It's Black, Help Me Make It Blue?

[Fluffypool]

Hello!
My winter cover tore, and despite my best efforts, my pool was black as night when I opened it this weekend. I bought this place last year and have been perusing this site since, so I have a basic grasp on the recommendation to SLAM but could use some guidance. My TF-100 kit is on the way.
Here's my levels (tested at the pool store):
FC: 0.44ppm
CC: 3.98
pH: 7.1
TA: 103
CH: 71
CYA: 5
25,000 gallon in-ground pool

In what order should I adjust these chemicals? Do I need to get the TA and pH adjusted before SLAMing? What level should I get the CYA to before trying to SLAM?
How often should I be testing?
I've pulled a ton of gunk out with the leaf net and will keep doing that as often as I have time. Vacuuming to waste as well.
How often should I be backwashing my filter (sand) during this? Should I be taking it completely off to clean it every so often as I saw in one video on here? I've read a bit about adding a little DE to help the process, would you recommend that?

Thank you for your time and help! I'll post progress photos if anyone's interested.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
Continue to remove as much solid material out of the pool as possible. Add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine each evening with the pump running. When you get your test kit, post a full set of test results.
SLAM Process
I suggest you read through Pool School - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[Newdude]

Hey FP and Welcome !!! We love pics.

In what order should I adjust these chemicals? Do I need to get the TA and pH adjusted before SLAMing? What level should I get the CYA to before trying to SLAM?

Like Marty said, we don't trust unreliable data. Get us good data and we'll go from there.

How often should I be testing?

When the time comes, every 2-3 hours is best for the first day or two. As the SLAM progresses, the FC holds longer between doses. Any time spent below Slam level increases the time Slamming.

I've pulled a ton of gunk out with the leaf net and will keep doing that as often as I have time. Vacuuming to waste as well.

It needs to go and will chew through FC until the gunk is gone.

How often should I be backwashing my filter (sand) during this?

Backwash at 25% psi increase. Deep clean afterwards to start fresh.

I've read a bit about adding a little DE to help the process, would you recommend that?

Not until the second half of the fight. The first half is a focus on FC while the fliter is holding pretty well. The second half is filtering out all that algae that you killed, while the FC is holding pretty well because the algae is dead. The second part of the fight drags on for many, especially those with sand filters and can use the DE help to speed it along.

 

[Fluffypool]

That's great info, thanks for the replies! I'll update when I get the kit!

 

[Nectarologist]

That's great info, thanks for the replies! I'll update when I get the kit!

If it makes you feel better, I was there two weeks ago. Finally, this morning I felt like I was back to 100% clean. Keep in mind that when vacuuming to waste you are taking chemicals out of the pool. I didn't vacuum to waste until I could see the bottom and got as many leaves out as possible w the leaf net. I had a lot of dirt. I'm in NY too. By the time it's warm enough to sit outside for an afternoon you'll be crystal clear.

 

[V___25]

Welcome! Sorry to hear about your swamp but you've got great advice here and are already ahead of the game with your test kit on the way. Keep scooping and clearing debris as much as possible - that crud will eat up your FC. And, sand filters take the longest to clear so you'll need extra patience. The DE later on will help but don't expect overnight miracles

We do love a good black swamp to crystal clear story so take pics along the way.

 

[Nectarologist]

Thanks to TFP!

 

[Fluffypool]

Update!
Just got the test kit, here's the numbers:
FC: 7.0
CC: 4.0 (question on this, the initial test cleared up at 1.0, but as it sat, it would keep turning pink after a couple minutes until I added 8 drops of the stuff, which would mean 4.0 is the actual level?)
pH: 7.2
TA: 90
CYA: <20 (could still see the black dot with the tube filled)
CH: 175

I've been adding Chlorine every morning and evening since my first post, cleaning out junk, and cleaning filter/skimmer.
So, based on what I'm reading, the plan of attack is to raise CYA up to 30, then raise FC up to 10, and test every couple hours until I pass the Overnight test, then keep it at SLAM levels daily until the pool clears up? Obviously, keep cleaning out junk and start vacuuming when feasible.

Side note: a couple ducks think my pool is their pond. I guess it does look like one :/

 

[Newdude]

CC: 4.0 (question on this, the initial test cleared up at 1.0, but as it sat, it would keep turning pink after a couple minutes until I added 8 drops of the stuff, which would mean 4.0 is the actual level?)

Nope. The FC test will go pink again and you only care about the first clear. Whatever happens after that doesn't count. It's weird because sometimes it happens in seconds and other times minutes (if you get distracted doing something else).

So, based on what I'm reading, the plan of attack is to raise CYA up to 30, then raise FC up to 10

CYA goes to 30 and SLAM is 40%, so 12 FC. You can count the CYA as soon as you start adding it, and commence the SLAM.

FC is always job #1. SLAM or no SLAM. Testing every 2-3 hours will really help speed it along for the first day or two.

Job 1-A for SLAM is the crud and it needs to go. It will hurt you as long as there is any. I watched my pool go blue as soon as I got the last of mine out. It is that detrimental to the process. It's hard when you can't see the bottom but it gets easier as the pool clears a little.

Once the crud is out and you've killed the algae you then have a filter fight. The FC will hold for 8+ hours and won't require much, but you'll keep it up just because there is no way you are losing any ground after all that. Filtering tests the patience of anyone SLAMing, but it's mostly a waiting game. Clean the filter at 25% PSI increases.

 

[Fluffypool]

Update, got it clean! Thanks for your help! I'm posting this late, but it took about a month.
Interesting details for anyone looking at this thread in the same position:
While I was in the process, we went on vacation for 10 days. I didn't have anyone to come keep up the SLAM, so I just left it until I got back, and it has cleared up a lot over that time. I had already gotten all the junk off the bottom that I could and done a week of Slamming before I left, but it was much clearer when I got back. Only took another week before it was good to go

 

[Newdude]

I didn't have anyone to come keep up the SLAM, so I just left it until I got back, and it has cleared up a lot over that time

We had someone recently who had very little time to perform the process, which strecthed the beginning stage for a long time. But when it was time for the patience requiring stage, it worked in his favor because he wasn't babysitting it and saw progress each time he saw it.

I'm glad yours did similar for the 2nd half of the battle