Set back with chlorine levels

[Toad_stools]

Title says it all. I’m doing a SLAM. I’m getting my FC up fast with bleach. What do I do with my SWG during the SLAM? Crank it? Turn it to O? Thanks

 

[ajw22]

Zero.

Dont use SWG during the SLAM Process

 

[Newdude]

I soaked it in acid anyway just to be sure

Never do this again. If there is anything on the plates it will fizz. Stop and rinse as soon as the fizzing stops. Or in this case, give it a try and if no fizzing in 5 seconds, Stop and rinse thoroughly.

Been reading some other stuff online where lots of folks with SWGs are shocking once every week or two weeks

Not here. No sir. Never. If you did they were brand new and still doing it the pool store way.

Hopefully this SLAM will do it and I can keep the FC back up and stable with the SWG

Yup. You learned the important stuff. That the SWG lulls you into thinking it’s bulletproof but it isn’t. Stay on top of it going forward and you’ll see the need for more production before it’s an issue next time.

 

[Oly]

Your situation is a sign that we are approaching the summer solstice. This time of year also coincides (in the northern hemi) with an increase in new TFP members with the same symptoms.
Long days, warm water, many swimmers and raucous parties. It is easy to get behind now with so much pressure on the pools sanitation system. Plan ahead for the increasing demand.

 

[Toad_stools]

Never do this again. If there is anything on the plates it will fizz. Stop and rinse as soon as the fizzing stops. Or in this case, give it a try and if no fizzing in 5 seconds, Stop and rinse thoroughly.

Not here. No sir. Never. If you did they were brand new and still doing it the pool store way.

Yup. You learned the important stuff. That the SWG lulls you into thinking it’s bulletproof but it isn’t. Stay on top of it going forward and you’ll see the need for more production before it’s an issue next time.

Yea it’s all a learning experience I guess. For the record I didn’t clean the cell for very long. Just a few minutes and then I hosed it down with water.

 

[Newdude]

Yea it’s all a learning experience I guess

Don’t feel too bad. Lemme tell you what i did with mine out of fairness and full disclosure

I was told to acid wash it (straight acid) 15 mins mid season and again at the end. 6 1/2 years later it had sat in full acid for 3.25 HOURS. lalalalalalalalala. Ignorance was bliss. I truely don’t blame my PB for malicious harm. He was telling me exactly what he did at his own house so he was killing his own SWG too.

But yeah. Here I learned that if the plates are gray/silver and don’t have a buildup….. leave them be. Most of any buildup will knock off with a popsicle stick and anything left will fizzle with 50/50 MA. And stop the second the fizzling stops.

 

[Toad_stools]

Don’t feel too bad. Lemme tell you what i did with mine out of fairness and full disclosure

I was told to acid wash it (straight acid) 15 mins mid season and again at the end. 6 1/2 years later it had sat in full acid for 3.25 HOURS. lalalalalalalalala. Ignorance was bliss. I truely don’t blame my PB for malicious harm. He was telling me exactly what he did at his own house so he was killing his own SWG too.

But yeah. Here I learned that if the plates are gray/silver and don’t have a buildup….. leave them be. Most of any buildup will knock off with a popsicle stick and anything left will fizzle with 50/50 MA. And stop the second the fizzling stops.

Appreciate that. For me personally, and from some other things I’ve read here and elsewhere online, there’s a gap in the pool industry. For us, and seems for many others, as soon as the pool is finished (and maybe even slightly before being completely finished), the pool companies are on to the next job. There’s no onboarding whatsoever with how to run and maintain a pool. And from what I’ve seen lots of pool companies just say “now go the store and they’ll tell you how to maintain your water”. The company that put our pool in didn’t tell us anything about how to run it. Just said put salt in it and you’re good to go. They bank on you running into water issues and selling you all sorts of junk. I do recall the owner telling me “when the inspect cell light comes on and starts flashing just press and hold it to turn it off...it’s annoying and you won’t need to ever inspect or clean it anyway”.

 

[Toad_stools]

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical, but the SLAM is working and the pool is clearing. My CYA was/is at 60 and I had a heck of a time getting my FC up to slam level. It took A LOT of bleach (like at least 10 gallons) but it’s at 24 and the pool actually looks blue again.
Couple of quick Qs. When should I vacuum? There’s a small bit of debris on the bottom now where it normally accumulated anyway but should I do a quick vacuum or leave it for a while? Also, should I leave my solar blanket on until this process is completed? Which brings me to my next question...how long do I try and hold the FC at 24? CC is fluctuating back and forth between 0 and 0.5 on my last few tests.

thanks.

 

[Texas Splash]

When should I vacuum?

When you can see the bottom fairly well so that you don't vacuum-up something that could damage your equipment. But if you can see junk at the bottom, certainly vacuum.

should I leave my solar blanket on until this process is completed?

Remove it. Let the water breathe and sun oxidize the combined chlorine.

Which brings me to my next question...how long do I try and hold the FC at 24?

Earlier you said a couple questions, so you've reached your quota of allowable questions. Bwwahhaaaa! Maintain that FC until you pass all 3 SLAM criteria. Don't worry too much about the CC at every test. FC is most important at the moment.

 

[Newdude]

+1. And it takes effort to Maintain. Like testing and adding every 2 hours. Then testing again to verify you hit your target until next time.

Many folks simply can’t give it the effort it deserves, especially on a Tuesday. But if your schedule gets busy, don’t fault the process when it takes longer.

 

[Toad_stools]

When you can see the bottom fairly well so that you don't vacuum-up something that could damage your equipment. But if you can see junk at the bottom, certainly vacuum.


Remove it. Let the water breathe and sun oxidize the combined chlorine.


Earlier you said a couple questions, so you've reached your quota of allowable questions. Bwwahhaaaa! Maintain that FC until you pass all 3 SLAM criteria. Don't worry too much about the CC at every test. FC is most important at the moment.

Ha yea I def am over my Q quota this past week

 

[Toad_stools]

+1. And it takes effort to Maintain. Like testing and adding every 2 hours. Then testing again to verify you hit your target until next time.

Many folks simply can’t give it the effort it deserves, especially on a Tuesday. But if your schedule gets busy, don’t fault the process when it takes longer.

FC is right at 24 now and been at 24 for last 4 hours. I can see to the bottom no prob. Hallelujah. Cover is now off. Should I let it come back down now?

 

[Toad_stools]

+1. And it takes effort to Maintain. Like testing and adding every 2 hours. Then testing again to verify you hit your target until next time.

Many folks simply can’t give it the effort it deserves, especially on a Tuesday. But if your schedule gets busy, don’t fault the process when it takes longer.

I work from home...so in between meetings I run out back to obsess over the water

 

[Newdude]

Should I let it come back down now

Gotta pass the OCLT first. But you can let it drift down between now and nighttime.

 

[Toad_stools]

Gotta pass the OCLT first. But you can let it drift down between now and nighttime.

Right. Ok thanks will do that tonight.

 

[Toad_stools]

Right. Ok thanks will do that tonight.

Ok. Vacuumed and all clean once more. FC went up to 27 on the last test but I had added another gallon of bleach to make sure I maintained 24 for a bit longer. Water is very clear again. Will do the overnight test to be sure but looks like success guys. Didn’t seem to take too long start to finish. 24 hours or so? But I think I caught it before it got really bad. Many thanks again.

 

[Newdude]

Didn’t seem to take too long start to finish. 24 hours or so? But I think I caught it before it got really bad

This is HUGE. Anyone who stays on top of their testing sees a problem long before it becomes a nightmare. Many don’t even have to SLAM but those that do usually have an easier go with it.

An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure they say.

 

[Toad_stools]

When you can see the bottom fairly well so that you don't vacuum-up something that could damage your equipment. But if you can see junk at the bottom, certainly vacuum.


Remove it. Let the water breathe and sun oxidize the combined chlorine.


Earlier you said a couple questions, so you've reached your quota of allowable questions. Bwwahhaaaa! Maintain that FC until you pass all 3 SLAM criteria. Don't worry too much about the CC at every test. FC is most important at the moment.

I just donated another 20.00 which I figure is good for another 20 questions!? . Ha ha. So here’s number one: does shocking raise pH? Mine is now up to 8.0 from 7.4 when I started the SLAM.

 

[Newdude]

So here’s number one: does shocking raise pH?

Not measurably no. 10(?) gallons of ph 11 bleach won’t make a dent in 15k gallons of ph 7.2. Yours probably rose so quickly from the aeration of running the pump full time.

whats your TA ? A higher TA will generally pull the PH up pretty fast.

 

[Toad_stools]

Not measurably no. 10(?) gallons of ph 11 bleach won’t make a dent in 15k gallons of ph 7.2. Yours probably rose so quickly from the aeration of running the pump full time.

whats your TA ? A higher TA will generally pull the PH up pretty fast.

Just did a round of tests and TA is 120.