pH during SLAM and Swimming safety

[stguitar]

I have read on these wonderful forums that it's ok to swim during the SLAM as long as your FC is above min and below the "shock" (aka slam value?). That makes sense.

The other requirement is that the pH is between 7.2 and 7.8.

My question is, how can I tell that last condition? I have been slamming now for a few days and the water is just about clear. I am still waiting on my FAS-DPD test kit, so have been estimating as best as I can with strips and various liquid testing kits. Despite that, perhaps more slowly, the process has been working to clear my pool. I have what I think is a good read on my CYA, and my FC has been elevated, but ive never been able to get it up to the SLAM levels. I honestly have no idea what my CC is as I have no test kit to directly test that. Anyway, I think we're in the safe range with the FC, but the pH is not deterministic with my test kits during the SLAM itself. Pre-SLAM it was where it was suggested to be.

My biggest immediate question is if I can tell if the family can swim today or not . I should get my FAS-DPD kit next week and I hope to finish up the process properly with proper tests.

 

[mknauss]

As long as your started with your pH at 7.2 or so, and you have not added anything but liquid chlorine since, the pH will be above 7.2. Higher pH is rarely an issue with swimmer comfort. Only low pH.
CC, if any is present, can effect swimmer comfort. So if you smell 'chlorine' at the pool, that is chloramines. Or CC. That may cause some discomfort. But typically if sun is shining on the pool surface, the CC will burn off quickly.

 

[stguitar]

wonderful news!

I had read about the smell, which I don't smell much at all! Occasionally, but not consistently (referring to while I have been SLAMing). Our pool is directly in the sun all day long.

Yea, the liquid chlorine is all I have used since I started the SLAM a few days ago... admittedly right before that I was doing stupid non TFP approved methods that I had used before finding this lovely community and forum. Never again... That said, when I stopped that and waited 24 hours, and started the SLAM taught here, I did check my pH. Good to know that it should only be going up which isn't a swimmer problem.

Thank you again!!