New member, New POOL! Hi Trouble Free Pool!!

[Oz Swimmer]

New pool owner here from Australia, Hi everyone!

My pool was installed 8 months ago during winter last year (sorry you northern folk, that's confusing..)
Everything was fine during spring and early summer. The pool was clear. I was tripping to the local pool shop with my water sample and stocking up while I was there. All was good... until the weather warmed up, bather load increased, and the pool went cloudy... My SWG was running 100% 24/7 to keep up. I knew something was up, but the pool shop wouldn't tell me exactly what was going on.
The pool shop said, "throw this in, throw that in, blah blah blah". I was suspicious. My samples (basic kit), was telling me otherwise. I took identical water samples to another local pool shop- different results and with it came very different recommendations. My water was still cloudy. I was being groomed by the pool shops for a life long business relationship. Thankfully I didn't take their advice. Not once did they mention I should add liquid chlorine for cloudy water??? Probably because it would solve my problem and it is dirt cheap (not good for business).

I shocked my pool 4X daily dose with liquid chlorine (directions on jug). Water cleared up, but soon it went cloudy and the SWG was struggling again.

I pretty quickly had enough and found this website. Thanks GOODNESS! I read up and got myself prepared what to do.

I ordered a proper FAS-DPD complete test kit.

While waiting for the kit to arrive I got impatient and Slammed my pool. I went ahead based on test strip results of CYA 50. I just went for it- 25ppm initial dose, then topped it off every few hours with 6ppm dose X2. Within 24 hours the water was crystal clear. FC settled down, then the SWG was cruising at 40% maintaining 6ppm FC. All good so far, 4 days on. I may have done the trick with luck, but I'm not out of the woods yet. I'm now maintaining FC much higher than before. I have removed the ORP sensor and going full manual Chlorine production- I just vary the output of the unit to suit demand. The ORP sensor is a piece of junk and I was wasting time chasing numbers with that! On the other hand- the PH probe is working very well. Stays in calibration and it pumps the correct acid to maintain set pH. But rest assured, I will not be scared to toss it in the bin too. In hindsight I should have saved the money and got a basic SWG system. Dosing acid once a week would have been no big issue.

My Clear Choice Labs test kit arrived today. I believe it is based on the Taylor test kits in the US
Here are the results:

FC 6.0
CC 0.5
pH 7.4
TA 110
CYA 60

I'll test Calcium and Salt tomorrow.
My questions are:

Should I hold off on adding more CYA (target 80), just in case I need to SLAM again?
Should I let the TA naturally come down?
Should I let the pH naturally drift up slightly?

Thanks everyone for your help and what a wonderful website and poolmath app!

 

[Newdude]

Hey OZ and welcome !!!

Should I hold off on adding more CYA (target 80), just in case I need to SLAM again?
Should I let the TA naturally come down?
Should I let the pH naturally drift up slightly?

Bingo.

Pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to ensure you got it all. Your .5 CCs are a good sign and even if there is a little residual algae left, it will be an easier battle if you fail. Also go on a full fledged treasure hunt for algae. Every inch is suspect until you prove otherwise. All up in the skimmer, water features, ladder rails need to be emptied of old water, etc. Once you know everything is clean, raise the CYA and be on your way.

The 110 TA will likely settle to where it wants to be as you manage your PH. With the extra pump run time of your SWG, the PH will likely climb and lowering it as needed will drop the TA about 10 each round until the TA is happy where it wants to be.

 

[Mdragger88]

Welcome to tfp !
You’re on the right track -
The SLAM Process is just that - a process. You may or may not have eradicated your algae because you were mostly flying blind with the “guess strips”.
You must pass ALL 3 end of slam criteria lest your troubles will return.

You are done when:​

• CC is 0.5 or lower;
• You pass an OCLT Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
• And the water is clear.

The oclt is done with the swg off.
As is the slam - it can give u a false sense of lower chlorine consumption with it running.
Do the oclt & then that will let you know if u need to keep slamming or can return to maintenance fc levels. Many here w/ swg’s like to run fc a little higher (closer to manually chlorinated targets FC/CYA Levels) to have a little cushion incase of heavy bather loads, equipment failure, storms etc. so your fc @ 10% of cya for maintenance is totally fine

Remember that during slam you should also -
*brush/vac every day,
*check all nooks and crannies for hidden algae (ladders, light niches etc)
*As well as cleaning your filter when pressure rises 20-25% over clean pressure.

To answer your questions-

Should I hold off on adding more CYA (target 80), just in case I need to SLAM again? Yes, until after u pass the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
Should I let the TA naturally come down?

It will come down overtime as you add acid to lower ph.
Should I let the pH naturally drift up slightly? Yes, let it rise 7.8 -8 before lowering to 7.2 - this will lower your ta - 7.4 is fine for slam- fc levels above 10ppm render the ph test invalid so during slam just focus on fc & cc.

 

[Oz Swimmer]

Hi guys, thanks very much for your replies.

Just confirming I PAST the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test a few days ago. SWG off 1 hour before first sample taken and then off all night until morning sample taken. Both samples taken in dark and lost 1.0ppm FC between them. CC 0.0 both times.

I think I'm well on the way to a Trouble Free Pool (please advise if you see any alarm bells that show otherwise). I've been making slow adjustments to my chemicals which you will see below.

My latest test results are in today:

FC 10.0
CC 0.5
pH 7.5
TA 120 (maybe test error)
CH 275
CYA 75

SALT 4700 ( Tested a few days ago).

I'm shooting for a FC target of 7.5 I'm turning the SWG down everyday, still trying to find it's sweet spot. Chlorine is holding well in the pool now- even with high ambient temps (35 degrees C / 95 degrees F) and lots of full sun. Very surprising, nothing like I have seen before. I was concerned about swimming in such high FC, but after searching the forums people's experience said it was fine. They were right. Myself and all other family members didn't notice at all. The water is crystal clear and it smells clean and fresh! No chlorine smell at all. We can make out heads or tails of a coin on the bottom of the deep end easily. Everyone was amazed at how clear the pool is, such a big game changer for us. Thanks.

 

[Newdude]

Very surprising, nothing like I have seen before. I was concerned about swimming in such high FC, but after searching the forums people's experience said it was fine. They were right. Myself and all other family members didn't notice at all. The water is crystal clear and it smells clean and fresh! No chlorine smell at all. We can make out heads or tails of a coin on the bottom of the deep end easily. Everyone was amazed at how clear the pool is, such a big game changer for us.

I owe you a few more for this. Here ya go.

 

[Oz Swimmer]

Well it seems I wasn't lucky first up.... I saw the water slightly hazy yesterday, so did the Overnight Chlorine Lost Test and discovered a 4.5ppm loss. Something is lurking, time to wipe it out for good.

Back onto the SLAM process. This time I'm going to follow it with absolute no short cuts with my FAS-DPD kit.

I'm at 75 CYA, so SLAM target is 29. I'm going to shoot for 32 to be safe and hold it, hold it, hold it, until no loss. I have plenty of fresh 12.5 Bleach on hand.

My question is please: Is the SLAM process equally as effective at 75 CYA as opposed to say 40 CYA. Presuming correct SLAM target FC level's are met?

 

[Oz Swimmer]

Oh, yeah, forgot to mention... I've already brought it up to 32 FC SLAM target, brushed, vacuumed. I even scrubbed the pool cover with a bleach solution too. Round 2 is happening now. Water has cleared up already.

 

[Newdude]

My question is please: Is the SLAM process equally as effective at 75 CYA as opposed to say 40 CYA. Presuming correct SLAM target FC level's are met?

Exactly. Slam FC is 40 % of CYA. Any value will have the same effectiveness. It is harder to maintain a higher level of FC so its always preferrable to SLAM before raising the CYA in the spring.

 

[mknauss]

My question is please: Is the SLAM process equally as effective at 75 CYA as opposed to say 40 CYA. Presuming correct SLAM target FC level's are met?

Technically, yes. It is the testing and the passing of the OCLT at elevated FC levels that can be problematic. So once you are not getting any dead algae, you will want to let the FC drop to 20 ppm or so for the OCLT.

 

[Newdude]

Have a full blown algae treasure hunt also. Until its proven otherwise, every inch is suspect. All up in the skimmers, ladder rails, water features, etc.

 

[Oz Swimmer]

WOW, thanks for the fast replies. I'll continue holding at 32 FC, cleaning, scrubbing, vaccing. Will look for dead algae. Is it usually brown dust?

Probably have to hold for a few days though, see what happens. I'd rather be safe than sorry this time round. No rush.

Thanks again

 

[wireform]

It may be a good time to break open the filter and give it a good cleaning. Brown dust is proof you're killing off algae so it would be good to vacuum it out to waste if possible.

 

[Oz Swimmer]

It may be a good time to break open the filter and give it a good cleaning. Brown dust is proof you're killing off algae so it would be good to vacuum it out to waste if possible.

Great idea, forgot about that. I've got a spare cleaned cartridge, so I'll change them over.

 

[Mdragger88]

It is generally easier & uses less chlorine to hold the slam an extra day to be certain than it is to let fc drop & then have to raise it back up again especially at high cya levels. Also you always round up to the next 10 w/ cya reading- anywhere between 70 & 80 you call it 80 & chlorinate accordingly - no inbetweens. So definitely a slam fc level of 31 no lower but not too much higher either as to not waste that liquid gold.
Test fc & add frequently - multiple times per day- as often as u can, just not more than once per hour. You’re on your way !

 

[Oz Swimmer]

It is generally easier & uses less chlorine to hold the slam an extra day to be certain than it is to let fc drop & then have to raise it back up again especially at high cya levels. Also you always round up to the next 10 w/ cya reading- anywhere between 70 & 80 you call it 80 & chlorinate accordingly - no inbetweens. So definitely a slam fc level of 31 no lower but not too much higher either as to not waste that liquid gold.
Test fc & add frequently - multiple times per day- as often as u can, just not more than once per hour. You’re on your way !

I'll continue with this plan, thanks. Hold at 32 FC, test and add regularly. Vacuum dead algae to waste. Wait for no dead algae for a day or two (Marty's advice). Continue testing and adding day and night... have gone through 15 litres (4 gallons) of 'liquid gold' already. FC is holding much better now, even at these high levels, much better than in the beginning. Titration solution in drying up

 

[Oz Swimmer]

Ok guys, just an update. I've now held 32 FC for 60 hours, very consistent as I'm off work at the moment. CC < 0.5 each time. Only dead algae I have seen was in the first 24 hours (vacced to waste). So that's no dead algae for nearly 2 days. Have been brushing, vaccing, cleaning twice a day. Water is crystal clear.

My questions is- When do I drop the FC to 20 for the Overnight loss test?

 

[mknauss]

Might as well be now. You will not back track as long as the FC stays above 5% of CYA.

 

[Oz Swimmer]

Might as well be now. You will not back track as long as the FC stays above 5% of CYA.

Got it, thanks. It's evening here now, so I'll check levels and dose to 32 tonight (if required), then let it settle tomorrow during the day. Hopefully plenty of sun to burn it off. Cheers.

 

[Mdragger88]

Be sure u confirm your fc level 30 minutes AFTER your last dose of the evening.

 

[Oz Swimmer]

Hi guys, just a quick note to let you know I passed the overnight chlorine loss test. 0.5 loss the first night, then did it again the next night and zero loss!

Before doing the overnight test I let the FC drift down to 18 after nearly 4 days of SLAM at 32.

Fingers crossed I'm on my way, touch wood. Water is crystal clear, no evidence of Algae, both living or dead.

I plan on running FC at 10% of CYA (at least) from now on. We swam at 16 FC the other day and it was not noticeable at all, don't see a reason to keep FC low, better to have a buffer!

Latest results:

FC 12 (SWG has been turned OFF for over 7 days now, FC holding well). Will watch levels twice daily until things settle and turn back on and monitor as needed.
CC 0
pH 7.6
TA 140 (I think my early testing was incorrect- was stopping at change to clear/grey, not PINK)
CH 325
CYA 40 (douible checked, tested twice and again the following day- 40 is correct. Must have lost CYA due to vacuuming to waste and refilling? Have added CYA today back to 60, will test in a couple of days.
SALT 4700
TEMP 28
CSI 0.08