pH Levels and CYA prior to SLAM

[Sagude2]

New user and first time pool owner here, sorry if this is the wrong place to post!

We opened a pool a bit late and the pool was pretty green. I'm assuming FC level to be 0 due to the algae. I bought the tf100 test kit and we tested TA, CYA and pH last night.

Vinyl pool, ~32K gallons

TA 160
pH 6.8
CYA 0

From my understanding the pH should be around 7.2-7.5 prior to SLAM and that for LC to be effective the CYA levels should be at least 60-70 for a pool with SWG. We have a Purechlor SWG CLG125a but from reading other posts it seems I should leave it off until I finish SLAM.

Given my current levels, should I focus on raising ph (using borax?) and raising CYA level prior to SLAM?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[cowboycasey]

Welcome to TFP

I would put 30 CYA (usePoolMath) in a sock and put it in front of the return to begin with and leave PH where it is.. your PH will rise as your running your pump constantly while your doing the SLAM Process..

Once you have the CYA in the water start your SLAM, hit it hard every 2 hours testing and adding liquid chlorine to your SLAM level FC/CYA Levels

DO not worry about anything except FC during the SLAM, once you have passed Overnight Chlorine Loss Test and your FC drops below 10 you will do another complete test and work on PH and TA

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum

Did this pool have CYA in it prior to winter?

 

[Sagude2]

Welcome to the forum

Did this pool have CYA in it prior to winter?

I'm not sure, the sellers said they didn't do much to winterize it but didn't elaborate

 

[mknauss]

I'm not sure, the sellers said they didn't do much to winterize it but didn't elaborate

OK -- so it was an existing pool.

I would suggest you follow Ammonia - Further Reading prior to adding CYA.

Let us know if you have any questions.

 

[Sagude2]

Welcome to TFP

I would put 30 CYA (usePoolMath) in a sock and put it in front of the return to begin with and leave PH where it is.. your PH will rise as your running your pump constantly while your doing the SLAM Process..

Once you have the CYA in the water start your SLAM, hit it hard every 2 hours testing and adding liquid chlorine to your SLAM level FC/CYA Levels

DO not worry about anything except FC during the SLAM, once you have passed Overnight Chlorine Loss Test and your FC drops below 10 you will do another complete test and work on PH and TA

Appreciate the help!

Should I retest the CYA levels before adding LC to start SLAM or wait a certain amount of time after the CYA has been dissolved?

 

[cowboycasey]

nope, just know it is in there.. You can squeeze the sock to get it in there faster if you want...

 

[Newdude]

Hey Sagude and Welocme !!! How was the pool covered ? If it was no cover or a mesh cover, your off season rain diluted your CYA. I looked up Charlotte and you guys got 54 + inches of rain in each of the last 2 years. (2021 isn’t in yet)


2/3 or more of said precipitation falls in the off season with July and August usually being pretty dry. So you probably got 3ft of free water exchange which is half or more of most pools. If you don’t cover with a tarp, or specifically the solid safety cover VS the mesh one, you will see a big drop in your chem levels each spring.

 

[Sagude2]

Hey Sagude and Welocme !!! How was the pool covered ? If it was no cover or a mesh cover, your off season rain diluted your CYA. I looked up Charlotte and you guys got 54 + inches of rain in each of the last 2 years. (2021 isn’t in yet)
View attachment 330078

2/3 or more of said precipitation falls in the off season with July and August usually being pretty dry. So you probably got 3ft of free water exchange which is half or more of most pools. If you don’t cover with a tarp, or specifically the solid safety cover VS the mesh one, you will see a big drop in your chem levels each spring.

Hey Sagude and Welocme !!! How was the pool covered ? If it was no cover or a mesh cover, your off season rain diluted your CYA. I looked up Charlotte and you guys got 54 + inches of rain in each of the last 2 years. (2021 isn’t in yet)
View attachment 330078

2/3 or more of said precipitation falls in the off season with July and August usually being pretty dry. So you probably got 3ft of free water exchange which is half or more of most pools. If you don’t cover with a tarp, or specifically the solid safety cover VS the mesh one, you will see a big drop in your chem levels each spring.

Thankfully they did have a solid safety cover which we cleaned off prior to removing. Other than having the safety cover, I'm not sure what all they did to winterize the pool.

 

[Newdude]

Thankfully they did have a solid safety cover which we cleaned off prior to removing.

Ok then it wasn’t rain. It was worth a shot.