Just opened pool

[SeanyAny]

Sun came out about 30 minutes ago. FC still holding at 16

 

[SeanyAny]

When sun no longer hits the pool, I will take another reading. If its still at 16, I will leave and check early in the am.

 

[SeanyAny]

Checked this morning. FC was at 14.5

 

[SeanyAny]

Checked this morning. FC was at 14.5

 

[Texas Splash]

14.5 this morning. What was it for your first test (in darkness) last night?

 

[SeanyAny]

It was 16 last night.

 

[Texas Splash]

It was 16 last night.

Well shoot. So onto more of the SLAM Process I'm assuming? Do you have any concerns about how it's going or what to do next?

 

[SeanyAny]

Well, I've been running the robot vacuum and brushing. The pool water is blue but cloudy. Pump has been on all the time. Getting pretty good pressure from the return jets. When I first opened, it was dark with a lot of gunk in it. All of that's gone.

 

[Texas Splash]

Sounds like you are doing well with the SLAM Process. It does take time, especially with a crud-filled pool, so try to be consistent and patient. As visibility improves, pay close attention to any areas you might have overlooked when it was still a swamp. Backwash when the pressure increases by 25%, and do your best to maintain the FC level. You'll get there. Not sure if you took pics on day 1, but looking back on pics from every day or two helps to give you some good visibility of your progress.

 

[SeanyAny]

So I should keep the FC at 16 and continue to vacuum and brush until clear.

 

[Texas Splash]

So I should keep the FC at 16 and continue to vacuum and brush until clear.

Absolutely! That's just part of the SLAM Process. Maintain the elevated FC level and continue to brush often so anything slimy in the pool gets broken-up to allow chlorine to penetrate it. Inspect any areas you can't brush like under a main drain cover, the skimmer area, behind a light (in a hollow niche), seams/folds in the vinyl, etc. Leave nothing to chance. If you have hollow steps or a ladder in the water, try to remove those as well since algae can easily hide in those areas.

 

[SeanyAny]

Thanks

 

[V___25]

Jumping in - also sand filters are the slowest to clear so that may add some extra time.

 

[SeanyAny]

Now that you mention it, how do I really know my sand filter is functioning properly. This pool was a new build 2 years ago. How do I know when its time to replace the sand?

 

[Texas Splash]

How do I know when its time to replace the sand?

Unless you ruin the sand by letting a floc or clarifier get t it, sand never goes bad. Only two years old it should be fine. A deep clean helps to open-up sand that might have developed channels and to help release debris settled and stuck on top of the sand bed. Backwash when the filter pressure increase by 25% and you should be fine. Your SLAM is still relatively new, but if you pass an OCLT later and find the water is slightly hazy, then we can come back to addressing the sand a bit more.

 

[V___25]

Unless flocculants or clarifiers were used and not vacuumed to waste, the sand won't go bad. It may need a deep clean eventually but it shouldn't need replaced.

 

[SeanyAny]

Never used a flocculant or clarifier. Whats a deep clean?

 

[Texas Splash]

Whats a deep clean?

Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter

This post will walk you through the anatomy of a sand filter, and then provide a video at the end for how to deep clean your sand filter. The filter used in the photos and videos is a Hayward S180T top mount sand filter. The images are of a similar filter. Obviously not all filters are...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[SeanyAny]

Ok. The pool is blue and crystal clear. Latest numbers

FC = 6
CC = 0
pH = 7.2
TA = 70
CH = 70
CYA = 50
Salt = 2400

 

[IceShadow]

Great! Now we all beg for pictures. ^.^