SLAM and OCLT help:)

[Cmills96]

Hello! I’m in the middle of our first SLAM and I had some questions about checking the levels. So using the test kit(Taylor K-2006) and pool math , my SLAM level for FC should be 18. When I test and it’s below that, I add the recommended amount of Cal-hypo(I know, I know, it’s not liquid chlorine, but we have to use it first before we can start the liquid according to my husband) He’s pretty hard headed, and since we already bought it he wants to use it up. I’ve been keeping an eye on our CH to make sure it’s not creeping up and it’s at a good place(250). My question is, Do I need to test really soon after an addition of chlorine to make sure it reached the recommended SLAM level and then retest about 4-5 hours later to check for a decrease and adjust to bring levels back up, or do I just assume the addition that was recommended by pool math got me to those levels and only test every 4-5 hours? Also with the OCLT, do I test right before bed, leave the levels where they are and then retest in the morning? What if the levels at night are a little less than the recommended Slam level. Should I add chlorine to bring it back up to SLAM level and then wait until morning to test, assuming that slam levels were reached? I read the instructions but these parts just weren’t clear and I want to make sure I do this right Thanks for any advice you can give me!

 

[Jimrahbe]

96,

The whole idea of a SLAM is to try to constantly keep your FC at or above the SLAM level. In the perfect world you'd test every few minutes and keep adding chlorine to keep it at 18 or above. Obviously, this would be way too much effort, but initially checking every couple of hours is not. Once you get a feel for what is happening you can take longer between tests.

As long as the pool is not clear, or close to clear, there is no reason to do the OCLT.

I won't mention a thing about your husband being an idiot...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[an1vrsy]

I want to complement you on taking care of your pool. Well done! I can't get my wife to do anything pool related other than to jump in. I have repeatedly asked to "let me show you how easy this is". She responds with "it's so easy what do you want me to do?" Oh well, I commend you on your efforts!

How do you normally chlorinate the pool? Tabs, liquid chlorine or SWG? Please add that info to your signature.

 

[Newdude]

Where is your 18 FC SLAM target coming from ? While SLAM is 40% of your CYA level, you can't decipher X1 to X9 because the scale is logarithmic and not linear. For example, half way between 40 and 50 is not 45. So we always round up and 41 to 49 is a 50. (Etc).

As such, when testing CYA, just fill to the 10s because it's getting rounded anyway so no need to struggle to tell if it's a 44 or 47. When second guessing yourself because it's so subjective, (ask me how I know ) It's WAY easier to tell it's not a 30 or a 50 so its most likely a 40.

Jim's dead on above about slaM (maintain). Maintain isn't let it go for 4 or 5 hours. You really want to test/add every 2 hours at first, but do the best you can with life getting in the way.

Also, you can hack it to work in your favor. You can always test/add early if you have to run an errand. It will buy you the next 2 to 3 hours away and then get right back on it when you return.

 

[Cmills96]

I want to complement you on taking care of your pool. Well done! I can't get my wife to do anything pool related other than to jump in. I have repeatedly asked to "let me show you how easy this is". She responds with "it's so easy what do you want me to do?" Oh well, I commend you on your efforts!

How do you normally chlorinate the pool? Tabs, liquid chlorine or SWG? Please add that info to your signature.

We have been using the tri chlor tabs but I’m trying to convince my husband to let us set those aside and just use liquid chlorine until we need them for a trip or something. He definitely wants to use up the cal hypo that we have but hopefully we will be done with that soon. I’ll update my signature

 

[Cmills96]

Where is your 18 FC SLAM target coming from ? While SLAM is 40% of your CYA level, you can't decipher X1 to X9 because the scale is logarithmic and not linear. For example, half way between 40 and 50 is not 45. So we always round up and 41 to 49 is a 50. (Etc).

As such, when testing CYA, just fill to the 10s because it's getting rounded anyway so no need to struggle to tell if it's a 44 or 47. When second guessing yourself because it's so subjective, (ask me how I know ) It's WAY easier to tell it's not a 30 or a 50 so its most likely a 40.

Jim's dead on above about slaM (maintain). Maintain isn't let it go for 4 or 5 hours. You really want to test/add every 2 hours at first, but do the best you can with life getting in the way.

Also, you can hack it to work in your favor. You can always test/add early if you have to run an errand. It will buy you the next 2 to 3 hours away and then get right back on it when you return.

Yes, I was having trouble making sure that I was as close as possible with the CYA reading , so at halfway between the 40 and 50, if I strained my eyes really hard, I could barely make out the black dot, and at 40, I couldn’t see it. So I was putting in 45 as the CYA.

 

[Cmills96]

96,

The whole idea of a SLAM is to try to constantly keep your FC at or above the SLAM level. In the perfect world you'd test every few minutes and keep adding chlorine to keep it at 18 or above. Obviously, this would be way too much effort, but initially checking every couple of hours is not. Once you get a feel for what is happening you can take longer between tests.

As long as the pool is not clear, or close to clear, there is no reason to do the OCLT.

I won't mention a thing about your husband being an idiot...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Haha, I haven’t mentioned it to him either
My pool is actually crystal clear right now, which is crazy, because I thought I had seen it pretty darn clear before, but man, was I wrong. It’s like glass right now

 

[Newdude]

So I was putting in 45 as the CYA.

Ok GREAT. Round up from now on.

 

[Cmills96]

Ok GREAT. Round up from now on.

Ok! Will do! Thanks!!

 

[Cmills96]

Ok GREAT. Round up from now on.

I want to complement you on taking care of your pool. Well done! I can't get my wife to do anything pool related other than to jump in. I have repeatedly asked to "let me show you how easy this is". She responds with "it's so easy what do you want me to do?" Oh well, I commend you on your efforts!

How do you normally chlorinate the pool? Tabs, liquid chlorine or SWG? Please add that info to your signature.

Oh, also, I turned off my chlorine generator where the trichlor tabs go in, is that what I’m supposed to do, or do I need to keep that on some during the Slam?

 

[Newdude]

Tab feeder / chlorinator / SWG off. None of them can overcome an active bloom and they mess with your additions because you can't pinpoint how much they are adding.

Then they make false positives for the overnight chlorine loss test. The feeder adds some FC and you think your loss was 0 and it's time to end SLAM when you need to continue. 3 weeks later we're at square 1.