Pool opening and Slam process.

[wmorge]

Hello everyone! It’s my 8th summer and opening! Pool ownership hasn’t been the greatest pleasure for me but I keep trudging it along. 2 years ago we replaced the liner and pump. Last year that Century brand pump failed near the end of summer with only having 2 summers use. We closed up green. Our new pump (Pureline) is installed and we are up and running. I brought fresh test chems and 48 gallons of 10% liquid Chlorine. 4lbs of stabilizer . I’m ready to SLAM! This is my 3rd swamp clean up but for refresher and to help this process go quicker and efficiently.. please advise on my first step.
Here are my numbers and photos
PH 7.8
Chlorine 0
CH 230
TA 220
CYA - ? I’m guessing 20. At the 30 Mark I can clearly see dot.

Is PH ok and do I start Slamming with low CYA? As always - Thank you for your help!

 

[mknauss]

Looks like you have everything ready.
Lower your pH to 7.2. Add the acid, circulate for 30 minutes, and test again.
Add 20 ppm CYA via the sock method. Assume you have 30 ppm CYA in the water at that point. Once the CYA is dissolved from the sock, wait 24 hours and test the CYA.
SLAM Process. Brush. Test and add chlorine every couple hours to start.

 

[wmorge]

Thank you. I did add the CYA -or adding.. sock is a soakin’ and added 4 gallons of chlorine , 2 hrs later I added another gallon. Oops. Should have tested before I added that last one. I’m really surprised with that considering all the algae and sunlight that I have 18ppm FC . I’m already seeing a change. I didn’t touch the Ph. I will wait till morning to do that. Is it ok to run ph at 7.8. My water never waivers from that number unless after a rain but it settles back down. When slamming should I just circulate until algae is dead then filter it?

 

[justinc]

The pH test is not accurate over 10ppm chlorine. That's what you lower it to 7.2 before the SLAM so you have a buffer for it to naturally rise (usually that's what it does unless you have wacky water chemistry). It also helps chlorine work because chlorine is more effective at 7.2 pH. You are doing well just keep maintaining your chlorine level and running your pump and making sure to backwash when the pressure gets too high. Try to manually remove as much junk from the pool as you can and keep the baskets clean. You might want to briefly let the chlorine drop to below 10, test pH, adjust to 7.2, and resume. Since you forgot to do that before starting

 

[bmoreswim]

Since you know what your pH was before the SLAM, just add enough MA to bring it from 7.8 to 7.2 per Pool Math. In this case, don't bother testing due to elevated FC.

 

[wmorge]

Slight improvement on day 2. My CYA isn’t yet registering ..Most of the 4lbs has dissolved out of the sock. I’m estimating I started at 20.. I added 20. I’ve been SLAmimg at 16 . I put my pump on circulation for the first 24hrs to begin with then I sat it on filter this afternoon. It is wishful thinking it will be blue by this weekend. ?? It was only 61 today. Slight chill in the air in Midwest Indiana .. that water will be too cold for me then anyway! Brrrr

 

[mknauss]

When you test after a couple hours, how far has your FC fallen below your SLAM level of 16?
Are you brushing the pool a couple times per day?

 

[Teald024]

My CYA isn’t yet registering ..Most of the 4lbs has dissolved out of the sock.

Did you let the pool water warm up prior to the test? Is the sock in the skimmer or the pool?

It is wishful thinking it will be blue by this weekend.

Blue, probably. Crystal clear, not likely. But too cold to swim anyway, so let the filter do it's job.

 

[wmorge]

Sock is hanging off the side in pool by a return. I’ve given it lots of squeezes throughout the day.. I just tested it and the dot is not as clear anymore but still visible with water level at top of tube. I did not let the water warm up before testing ..hmm?.. well at the very minium there is 20 in there since adding . I’m not stressin’ It’s just a long slow process! ?

 

[wmorge]

When you test after a couple hours, how far has your FC fallen below your SLAM level of 16?
Are you brushing the pool a couple times per day?

Only about 2 . And yes on brushing. I started Sat at 3p. I’m seeing a pretty teal blue this morning!

 

[JoeSelf]

Just keep on doing what you are doing. Test and raise as often as you can. Sand filter clearing is slower than other filters. You'll just have to wait on that for crystal clear.

And if it's not perfect, but you can see the bottom in the deep end, you can get in @ or below SLAM level.

I opened Saturday and am waiting on my sand filter and hairnets for crystal clear.

 

[wmorge]

Ph 7.4
FC 10. CC 1
CYA 20? ( see photo)
CH 250
TA 170
I’ve put 48 gallons of 10% chlorine, 4lbs of stabilizer , my cya still is only reading 20?? I lose about 5 ppm during the day but only 1 or 2 ppm overnight. I’ve let the chlorine drop to around 7 for the kids to swim in.. they don’t care that it’s still green. We have a short swim season here in Indiana so ya gotta do what ya gotta do . Over all I’ve kept it above 10 and over for the most part. I do have a chlorine tab floaty in pool. Didn’t think it mattered with cya low. My water looks yellow to me.
Help please and thank you

 

[wmorge]

I had tested earlier yesterday at 7ppm. Several swimmers all day. I just put in 3 gallons at bedtime without testing which usually gives me 15 ppm . This early morning FC was 16. And 1 hr ago it was 10. I put in 2 gallons just now. I’m guess I should be at 20 I will test soon to confirm . I either have yellow algea or metals in my water because I’m not seeing any improvements.

 

[justinc]

So sorry you are having trouble clearing up the pool. Have you been maintaining a SLAM since your previous pictures back on May 22nd? Did it ever clear up for you back then or did you stop and start again?

 

[wmorge]

HI Justin, It was looking like a pretty teal color but never cleared beyond that point. I haven't consistently maintained SLAM level but for the most part I have. 48 gallons over 2 weeks should have given me some improvement.

 

[JoeSelf]

Maintain is the hardest but most important part of the slam. You have to do the best that you can.

 

[wmorge]

 

[wmorge]

I tested at 9p last night at 14ppm. I then put in a gallon of 10% and went to bed . 1 gal gives me 5ppm. I woke up to 20ppm. I’m not losing . But yet here I am. I’m really over pool ownership ? The photographs shows my steps where I poured a spot of chlorine there.. and the blue spot in water where the return clears the bottom of pool. ?‍

 

[Mr Bruce]

Out of curiosity, can you fill the CYA tube with pool water only and look at the dot? How does that compare with the pic attached above in post 12?

 

[Teald024]

Your pic on May 22 looked much bluer than today’s pic. That can be frustrating. But the SLAM process does work. When followed to completion. Unfortunately it sounds like there was a good start and then not maintained. This allowed the algae to take over again and turn the pool green again. Brushing is also important.
Are you testing and adding 3or 4 times a day? Brushing daily? Making sure filter pressure isn’t too high and clean when it does? All through the SLAM process, not just on some days.