny sand filter will slow your progress to clear. Do you have a pressure gauge on it?

 

[MKP11]

Yes it does!

 

[mknauss]

Great. After you backwash, note the filter pressure. You should wait for it to rise by 25% before you backwash again.

Sadly, it is a slow process with a sand filter and especially a small one like that.

Are you running your pump 24 hours per day? Are you brushing the pool at least daily? Can you vacuum?

 

[MKP11]

Yes we’ve been running it 24/7 for a month now. I do brush daily. Should we be vacuuming to waste or just regular filter mode? I guess we didn’t realize that pump is too small. What size would have been better for this size pool?

 

[mknauss]

The pump might be fine (no data in your signature) but the sand filter is designed to keep the pool clean, not battle algae and clearing a pool after a SLAM. It just takes patience now.
No real need to vac to waste as long as you believe the sand filter is capturing the debris. How often are you seeing the pressure rise and the need to backwash?