New pool owner, maybe getting there, maybe not

[wesbaker]

Hey there, I'm a new pool owner as of last November and had it opened maybe two weeks ago and I'm at the stage where I think I'm getting there, but maybe I'm not.

• 18'x32', 3'–8' ft depth, so ~26,700 gallons
• Intellichlor IC40 SWG, currently set to 40% output
• Hayward Pro Series Sand Filter 2.6 ft² (I think this is the relevant measurement), backwashed it yesterday and it's now at 19 PSI (was previously 25 PSI)
• Pentair Superflo 1.5 HP pump
• Dolphin Quantum (had the fine filter, just installed the ultra fine filters this morning)
• WaterGuru Sense S2
• Electronic salinity tester
• Aquachek test strips (my TF-Pro test kit will be here tomorrow)

I've been keeping my measurement and maintenance history in PoolMath, but here's a summary of what I've done since it was opened:

• Nervously fretted as the FC was bouncing around zero, got the salinity tester and saw the salt PPM was near 0, added 280 pounds of salt and things are consistently measuring around 3500ppm
• Added some soda ash to bring the pH up
  • Noticed my TA was high, yesterday I turned on the aerators to bring the pH up
• Noticed a very low CYA, added 7 lbs of stabilizer, then another 3.5 lbs

I think everything is trending in the right direction numerically:

• pH is trending in the right direction
• FC is stable around 3
• CYA is coming up (though still low according to PoolMath, but I'm not losing FC even with the cover off)
• Salt is stable around 3500
• TA seems high according to PoolMath

However, the pool itself is still cloudy and somewhat green. I'm eagerly awaiting the TF-Pro test kit to run a more accurate test, but I'm curious if there's anything I should do beforehand or prep for to get this ready to swim in.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
"(my TF-Pro test kit will be here tomorrow)"
When you get your test kit, run a full set pool water chemistry tests and post the results here.
I would not do any chemical additions based on the data you currently have.
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

In Pool Math, go to the Effects of Adding tab and select SWG from the list. Figure out how much free chlorine you're adding daily with your SWG's current settings. Your SWG is undersized for your pool, and running it only 40% may not be enough to meet daily FC loss of 2-4 ppm per day.

 

[wesbaker]

In Pool Math, go to the Effects of Adding tab and select SWG from the list. Figure out how much free chlorine you're adding daily with your SWG's current settings. Your SWG is undersized for your pool, and running it only 40% may not be enough to meet daily FC loss of 2-4 ppm per day.

Right now it's saying if I keep it at 40% with a 12 hour pump run time, I'll raise FC by 1.3 ppm. (I suppose I forgot to mention how long I'm running the pump for!)

 

[wesbaker]

Alright, got the test kit and did the full suite, I also ran a test from the WaterGuru for comparison's sake.

	TF Pro	WaterGuru
FC	4.5	3.7
pH	7.8	7.8
TA	100	127
CH	275	292
CYA	40	60

From what I can see of the numbers, things look they're headed in the right direction, but the water is still cloudy and somewhat green. I did go out with a brush this morning and hit the steps and noticed that it sends up a yellow cloud. Looking around, it could be yellow/mustard algae, but Virginia also gets a ton of pollen and I'm wondering if that's it.

The pool does appear to be clearing up a bit, just slowly, and I wonder if part of that is running the Dolphin a few times a day and only recently switching it from the Fine to Ultra Fine filters. I was thinking of using a vacuum to try and clean up whatever is on the bottom of the pool to see if that could accelerate making it clearer.

Any other suggestions?

 

[mknauss]

Follow the SLAM Process

 

[wesbaker]

Started the SLAM process. The calculator said to aim for a FC of 16 (with my CYA of 40), which was 3 gallons of 10% bleach which we put in last night. This morning when I measured FC, I'm at 19.5 (and CC of 1.0, for a TC of 20.5). pH was above 8.2 (I guessed 8.4). I brushed the pool as well and that kicked up a bunch of yellow dust.

I'll test around lunch time to see if I'm maintaining that FC of 16.

 

[wesbaker]

Would a clarifier expedite the process?

 

[SecoSteve]

No Clarifier. Just follow the SLAM process. Also, when Chlorine is above 10ppm, the Ph test is invalid. The SLAM will work. You are closer than you think to clear water.

To avoid this next spring, when you close this fall, bring Chlorine up to half SLAM and close as late as you can. Then, in spring, open earlier to avoid green water.

 

[wesbaker]

Came up as FC 16 at lunch with 0.5 CC.

 

[wesbaker]

Checking in with where the pool is at.

• May 31st
  • 12pm: FC 16, CC 0.5
  • 6pm: FC 9.5, CC 0.5; added 2 gallons of 10% liquid chlorine
  • 9pm: FC 23, CC 0.5; turned off SWG to do OCLT
• June 1st
  • 6am: FC 21.5, CC 0.5, CYA 60; OCLT loss of 1.5 FC; with CYA of 60 now targeting 24 FC
  • 12pm: FC 16, CC 0.5; added 2 gallons of 10% liquid chlorine

I'll plan on doing another OCLT tonight, but things are cloudy, but improving. I've been vacuuming and brushing at least once a day and there's a few wrinkles in my liner where the algae seems to gather and I'm hitting those more often.

 

[wesbaker]

Pool is looking a lot clearer this morning. Every day I can see a bit more of the bottom. One thing that's interesting is that I seem to keep getting algae at this same spot at the bottom of the pool in these wrinkles or folds from the liner. I try to vacuum or scrub these a few times a day. Is this something I should be worried about and do something more than just scrubbing at it?



FC was 24 this morning and CC is holding steady at 0.5. My filter pressure was creeping up from 19 to 26 PSI so I backwashed and the water level was getting low, so I'm adding more water now. I'll keep maintaining the SLAM today, but it feels like I'm getting close.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Keep brushing algae as it pops up. If it's dead, it'll want to settle in the wrinkles. Keep FC levels closer to SLAM level for you CYA. Super high FC levels are a waste as it gets burned off quickly during the day and you don't want to bleach out your liner. Search for hidden algae in skimmers, behind weir doors, in light niches etc. Keep it up!

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

6am: FC 21.5, CC 0.5, CYA 60; OCLT loss of 1.5 FC; with CYA of 60 now targeting 24 FC

Just saw the update on CYA level. Ignore my previous comments about high FC levels.

 

[wesbaker]

Just tested FC (11am ET) and it came up as 19.5, CC of 0.5. Pool is looking clear (I can see the returns at the bottom of the deep end now).

My plan is to test again around 6pm, bring the FC back up to 24 for an OCLT tonight, and retest in the morning to see if my chlorine loss is less than 1.0.

Also, because I was curious when I started the SLAM, here's what I've put in so far and how much it cost me: 8.6 gallons of 10% Liquid Chlorine at $5.67 a bottle, totaling $51.07 before tax (rounding up that 0.6 gallon to 1).

 

[wesbaker]

Search for hidden algae in skimmers, behind weir doors, in light niches etc. Keep it up!

I've been using a smaller brush to clean inside the skimmer and behind the weir door. I've been using the bigger brush to scrub the return nozzles and light. Side question: my light appears to not work. I'm assuming I'll need to drain the pool to replace that bulb?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I'm assuming I'll need to drain the pool to replace that bulb?

Not usually. The connections are above water level in a junction box.

How To Replace A Swimming Pool Or Spa Light - INYOPools.com

How To Replace A Swimming Pool Or Spa Light

www.inyopools.com

 

[wesbaker]

Alright, here's where I'm at as of this morning:

• March 2nd (yesterday)
  • 6:30pm, FC 18, CC 0.5; added 1.4 gallons of 10% chlorine
  • 8pm, turned off my SWG in preparation for the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
  • 9:30pm, FC 21, CC 1.0, CYA 40 (should adjust FC target downwards to 16, but I didn't know that)
• March 3 (today)
  • 7am (before sun is hitting the pool) FC 21.5, CC 0.5

So I think at this point, I'm mostly hitting the three targets for SLAM Process:

1. CC is 0.5 or lower
2. Overnight Chlorine Loss Test shows 1.0 ppm of loss or less (it gained? My SWG was off)
3. Crystal clear with no signs of algae

It's that last target that I'm not quite sure of. As pictured above, there are two places where I still see what I think is algae gather in a wrinkle in the liner and at the very bottom of the pool. Am I done? Should I keep going with the SLAM process?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Does the substance poof away when you get close to it or do you need to brush it to remove it?

 

[wesbaker]

Does the substance poof away when you get close to it or do you need to brush it to remove it?

Yep, it just poofs away into a cloud.