Pool won't clear up - Help!

[Mr. SkW3rL]

@PoolStored @IceShadow
Just to make sure I understand and am getting ready to do this correctly. I am currently sitting at an FC of roughly 12ppm and I need to raise it to 24ppm for the next few days, 3ish times a day. On the PoolMath app, I am looking to increase my FC by 12ppm. This number will change as I test throughout the day and vary based on test results. One time I might only need to bring it up 1ppm and others I might need to raise it by 8ppm.

 

[IceShadow]

@PoolStored @IceShadow
Just to make sure I understand and am getting ready to do this correctly. I am currently sitting at an FC of roughly 12ppm and I need to raise it to 24ppm for the next few days, 3ish times a day. On the PoolMath app, I am looking to increase my FC by 12ppm. This number will change as I test throughout the day and vary based on test results. One time I might only need to bring it up 1ppm and others I might need to raise it by 8ppm.

That's exactly how the chlorine part of a SLAM works. It's recommended to test and bring it back to 24ppm more often than 3 times a day, if your life allows, especially for the first few days, up to once an hour. That's when most of the real killing of algae is happening. After that, when you aren't losing any overnight, you're just keeping it high so that algae can't regain a foothold while you filter out all of the dead stuff until your pool is crystal clear.

 

[IceShadow]

Don't forget the other elements of the SLAM Process - brushing / vacuuming, making sure your filter isn't clogging by backwashing when it goes 25% over clean value, etc. It's all important.

 

[Mr. SkW3rL]

That's exactly how the chlorine part of a SLAM works. It's recommended to test and bring it back to 24ppm more often than 3 times a day, if your life allows, especially for the first few days, up to once an hour. That's when most of the real killing of algae is happening. After that, when you aren't losing any overnight, you're just keeping it high so that algae can't regain a foothold while you filter out all of the dead stuff until your pool is crystal clear.

OK, cool, thank you. With the weekend coming up I'll be able to do more than three times a day.

Don't forget the other elements of the SLAM Process - brushing / vacuuming, making sure your filter isn't clogging by backwashing when it goes 25% over clean value, etc. It's all important.

Sweeping is done daily already, and there for a while backwashing the filter was too. Almost second nature now! haha

 

[IceShadow]

I would note the clean value and not backwash unless it hits 25% - slightly dirty sand will filter better than freshly backwashed sand.

 

[Mr. SkW3rL]

@PoolStored potential dumb question incoming. Is it possible for FC to rise throughout the night? I started the SLAM process at 1830cdt yesterday. I started off with an FC of 9.5 and used 245oz of 10%lc. At 2000cdt, I had an FC of 20.5 and used 68oz of 10%lc. At 2300cdt, I had an FC of 25. Weird, I thought. I chopped it up to maybe adding too much LC. Pump ran all night. Checked this morning at 0700cdt and had an FC of 27. Now I know I’m not crazy, but I thought I was supposed to lose FC. Pool is cloudy, but no visible “dust” on the floor. I’m going to continue to SLAM for another day or so and monitor my levels. I did not test CC this morning but will the next time I test.

 

[PoolStored]

@PoolStored potential dumb question incoming. Is it possible for FC to rise throughout the night? I started the SLAM process at 1830cdt yesterday. I started off with an FC of 9.5 and used 245oz of 10%lc. At 2000cdt, I had an FC of 20.5 and used 68oz of 10%lc. At 2300cdt, I had an FC of 25. Weird, I thought. I chopped it up to maybe adding too much LC. Pump ran all night. Checked this morning at 0700cdt and had an FC of 27. Now I know I’m not crazy, but I thought I was supposed to lose FC. Pool is cloudy, but no visible “dust” on the floor. I’m going to continue to SLAM for another day or so and monitor my levels. I did not test CC this morning but will the next time I test.

My guess is that it is a combination of factors. Your pool isn't perfect at circulation. Usually, 30 minutes is enough time to mix stuff up. Maybe not in your pool. Testing is another factor. Are you holding the bottle vertical? Are you Veeeeeery gently squeezing drops, allowing them to form on their own and drop because they want to drop vs. quickly squeezing? Do you have a speed stir? Take a bit of time with the testing and allow an hour after addition to test when you start OCLT. SLAM until your loss is <1ppm FC, CC <=.5 and water is clear including NO haze, cloudy, NOTHING on floors or walls.

 

[Mr. SkW3rL]

My guess is that it is a combination of factors. Your pool isn't perfect at circulation. Usually, 30 minutes is enough time to mix stuff up. Maybe not in your pool. Testing is another factor. Are you holding the bottle vertical? Are you Veeeeeery gently squeezing drops, allowing them to form on their own and drop because they want to drop vs. quickly squeezing? Do you have a speed stir? Take a bit of time with the testing and allow an hour after addition to test when you start OCLT. SLAM until your loss is <1ppm FC, CC <=.5 and water is clear including NO haze, cloudy, NOTHING on floors or walls.

Holding vertical, no. Squeezing gently and letting drop form, yes. Smart stir is coming, they were back ordered. My wife stirs while I drop. Thank you for all your help. I will continue with the SLAM as it is still hazy and I have not confirmed the CC. I will keep this post updated with my latest.

 

[PoolStored]

Great. Hold the bottle vertical.

 

[jasonegreen1978]

@PoolStored potential dumb question incoming. Is it possible for FC to rise throughout the night? I started the SLAM process at 1830cdt yesterday. I started off with an FC of 9.5 and used 245oz of 10%lc. At 2000cdt, I had an FC of 20.5 and used 68oz of 10%lc. At 2300cdt, I had an FC of 25. Weird, I thought. I chopped it up to maybe adding too much LC. Pump ran all night. Checked this morning at 0700cdt and had an FC of 27. Now I know I’m not crazy, but I thought I was supposed to lose FC. Pool is cloudy, but no visible “dust” on the floor. I’m going to continue to SLAM for another day or so and monitor my levels. I did not test CC this morning but will the next time I test.

I had the same issue during my slam. Wasn’t able to figure it out. But since slam checking only 1 time a day no problems. I’m guessing as I was checking so often maybe it hadn’t all got mix through.

 

[Mr. SkW3rL]

I had the same issue during my slam. Wasn’t able to figure it out. But since slam checking only 1 time a day no problems. I’m guessing as I was checking so often maybe it hadn’t all got mix through.

That’s a good thought. I’m going to try something a little different and see if it helps next time.

 

[Mr. SkW3rL]

@PoolStored So far, so good. Yesterday the pool really cleared up. We can see the bottom now and only looks a little hazy. I was in the habit of going every two hours and checking/adding 10% LC throughout the weekend. I tested the FC last night before bed and was at ~24ppm and then again this morning before work (0600cdt) before the sun had a chance to come up and the FC was at 23.5-24ppm. So, if I did this correctly, I know now the FC has passed the OCLT and the CC was <.5ppm. Just waiting for the pool to be crystal clear before stopping the SLAM. I want to thank you again for your help. My wife got up on Sunday and took pics of the pool, she was so excited to be able to see the bottom again. We really thought we were going to have to drain and refill. I will still keep this updated as I progress throughout this process.

When this is done, is there a certain step by step to adding different chemicals? For example, if I needed to add something for CH and something for TA at the same time, does it matter what order it is done in? Leslie's has an order they'd like you to follow, but I don't believe anything they say anymore. I'll never use them again.

As much as I don't want to, we will need to drain the pool in the off season anyway. Houston has very soft ground and although I thought I beat the leg spots to heck, apparently I didn't get enough compaction. In the corner where the it was the most unlevel (about an inch or so) the weight of the water on that side has continuously sunk into the ground and has continued along the length of the one whole side. I am going to drain the pool, replace the dirt, compact, and place 2'x2' pavers underneath all the legs for better weight distribution.

 

[mknauss]

When this is done, is there a certain step by step to adding different chemicals?

Not really. If adding things like CH (which you never need to add for a vinyl liner pool) and baking soda for TA (which again, you should never need to add with your fill water), you should do those on separate days to keep the pool from clouding up.

The things you will have to add, liquid chlorine and muriatic acid, just do not add at the same time. Give them a few minutes apart with the pump running. Brush the area, especially with an above ground pool.

 

[Mr. SkW3rL]

Not really. If adding things like CH (which you never need to add for a vinyl liner pool) and baking soda for TA (which again, you should never need to add with your fill water), you should do those on separate days to keep the pool from clouding up.

The things you will have to add, liquid chlorine and muriatic acid, just do not add at the same time. Give them a few minutes apart with the pump running. Brush the area, especially with an above ground pool.

Thanks for the advice! Hopefully this will be done in the next day or so and we can enjoy what's left of summer.

 

[jasonegreen1978]

So far, so good. Yesterday the pool really cleared up. We can see the bottom now and only looks a little hazy. I was in the habit of going every two hours and checking/adding 10% LC throughout the weekend. I tested the FC last night before bed and was at ~24ppm and then again this morning before work (0600cdt) before the sun had a chance to come up and the FC was at 23.5-24ppm. So, if I did this correctly, I know now the FC has passed the OCLT and the CC was <.5ppm. Just waiting for the pool to be crystal clear before stopping the SLAM. I want to thank you again for your help. My wife got up on Sunday and took pics of the pool, she was so excited to be able to see the bottom again. We really thought we were going to have to drain and refill. I will still keep this updated as I progress throughout this process.

I thought for sure I would have had to drain and refill as well. It’s funny as I was all excited for a few days just saying omg it’s blue not green ooohhhh now I can see the bottom. So satisfying the day you go my slam is done