Slam check in

[Crudy]

First Slam check in. So my pool was opened may 14th. The people who opened it used 5 or so bags of powder shock and some algae bomb so the pool was fairly blue when opened, just cloudy.

The weeks following I had just been trying to get my levels right and waiting on a Taylor 2006 test kit. As of a week or two ago I had just been adding chlorine daily to achieve 5ppm and the pool cleared up well.

So as of a week ago the pool has been practically crystal clear, just failing overnight chlorine test so I decided to SLAM.

Started backwashed the filter Friday evening and started a slam.
My levels were at the time were:
PH: 7.2
FC: 4.5 (before slam of course)
CC: < 0.5
CYA: 30
TA: 100
I know that’s not everything but that’s just what I remember off the top of my head.

Been trying to keep chlorine up at 12ppm, checking it every couple hours or so. I probably used 6-8 gallons or more over the weekend. Also been brushing twice a day or more and vacuuming twice a day or more with the filter set to filter.

Removed the ladder and scrubbed that clean, wasn’t too bad anyway but had little bits of green on it that look like they’re from last year or something.

Anyways, I’m losing about 3ppm FC a night, I’m curious if y’all think I’m missing something or I just need to be patient.
Like I said the pool was crystal clear when I started, just had some dust down on the bottom. The dust doesn’t seem to be going away to easy lol. There’s more there first thing in the morning after running it all night then there is during the day somehow lol.

I’m also starting the work week today so I may be away from the house 12 hours or so at a time so I just added a gallon and a half this morning hopefully to help it maintain a high FC during the heat of the day. It’ll probably be far below shock level before I get home though if I had to guess.


Anyways, let me know if you think I’m missing something and my FC is depleting too much overnight, since it’s my first time having a pool I’m just not familiar. I’d love to be able to have people over this coming weekend since I’ve already had to cancel one event because of a cloudy pool, but I’m not sure if that’s realistic.
Let me know your thoughts! Thanks a lot!

 

[PoolStored]

It is safe to swim if you can see bottom, and FC is above min for your CYA and at or below SLAM. Party on.
Post a picture of the pool.
Scrub inside the ladder tubes.
Scrub the skimmers, and check weir doors for algae. Scrub behind lights. Remove the main drain cover and scrub inside.
Scrub everything.

 

[Crudy]

Ok so i can still use the pool during a slam? I just wasnt sure because the PH isnt being monitored that it was safe to swim, like i wasnt sure if it would be too high or too low.

Yeah I was wondering about scrubbing behind the light, I just dont wanna mess anything up removing it and replacing it lol. Scrubbing under main drain should be straight forward though? Turn pump off and dive down to unscrew, scrub all around in there, then reinstall i guess?

Also does it make sense for me to continue adjusting other levels while im slamming? Like getting my CYA up to 45 or running aerator and adding acid to lower my alkilinity? I know increasing cya makes the chlorine less efficient during the slam but I didnt know if it would help maintain the levels throughout the day.

Thanks

 

[Crudy]

The steps and built in seats are kind of like hollow, is it possible for water to get behind those? the pool is probably 15-20 years old so i would imagine water works its way back there. Aint no way to scrub behind those is it? lol

 

[Mdragger88]

The steps and built in seats are kind of like hollow, is it possible for water to get behind those? the pool is probably 15-20 years old so i would imagine water works its way back there. Aint no way to scrub behind those is it? lol

You mean the built in fiberglass steps in the picture?
Check all the seams/crevices but no water should be getting behind them.

 

[Mdragger88]

Get a clearer pic of your light for more guidance there.

 

[PoolStored]

Yeah I was wondering about scrubbing behind the light, I just dont wanna mess anything up removing it and replacing it lol. Scrubbing under main drain should be straight forward though? Turn pump off and dive down to unscrew, scrub all around in there, then reinstall i guess?

Get at that light. Drain. Pump off, unscrew, scrub. You can use a dumbell...it helps. DO NOT ATTACH WEIGHTS TO YOUR PERSON.

Ok so i can still use the pool during a slam? I just wasnt sure because the PH isnt being monitored that it was safe to swim, like i wasnt sure if it would be too high or too low.

As long as FC above min and at or below SLAM...AND you can see the bottom.

Also does it make sense for me to continue adjusting other levels while im slamming? Like getting my CYA up to 45 or running aerator and adding acid to lower my alkilinity? I know increasing cya makes the chlorine less efficient during the slam but I didnt know if it would help maintain the levels throughout the day.

NO nothing but Chlorine.

 

[Crudy]

Yeah theyre just fiberglass steps, so maybe theyre alright.
The light seems to just have the one screw at the top so maybe thats a straight forward one.

Im thinking turn off pool pump, flip the breaker for the pool, check the light and make sure its no longer got power, and then remove light and scrub behind it, and remove drain and scrub behind. Then just reverse that in order.
Should I leave light out for a day or so?

 

[PoolStored]

Light will tilt top toward pool, then up.

 

[mknauss]

Ok so i can still use the pool during a slam? I just wasnt sure because the PH isnt being monitored that it was safe to swim, like i wasnt sure if it would be too high or too low.

You can safely swim in a pool as long as the FC is above the minimum and at or below SLAM level based on your CYA. You must also be able to see the bottom of the pool in the deep end of the pool.
pH is generally not a safety issue. It can irritate the swimmers eyes, primarily if below 7. If you are in a SLAM, and properly doing it, it is highly unlikely to have low pH pool water.

 

[Crudy]

Hey guys, so I actually passed the ONCL test last night. I’m going to continue slamming maybe through until the weekend just to make sure. I may still try and scrub behind the light and under the drain but I’m undecided.
If I decide to add stabilizer this weekend would that cloud up the water at all?

Also should if I check PH reading Saturday before having people over would the PH reading be accurate if I’m coming out of a SLAM? Thanks a lot for the help y’all, things are looking up!

 

[Mdragger88]

Cya should not cloud the water except right where you’re squishing it and it should dissipate in minutes.
The ph test is only accurate at fc levels of 10ppm & below.
As Mknauss said it is very unlikely that ph has fallen too low during this time which is what might cause irritation.

For the drain you can also use the hose nozzle to blast it with water and loosen any funky stuff.

The light is very straight forward & can usually be removed while laying on the pool deck.
With the power off- Remove the screw & the whole fixture will come out in 1 piece & it can be placed on the deck. The cord should be long enough to do this.
Having the vac hose near can prevent any nasty stuff from getting everywhere.
You can then scrub the niche & the light & put it back. No taking the light apart unless its time for a new bulb & gasket.

 

[Crudy]

Ok cool, I think I’m gonna try and mess with the light today if I have time.
My only other issue is that I’m getting different readings between multiple FC tests now.

My testing process is:
Go to the same place on the deep end away from returns or anything.
Fill and dump the tube 3 times.
Go elbow deep and fill up the tube, and then drain to 10 ml.
Add DPD.
Swirl DPD for 25 seconds.
Then I add drops at about a drop per second until It starts getting light and then go a little slower.
After I’m done I put some alcohol in it, cap it and swish.
Dump out alcohol and let it air dry.

My test results last night were
11.5 ppm FC
15 ppm
12 ppm
And lastly 14 ppm.

Thoughts?

 

[Mdragger88]

Are you swirling while doing the drops?

 

[Mdragger88]

Also, 1 drop per second till the end point

 

[Crudy]

Yes I’m swirling while doing the drops, and I don’t usually slow down too much toward the end. Just enough so that I don’t over do it.
I think I’m just gonna start going with the first test result instead of doing three

 

[Mdragger88]

Yes I’m swirling while doing the drops, and I don’t usually slow down too much toward the end. Just enough so that I don’t over do it.
I think I’m just gonna start going with the first test result instead of doing three

No need to test multiple times- uses a lot of reagent.
Call the results & move on

 

[Crudy]

Ok so I’m getting a little discouraged here, I’m getting some test results that seem to be jumping around still so it’s hard to tell if I’m passing the ONCL test or not anymore.
The pool was clear when I started slamming and just barely failing the ONCL test and that’s been a week ago. I’ve brushed and vacuumed every day, and scrubbed in the seams, under the drain cover and behind the light , and all those looked good, just minimal algae left behind. The most was in the seams.
But I just feel like my test results are all bouncing around and I can’t figure out if it’s ok to finish up the slam or keep going.

I’m gone through a lot of chlorine and it’s starting to really dig into my wallet.
I realize slamming is a long process but I just figured since the pool was already clear and was close on passing the oncl test that I would have been done already. I just don’t feel like my test results are super accurate.
Do y’all think I’m okay to wrap up the SLAM?
Also thanks so much for yalls input, I really appreciate y’all taking the time to offer some help!

 

[Mdragger88]

What results are you referring to? I cannot see your poolmath logs if you’re keeping any.
Have you done another oclt & failed?

 

[bobloblaw42]

Please describe your test procedure, step by step, starting from when/how you obtain your sample from the pool. Include as much detail as you care to; bulleted or number list can help you organize your steps. When you write it out, are you confident you follow the procedure as written every time you test?