- Jul 8, 2020
- 223
- Pool Size
- 10500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Intex Krystal Clear
My sand filter was upgraded when installed to a 16" Intex 3000 gph and a skimmer. This picture is new. 
My first SLAM
- Thread starter Michelle22
- Start date
Hello @CarverGirl
I’m almost 24 hours into my first SLAM as well. Took 8 gallons of 10% to get to 23FC as my CYA was at 55.
The forum has been super helpful for me, testing and following the SLAM chart. Today I will maintain and hopefully in a few days will be back to clear.
I have one gallon left so more than likely will have to run out and get some more.
I’m almost 24 hours into my first SLAM as well. Took 8 gallons of 10% to get to 23FC as my CYA was at 55.
The forum has been super helpful for me, testing and following the SLAM chart. Today I will maintain and hopefully in a few days will be back to clear.
I have one gallon left so more than likely will have to run out and get some more.
- Jul 8, 2020
- 223
- Pool Size
- 10500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Intex Krystal Clear
Oooooooooh lala. That's much better than I was thinking. Stay they course. 
Round up to 60. Any 1-9 is a 10, and as such, save yourself the headache of trying to guess in between the 10s and only fill to the 10s. Reuse the sample as many times as you need to get 2 out of 3 to agree.
Only glance for an instant. Your eyes adjusting is part of the test. So a lightning quick glance, and then yes or no.
- Jul 8, 2020
- 223
- Pool Size
- 10500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Intex Krystal Clear
- Jul 8, 2020
- 223
- Pool Size
- 10500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Intex Krystal Clear
On day 4 of my SLAM and not much is happening and I feel like I'm missing something. I add more chlorine as the day gets hotter, I brush the walls and bottom. I vacuumed yesterday and backwash daily. But the water is still not getting any more clear as far as I can tell. I'm going to check my CYA in a little bit to see if that's an issue with all the water loss from vacuuming and backwashing. Could that cause cloudiness? My history is in my logs linked in my signature.
The SLAM takes a while and 4 days is not surprising, I see your cc's have come down nicely. Can you post a pic of your water? What type filter do you have? Are you brushing regularly?
I think you are probably making more progress than you realize. Pic would help
I think you are probably making more progress than you realize. Pic would help
- Jul 8, 2020
- 223
- Pool Size
- 10500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Intex Krystal Clear
Sorry I missed your sand filter. I think you are doing everything right. Sand filters seem to be a little slow at clearing the pool but you will get there. From your nice pic, I would say you are close to being done. Be patient and give it a couple of days more.
+1. The last little bit takes the longest. Not only are you trying to trap any solids (dead algae) in the filter, but you are mixing as well. Imagine you were scooping the hazy water with a 5 gallon bucket and adding a fresh bucket for every one you scooped out. It would be utterly miserable. Be happy the pump/filter are doing all the work for you and wait it out. Take a breath. Have a beverage. You're getting there slowly but surely.
- Jul 8, 2020
- 223
- Pool Size
- 10500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Intex Krystal Clear
It would help speed things along for sure. Watch the PSI as it will probably go up rather quickly the first bunch of times.
- Jul 8, 2020
- 223
- Pool Size
- 10500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Intex Krystal Clear
Thanks...and if it goes up, just keep backwashing and adding more? (Just making sure I understand before I commit...)
Exactly like that. The DE captures finer particles so your sand filter will clog up quicker than if it was left alone. Normally the filter performs better slightly dirty as all the crud in it traps finer crud than the sand does. (To a point). Adding DE basically starts you at that increased efficiency point without having to wait for the crud to accumulate. The downside is much less interval between cleanings.
- Jul 8, 2020
- 223
- Pool Size
- 10500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Intex Krystal Clear
Makes sense, thank you. I wonder if I'm backwashing too often. I'll watch the gauge more closely. (As a side note: I may research different filter media for next season. It's not that I dislike the sand...but if there's something better I would consider it.)
- Jul 8, 2020
- 223
- Pool Size
- 10500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Intex Krystal Clear
I also retested my CYA…have been dosing under my target! Three test confirmed 70 instead of the 60 I had been reading. Oops. More chlorine added to make up the difference.
It's always best to be as close as possible, but CYA can be +/- 10 without any real harm or drastic loss in efficiency.
Now. When you are off 10 from the test strips values of 0, 30-50, 100, 150, 200+......
You were never 'close enough' in the first place.
- Jul 8, 2020
- 223
- Pool Size
- 10500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Intex Krystal Clear
SLAM is 40% so its 4ppm FC per 10 CYA. Maintaining that 4ppm is easy once it's in because the added CYA adds more buffering.
But yeah. If you were already down, and yiur target went up, you'll be pouring for a while.