Pool Just Opened - A Few Q’s

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I’m a fan of backwashing more frequently. Every two weeks. You don’t have to backwash long, you just have to backwash until the water runs clean. As the pressure increases, it puts a little more strain on the system so why not nip it in the bud? If your pressure is running at 20% higher for a week, that’s added pressure on the system you don’t need. Backwashing seems to alleviate a lot of problems.
 
Tom Jensen said:
I’m a fan of backwashing more frequently. Every two weeks. You don’t have to backwash long, you just have to backwash until the water runs clean. As the pressure increases, it puts a little more strain on the system so why not nip it in the bud? If your pressure is running at 20% higher for a week, that’s added pressure on the system you don’t need. Backwashing seems to alleviate a lot of problems.
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There’s merit in that, but it should be weighed against efficiency of filtering. A slightly dirty filter will filter better than a freshly cleaned one as the sediment caught in the sand helps to catch even finer sediment. That’s why we say 25% especially during a SLAM - sand filters need that boost to get the fine crud out.
 
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mknauss said:
Your pH is in range so no action needed.
You need to add 30 ppm of CYA using the sock method.
Once you get that dissolving, raise your FC to 12 ppm which is SLAM level for 30 ppm CYA.
Test and maintain 12 ppm FC until you pass the three criteria shown in SLAM Process
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We found a nearby hardware store that has the CYA in stock.

I reread your comments below and now not sure whether you're recommending the full SLAM process or just referring to parts of it.
'...raise your FC to 12 ppm which is SLAM level for 30 ppm CYA.
Test and maintain 12 ppm FC until you pass the three criteria shown in SLAM Process'
Can you please confirm when you have a moment?
 
Tom Jensen said:
I’m a fan of backwashing more frequently. Every two weeks. You don’t have to backwash long, you just have to backwash until the water runs clean. As the pressure increases, it puts a little more strain on the system so why not nip it in the bud? If your pressure is running at 20% higher for a week, that’s added pressure on the system you don’t need. Backwashing seems to alleviate a lot of problems.
Click to expand...
 
We bought two 4 lb bags of HTH stabilizer (98.5% CYA granules). We put about 3 lbs each in 2 different socks and have them hanging near 2 returns. We weren't able to get them right in front though so they're off to the side and not in the direct stream. It seems like the stuff only comes out in any noticeable quantity when we squeeze the socks (which we've done a few times). A few follow-up questions:
1. How long should this process take? How often should we be squeezing the socks and how aggressively? The packaging suggests 48 hours but it's based on directions to add all of it directly to a skimmer at once.
2. We'd like to do some more vacuuming but that would involve back-washing, which the package is suggesting we avoid for 48 hours.
3. We should wait to get the CYA up to 30 before we start the SLAM, correct?
We have read the SLAM process info a few times so I think we'll have a handle on that when we get to that point.
Thanks.
 
By adding via the sock method you can go ahead and vacuum and backwash. You will lose some CYA as it is dissolved in the water, but a tiny fraction.
Dissolving from the sock is best if in the return stream. But squeezing as often as possible will get it dispersed too. Once it gets very soft it will go pretty quick.
No need to wait for the CYA to fully dissolve to start the SLAM. Assume what you are adding is in the water and raise your FC to SLAM level based on the CYA level you have targeted. Test and add raise your FC back to SLAM level several times per day.
 
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Making sure we have enough liquid chlorine on hand for the SLAM. We've been getting 2.5 gal containers of SuperChlor from the local hardware store and have 3 here now. The ingredients say it's 12.5% sodium hypochlorite. What we should select for Type of Sanitizer in the Pool Math app?
 

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We did 4 rounds of testing and chemical additions yesterday. Yesterday evening the FC was up to 9.5, the CC was 2.0 and the CYA was almost 30. This morning the FC was down to 3.0, the CC was up to 4.0 and the CYA was down to 20. We just added more liquid chlorine and CYA. Is this typical for the SLAM process? We haven't been able to get the FC to 12.0 even with adding all the chlorine. Is this typical for the SLAM process? Should we be doing anything different?
 
Sounds like you need to test and add liquid chlorine more often if possible.

The high CC is quite concerning. Have any pool store potions been added to this pool recently?
 
mknauss said:
Sounds like you need to test and add liquid chlorine more often if possible.

The high CC is quite concerning. Have any pool store potions been added to this pool recently?
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No, we haven't been to the pool store this year. We've gotten the liquid chlorine and CYA from the local hardware store.
Yesterday, we tested and added about every 2 hours and can do that again today? Or do you think we need to do it more frequently than that?
 
OK -- that is the CC. Just wanted a reality check on what you are testing. FC does not smell.
 
Test the FC 15 minutes after you add the liquid chlorine. It may be the pool volume is different or the LC % strength is less.
 

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