Pp newbie looking for help

[Aramor]

Hello all,
I am completely new in the pool world, it’s my first pool, and I found you a few weeks ago, looking for a solution for my pool bc the technician didn’t explain anything to me and pool companies don’t work for me. Your website is amazing, I already read the pool school, watched some videos and got some info from the forum. I have to say that I am a little overwhelmed, and some times I think that I’ll never be able to know how my pool works.
Salt Water Pool, 7800 gallons, swg jandy trueclear and jandy pump variable speed. Chlorine levels always below 1 . Swg and pump works at the same time 60 % for 6 hours, speed 3000rpm. I got up the percent to 90 and 24 hours running, and added liquid chlorine 1/2 gallon, even with that chlorine level was below 1 , rest of levels ok. Apparently the swg is working, but idk why is not producing enough chlorine. so, basically we have been maintaining the pool as a chlorine pool instead a salt water pool.
I decided order TF-100 salt test kit , I received it today, and today I tested my pool water and logged the results into the pool-math. All the levels are bad. Attached results here
idk what to do…
Sorry if my English is not correct, I am still learning.
Thank you so much

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Good job testing your own water. : Let's discuss your test results:
- Obviously your FC is very low and has been for quite some time. I'm assuming the water is a bit cloudy, dull, or hazy? I suspect you have excessive organics (algae) in the water which is why the FC cannot increase. The SWG will never keep up with the organics.
- Your CYA is low for a salt pool. We recommend a CYA of 70. But do not add stabilizer yet until you confirm if you need to do the SLAM and/or the results of the OCLT first (see below). Only when we know the water is algae-free do you increase the CYA.
- Your pH is quite high. Time to lower that down to about 7.5 with muriatic acid.
- The TA is fine.
- Your CH is on the low end, but okay for now.
- Your salt level is low if you tested it properly. Is that reading from the cell itself or from your own testing with a Taylor K-1766 salt test kit?
- Your water temp shows 36? Is that a typo, or did you use Celsius versus degrees?

I believe a SLAM Process will be your next step. Now if you say the water is exceptionally clear and you don't think you have algae, then at least do the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. If you pass that test, great. If you fail, then for sure start the SLAM Process.

If you have any questions let us know.

 

[Aramor]

-apparently the pool looks not bad, but yes, is a little bit cloudy and in some areas, specially the beach area starting growing algae. (Attached picture), so I assume SLAM is needed.

- I got salt level from TF-100 salt test kit.

-Temperature of the pool is 37 Celsius degrees, that is iAquaLink says.

I read slam process and OCLT and I am a little confused about how and in what order to add the chemicals. It is my first time slamming and treating my pool, but I am trying putting in order all the information in my brain, and that’s my mess now :
- turn off SWG
- run the pump during the whole process, speed? (This is another subject, but let it go for later)
- brush and vacuum ?
- get down PH adding 7.5 muriatic acid? How long do I need to wait to next step?
- what about the salt? Before or after slamming
- if slamming, test FC 3 or 4 times, how much chlorine should I add each time? Do I need repeat this process until FC raises level 12?
- once I get FC=12, then I need to test CC and OCTL to check if slam is finished?
- if slam is done, is time to increase CYA
- can we swim in the pool during process?
- waiting time among steps?

Ufff many doubts come to me. Thank you, thank you for your help and patience.

Today is cloudy in Houston, probably is gonna rain or not , who knows, bc weather is crazy here. Do I need wait or can I start treatment?

 

[Aramor]

Pictures

 

[PoolStored]

- turn off SWG

Yes.

- run the pump during the whole process, speed? (This is another subject, but let it go for later)

Low speed is fine, 1400-2000 to keep water moving is just fine.

- brush and vacuum ?

Yes.

- get down PH adding 7.5 muriatic acid? How long do I need to wait to next step?

Yes. Lower to 7.4. Wait 15 minutes and retest to confirm, then go.

- what about the salt? Before or after slamming

After Slam.

- if slamming, test FC 3 or 4 times, how much chlorine should I add each time? Do I need repeat this process until FC raises level 12?

I would do it more often in the begining. It is the weekend, every couple hours. Test FC. Use pool math to calculate how much chlorine to add to get to 12. Add that to the pool. Wait a couple hours and repeat. Link-->PoolMath

- once I get FC=12, then I need to test CC and OCTL to check if slam is finished?

You keep adding FC every couple hours to get back to 12. No need to test after the addition, just assume it got to 12. Check again in a couple hours. When the pool is clear (no algae, dead or alive), then do the OCLT and the CC test.

- if slam is done, is time to increase CYA

Sure.

- can we swim in the pool during process?

Yes as long as FC is above minimum and less than or equal to SLAM level FC. You also MUST be able to see the bottom in the deep end for safety.

- waiting time among steps?

Couple hours between FC tests.

 

[Aramor]

The spa return valves don’t work if the pump is at low speed. I don’t know why, so what can I do?
Set the pump on high speed for a couple of hours to allow water to circulate in the spa and on low speed for the remaining 22 hours. Will it be enough for the spa? I can not think of anything else

 

[PoolStored]

If they are the same body of water, then you want the water circulating in both during slam. Run on a speed that gets you some circulation to the spa.

 

[Aramor]

If they are the same body of water, then you want the water circulating in both during slam. Run on a speed that gets you some circulation to the sp

Ok. Pool math calculated add 1 gallon of liquid Chlorine 6% to get slam level 12. The Chlorine I have is 12.5 %, so that means I have to add half gallon instead 1?
Attached picture

 

[PoolStored]

Enter 12.5 for the percent in pool math...

 

[Aramor]

Enter 12.5 for the percent in pool math...

Oops, thank you!
I already started with the process. I’ll keep you updated.
Thank you so much for your help.

 

[Aramor]

Oops, thank you!
I already started with the process. I’ll keep you updated.
Thank you so much for your help.

After 2 hours i tested my FC and it went up from 0 to 6.5, more clear, algae is missing, then I added the indicated amount of liquid chlorine and I’ll test it back like in 1 hour.
I was wondering, if FC gets up to 12 or more and water is completely clear and no algae at all, should I test for CC and wait until sunset to test for FC (start point for OCTL)?
If everything is going ok and slam is done, next step would be , balance CYA level or SALT level first ? Or maybe I would need to wait until FC drops to reasonable levels before doing anything else? Idk.

What about the rest of levels like CH?

And the million question, when should I turn SWG on,?
what percentage?
and how long should the pump runs? (knowing that pump and swg work together at the same time).
Spa and pool are the same body, filter pump is a variable speed pump, but I tried to set up pump to low speed and spa return jets are no working. They only work to high speed (3000), so what’s the advantage of having a variable speed pump if I can’t set it on low speed for longer to save energy? Anything is not working well?
Thanks a lot

 

[Aramor]

After 2 hours i tested my FC and it went up from 0 to 6.5, more clear, algae is missing, then I added the indicated amount of liquid chlorine and I’ll test it back like in 1 hour.
I was wondering, if FC gets up to 12 or more and water is completely clear and no algae at all, should I test for CC and wait until sunset to test for FC (start point for OCTL)?
If everything is going ok and slam is done, next step would be , balance CYA level or SALT level first ? Or maybe I would need to wait until FC drops to reasonable levels before doing anything else? Idk.

What about the rest of levels like CH?

And the million question, when should I turn SWG on,?
what percentage?
and how long should the pump runs? (knowing that pump and swg work together at the same time).
Spa and pool are the same body, filter pump is a variable speed pump, but I tried to set up pump to low speed and spa return jets are no working. They only work to high speed (3000), so what’s the advantage of having a variable speed pump if I can’t set it on low speed for longer to save energy? Anything is not working well?
Thanks a lot

I just tested FC AND SURPRISINGLY IT GOT DOWN , now it’s 6, is that normal?

 

[PoolStored]

Yes, UV and swimmers create chlorine demand.

 

[Aramor]

Slam level 12. Second day of slamming, water is perfectly clear, no algae, but Fc levels are the same than yesterday. Yesterday, first day, FC went up from 0 to 9.5 at the end of the day. This morning just after sunrise, FC was 9 , I tested FC and added Chlorine each 2:30 /3 hours barely , and now after sunset FC is 9.
Looks like I am keeping the fc level, but it’s not going up. Is this normal?

 

[PoolStored]

It is not supposed to go up. Test FC. Add enough to get back to target. Wait 2 hours. Repeat the process.

You likely will never test and get an FC that is at target.

OCLT will tell you if you defeat algae...Link-->Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

To complete slam:
Stupid clear pool. Link-->How Clear is TFP Clear?
OCLT FC loss <= 1
CC<=.5

 

[Aramor]

That is what I have been doing for two days, test FC , enter it PoolMath and add chlorine following PoolMath, wait for 2 hours and repeat process.
I am confused, I thougt that we had to get the target, in my case 12 and then let it drop to normal levels.
Last time I tested Fc and I added chlorine was 2 hours ago, now it’s 10:30pm. Would I need test again and add chlorine or should I test Octl and no adding more chlorine?

 

[Aramor]

That’s what I have been doing for two days, test FC, put in in PoolMath and add the amount of chlorine suggested., repeat the process each 2 hours.
I am confused, I thought I had to get the target, get up FC until 12 and once got it , test OCTL and CC and if everything is ok, slam is done.
So, I didn’t understand correctly the process. Last time I tested FC WAS 2 hours ago, it was 9, 8:30 pm. , should I test FC again and add chlorine or should I wait until tomorrow before sunrise and test FC AND see how is my OCTL?

 

[PoolStored]

Last time I tested Fc and I added chlorine was 2 hours ago, now it’s 10:30pm. Would I need test again and add chlorine or should I test Octl and no adding more chlorine?

If your pool is stoopid clear, like this...link-->How Clear is TFP Clear?, then do the OCLT.

If it is not stoopid clear, then add chlorine.

 

[Aramor]

That’s my pool at 6:30 am and 11:30 am today.
it’s perfectly clear.

 

[PoolStored]

Yep. That is Stooopid clear! Congrats.

Do the OCLT tonight, and test CC on both samples. Link-->Overnight Chlorine Loss Test