Scrubbing and SLAMs

[NicoleIvy2004]

The other day I posted the below in another person's thread, and then I got to thinking about one part. It's below in red.

I have never removed my light to scrub behind it, even for a SLAM. Is this particular detail extremely important? I ask because it seems a bit difficult to expect someone to get into the dirty pool--or freezing cold, dirty pool in winter--to remove the light(s), scrub, and reinstall. Do you guys all do this during a SLAM?

This leads to another question. If it is so important to scrub all these hidden spots, why do we not have to worry about the inside of the pool's plumbing getting scrubbed? I mean, obviously, other than the fact that there's no reasonable way to do that....but just following the mindset and logic, you know?

Thanks! I love learning the nuances!

Perform the SLAM process:​

• Test the FC level and add enough chlorine to bring FC up to SLAM level 3-4 times per day.
  • The more often you can test and add FC, the faster your SLAM will proceed. However, you should not test and add more often than every two hours.
  • At the beginning of your SLAM, the chlorine is used quickly to kill algae. As the algae is killed off, you can reduce your testing and chlorine additions to 2-3 times per day.
  • We recommend testing after sunset and at sunrise to check if algae is consuming chlorine in the absence of sunlight (see OCLT).
• Brush and vacuum the entire pool once a day if you can. Brush inside skimmers, under main drain covers, on weir doors, inside ladders, and behind removable lights if applicable.
• Backwash or clean the filter when filter PSI increases by 25% over baseline.
• Vacuum up debris as needed.
• Run the pump 24/7 until you are done SLAMing.

 

[PoolStored]

I have never removed my light to scrub behind it, even for a SLAM. Is this particular detail extremely important? I ask because it seems a bit difficult to expect someone to get into the dirty pool--or freezing cold, dirty pool in winter--to remove the light(s), scrub, and reinstall. Do you guys all do this during a SLAM?

It can be. Lots of threads where people cannot pass OCLT because there is algae behind a light, in the main drain, in the weir door foam etc. Have to scrub EVERYTHING!

This leads to another question. If it is so important to scrub all these hidden spots, why do we not have to worry about the inside of the pool's plumbing getting scrubbed? I mean, obviously, other than the fact that there's no reasonable way to do that....but just following the mindset and logic, you know?

Algae requires sunlight to grow. Enough sunlight can get behind a pool light, it can't get into the plumbing.

 

[Donldson]

If it is so important to scrub all these hidden spots, why do we not have to worry about the inside of the pool's plumbing getting scrubbed?

Pool plumbing has chlorinated water circulating through it. Light niches get no such circulation.

 

[NicoleIvy2004]

Cool! Thank you both for the clarity and insight!

 

[Mdragger88]

Note*
Many pool lights are within arms reach whilst laying on the pool deck so while mildly unpleasant they don’t necessarily require the “remover” to be fully submerged.
Nicheless lights don’t need to be removed.