Hello TPF friends: I am in need of advice. Forgive the long email; I am trying to include more rather than less information. I own a relatively new 21,598 gallon rectangular Gunite pool in central Florida with Jandy Truclear SWG. We use an electric heat pump in Florida "winters." Construction completed and start up occurred in October/November 2020. I have been maintaining the pool myself. I would like to continue to do so. I brush and vacuuming is done with a zodiac MX8. I use a Taylor FAS-DPD (salt) test kit. I also frequently use Aqua check 7 test strips, for quick pre-work chlorine gut check tests. I have read everything I can get my hands on regarding pool chemistry, here and elsewhere. I have tried to be meticulous, but there have been chemistry and balancing problems, and more so than I expected. Was tracking all of my data, but had a recent iPhone wipe and lost my pool math information. However, I kept on with testing and have just restarted the pool math tracking, but only following the newest problems.
I had trouble maintaining chlorine levels, roughly 3 months ago. Pool construction company said it was phosphates or nitrates. They added phosphate remover. I ran the SWG for 16 hours a day at 80 to 100%. Problems sustaining free chlorine persisted. Took a sample to pinch a penny, who said there were zero phosphates and nitrates weren't a problem. I followed their advice to shock the pool using five small bags of Suncoast Shock for Vinyl & Concrete Pools, 1 Lb. Everything was fine for a while, but sustained free chlorine problems returned (i.e. FC fell off). This coincided with me noticing that the Jandy true clear salt cell was leaking and defective. It was leaking from the top, and I made a warranty claim, after reviewing threads here which showed this was not rare and requires replacement. By the time the pool warranty company came out to replace the salt cell (2 days ago), the Jandy "brain" (power unit) was displaying "check cell." The cell was not chlorinating. I tested and found zero free chlorine in the pool. I also noticed a small amount of green algae beginning to grow in the crevices of the steps and corner of the pool, but not a significant amount. Still, it freaked me out. I have had almost crystal clear water throughout.
When the pool warranty company came to replace the salt cell, they did not explain to me what was wrong with the "brain" but said that the leaking from the top of the cell was a known defect and they had been replacing many such units. I told them about the problems sustaining chlorine levels, and they retorted that it was not the salt water generator cell, but a problem with my chemistry that they would test and confirm. They ran some tests, and although the two gentlemen did not show me the test strip, they remarked "Yep, nitrates."
In response, I turned back to these threads and TFP, rather than going to a pinch a penny or calling another service.
Yesterday evening, I brought my pH down to 7.2 and initiated what I considered to be a SLAM. I added 1090 ounces of 7.55% bleach (nine 121 oz. jugs). I brushed like a man possessed. The pool water was cloudy after brushing, and more so than usual because it was nighttime and the lights were on. I ran the pump continuously.
This morning, free chlorine was 0.4 to 0.5. Combined chlorine was 0.4.
Did I waste my time? Did I pour nine large jugs of bleach down the "drain"? Do I need to go back out and spend another sixty or seventy dollars on bleach, and repeat the process? How many times? The water is pretty clear, but free chlorine levels are low again. Help!
I would greatly appreciate any advice. I am almost at the point of throwing in the towel and hiring a pool service, because I really tried to educate myself and stay on top of this and yet I seem to be spending a lot of money on chemicals to chase perfect chemistry, even though this is new equipment and I was told there would not be big swings.
I know this is a lot, but I am particularly interested in any advice on continued SLAM'ing and whether there's light at the end of this tunnel.
I am including a link to my pool: PoolMath Logs
Thanks in advance.
Ben
I had trouble maintaining chlorine levels, roughly 3 months ago. Pool construction company said it was phosphates or nitrates. They added phosphate remover. I ran the SWG for 16 hours a day at 80 to 100%. Problems sustaining free chlorine persisted. Took a sample to pinch a penny, who said there were zero phosphates and nitrates weren't a problem. I followed their advice to shock the pool using five small bags of Suncoast Shock for Vinyl & Concrete Pools, 1 Lb. Everything was fine for a while, but sustained free chlorine problems returned (i.e. FC fell off). This coincided with me noticing that the Jandy true clear salt cell was leaking and defective. It was leaking from the top, and I made a warranty claim, after reviewing threads here which showed this was not rare and requires replacement. By the time the pool warranty company came out to replace the salt cell (2 days ago), the Jandy "brain" (power unit) was displaying "check cell." The cell was not chlorinating. I tested and found zero free chlorine in the pool. I also noticed a small amount of green algae beginning to grow in the crevices of the steps and corner of the pool, but not a significant amount. Still, it freaked me out. I have had almost crystal clear water throughout.
When the pool warranty company came to replace the salt cell, they did not explain to me what was wrong with the "brain" but said that the leaking from the top of the cell was a known defect and they had been replacing many such units. I told them about the problems sustaining chlorine levels, and they retorted that it was not the salt water generator cell, but a problem with my chemistry that they would test and confirm. They ran some tests, and although the two gentlemen did not show me the test strip, they remarked "Yep, nitrates."
In response, I turned back to these threads and TFP, rather than going to a pinch a penny or calling another service.
Yesterday evening, I brought my pH down to 7.2 and initiated what I considered to be a SLAM. I added 1090 ounces of 7.55% bleach (nine 121 oz. jugs). I brushed like a man possessed. The pool water was cloudy after brushing, and more so than usual because it was nighttime and the lights were on. I ran the pump continuously.
This morning, free chlorine was 0.4 to 0.5. Combined chlorine was 0.4.
Did I waste my time? Did I pour nine large jugs of bleach down the "drain"? Do I need to go back out and spend another sixty or seventy dollars on bleach, and repeat the process? How many times? The water is pretty clear, but free chlorine levels are low again. Help!
I would greatly appreciate any advice. I am almost at the point of throwing in the towel and hiring a pool service, because I really tried to educate myself and stay on top of this and yet I seem to be spending a lot of money on chemicals to chase perfect chemistry, even though this is new equipment and I was told there would not be big swings.
I know this is a lot, but I am particularly interested in any advice on continued SLAM'ing and whether there's light at the end of this tunnel.
I am including a link to my pool: PoolMath Logs
Thanks in advance.
Ben
Just catching up on this thread & your plight. 
