Learning to do this on my own

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J

Jfill6

Active member
May 26, 2022
40
Virginia
Pool Size
15000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
I’m very new. First year pool didn’t work out well. Second pool year a little better but not ever clear and wasted chlorine every other day. This year is going to be my year at mastering a clear pool.

Just received my tf-100 kit
Fc-9.5
Cc-0
Tc-9.5
Ch-125
Ta-90
Cya-50

I do not know if I need to slam my pool. I have been vacuuming all debris out. My pool will hold chlorine for about two full days then starts to decline. Not fully understanding the slam process as this would be my first time. My pool is cloudy but I can see the bottom. While I was waiting for my test kit to come in I was pouring chlorine and running my filter which is how I got a little clearer. I also have boatmen so I am guessing there is still algae somewhere. Also not sure how to clean behind my steps. I moved them and vacuumed all that was under them but not sure if there is anything on them. Nothing on the front side of them.

Thank you for any and all help.
 
Jfill6 said:
This year is going to be my year at mastering a clear pool.
Click to expand...

We all started where you are. It can be overwhelming at first, but keep at it, and you'll be a pro by the end of the season.

Not fully understanding the slam process as this would be my first time. My pool is cloudy but I can see the bottom.
Click to expand...

Hopefully you've found the SLAM article, and read through the various pool school articles. The key with the SLAM is the Maintain part...it will take at least a few days and it might drive you crazy how much chlorine you go through at first. But, resist the urge to cut it short and make sure you'll have the time to frequently test and add chlorine...it'll all be worth it when you have a crystal clear pool this summer!

If anything is unclear, ask questions until it's cleared up.
 
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Jfill6 said:
I do not know if I need to slam my pool
Click to expand...
Visible algae means SLAM
Cloudy water means SLAM
Fair an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test means SLAM

You only need to fail 1. :)

If you ever suspect algae, and don't have any hard proof, run the overnight test. Organics and UV from the sun is what depletes your FC. If you close chlorine overnight, it's organics (algae) because the sun was out of the equation.

Also, going forward, UV burns off FC daily and needs to be dosed back to target level or above. Under chlorinating is the leading cause of issues.
 
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In reguards to the steps. Will the slam take care of any algae attached to that if I can scrub them? I was able to slide them over just not remove them completely.
 
No stairs in my pool now. I have been adding chlorine every two hours but still can not hit my slam FC 20. So far I have added three gallons 2 gal 12.5% and 1 gal 7.5%. I feel like it should be up there by now. Am I doing something wrong?
 
What you added would raise it by just over 20 ppm FC. Depending on age of chlorine, it might be a little weak.
Let the pool circulate and test again in an hour or two.
 

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Jfill6 said:
I have been adding chlorine every two hours but still can not hit my slam FC 20
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Immediately or after the 2 hours ? It won't hold SLAM level until all the algae is killed and even then there will be a usual amount of (partial) daily loss.
 
Newdude said:
Immediately or after the 2 hours ? It won't hold SLAM level until all the algae is killed and even then there will be a usual amount of (partial) daily loss.
Click to expand...
Like an hour after. I was trying to get to the 20 before I waited 2 hours to check amount lost. I guess where I stirred up the algae that was trapped in my stairs it’s being consumed more quickly.
 
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An hour later at the start of SLAM will see some loss. Stay the course. The more effort you put in (doing GREAT so far), the quicker it goes no matter how bad it is. :)
 
Many times, 2 to 3 hour losses the first day become 4 to 6 hour losses on day 2. By day 3 its holding 8+ hours and you aren't missed going back to work (Monday).

If you need to run out, dose early before you go and it will buy you the next couple hours away. (y)
 
Ran into another problem. I noticed my pressure gauge not working and my pump constantly having air in the top of my basket. I had an extra pump so we switched it out. Way better suction and I now have pressure in my gauge as well. The issue is it is sucking air in from around the skimmer. We also noticed a leak where the skimmer basket is. We likely have to drain to the skimmer and replace the skimmer basket (the one sold to use had a long extra piece with more places to leak) we want to get a standard skimmer basket piece. So when we do this is it going to completely mess up our slam?
 
Can not tell if I am making any progress. Overnight test has held chlorine for a few days now. I only lose like .5-1. It’s still not crystal clear and I get these little dark patches here and there each day. I am vacuuming and brushing. Am I killing everything??
 

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