SLAM - FC not going up

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A

allendehl

Active member
Jan 29, 2020
42
Miramar, FL
Hello guys, started SLAM yesterday. Below is the timeline and my main question. Any help is greatly appreciated

15K Gallons Pool
CYA: 50
Chlorine: Pinch-a-penny 10.5%

May 18th 11am - FC:1.5; Added 2.5G (based on the app, I needed 2G 3/4 )
3pm - FC: 12ppm (FC did not raise as much as I though, it did rain a lot so I assumed it was a factor): Added 1.5G (based on the app, I needed 1G & 2 cups)
May 19th 12pm - FC 13.5 (again FC didn't raise much); Added 1.5G
5pm - FC 13.5 (FC did not raise at all, it did rain a bit but nothing out of this world)

Before I keep adding chlorine I wanted to ask you guys what could be going on here. Water is clear and pool is not green.

Thank you!
 
Chlorine is consuming something. Check everywhere algae might hide. Light niche, ladders, skimmers, weir doors, etc.

You need to test and add a bit more often. At least 3-4 times per day.
 
*** Looks like Marty typed at the same time as me... over to you Marty!***
Allen,

Sounds like you've got a lot of algae or something else consuming the chlorine. Can you provide a little background on what else you did to get ready to SLAM plus anything else you did prior to the SLAM?

Thanks.

Chris
 
Thank you guys,

Yes, I do have an algae problem, I've been needing to brush it off the pool at least two/three times per week, but it seems to me excessive that five hours after I poured a gallon and a half of chlorine, all of it is consumed.
I meant to test sooner but it was raining.
I'll pour another gallon and a half and see if it increases in a couple of hours.

As for what I've done to prep up. A couple of weeks back I poured a bottle of phosphate remover from pinch-a-penny as my phosphates were above 1500. After that they have close to 0. I've cleaned the filter a couple of times during that process. I'll do it again now.
 
If you have visible algae, your pool water is overwhelmed with algal spores. Stay at SLAM level FC.

Phosphates do not matter.
 
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Allen,

Marty's an expert at this and advises literally hundreds every year through the same thing you are experiencing. Just do meticulously what he says and you'll be fine soon. One thing I've observed from afar is people that can't believe the amount of chlorine required so they don't add as much and/or don't test often enough so they really aren't at SLAM level much of the time. "M" stand for Maintain. Failure to do this actually extends the SLAM unnecessarily sometimes for weeks. Properly performed you have a blue pool in just days. Then its just a smaller dose of chlorine while your filter removes all the dead algae..

Chris
 
Thank you both. Chris, I've been adding as much as the calculator tells me. One thing I've noticed is that the two times it tested low I got the water from the hot tub that pours into the pool. Not sure how that would matter but I just tested after adding 1.5G a couple of hours ago from the actual pool and I'm actually at 24.5, a bit over. I'll check tomorrow morning again.

Thanks again!
 
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Alright...good news. I've been very disciplined and last night I only dropped 1ppm FC and my CC is at 0.5. Water is clear as well (though that is a very subjective point). I plan is giving it one more day until tomorrow to let FC drift down.

A couple of questions:

- During mornings I've been very consistently loosing between 7-9 ppm. This is from aprox 8am to noon. Is this drop normal? - I live in Miami, FL
- At what FC level is safe to go back into the pool?

Thank you all very much.
 
Clear water is like TFP Clear in North Dallas - there is water in there

That is a very high FC loss if you are thinking you are at the end of a SLAM.

You can go swimming as long as your FC is at or below SLAM level based on your CYA. You need to also be able to see the bottom of the pool. pH in the 7's is also good for swimmer comfort.
 
A bit confused here, this AM I had lost 2ppm from 11pm to 7:30am. This is 2X what I lost last night. I seem to not be making much progress, though I thought was. Cleaned up filter yesterday as well.
One thing I just realized that may be a factor, I left the container with the tablets in the pool. Should I remove it?
 
If you have had tablets feeding the pool during your OCLT, then none of them have been valid. All sources of chlorine must be removed during a OCLT.

Using tablets during a SLAM makes it very difficult to be successful. The rising CYA means you need higher FC.
 
It may not. Since we do not recommend use of trichlor for daily maintenance, it is a given.
 

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