Ok so I had some areas in my pool that looked like greenish algae. My pool water was still clear, but just had these spots. So I started a slam Using the cya/chlorine chart for nonSWG. I started about 5pm on Thursday and am still keeping my slam level up, but after I brush and vacuum the algae spots start coming back after a few hours. Am I missing something?
Slam help
- Thread starter poolstretch
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,759
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Welcome to TFP! 
Are the spots all the same? I wonder if you have spots from more than one source (i.e. algae and iron)? Are you on a well? If that's not an issue, then I would suggesting posting all of you test numbers and perhaps show us a pic of your water and stains so we can evaluate everything together.
Are the spots all the same? I wonder if you have spots from more than one source (i.e. algae and iron)? Are you on a well? If that's not an issue, then I would suggesting posting all of you test numbers and perhaps show us a pic of your water and stains so we can evaluate everything together.Hey Tex!
yeah the spots look the same. no well. My numbers yesterday were FC 12.2(slam level) CC .2 right now my FC 10.6 CC .4. Water is clear, but I will see if I can grab a picture.
yeah the spots look the same. no well. My numbers yesterday were FC 12.2(slam level) CC .2 right now my FC 10.6 CC .4. Water is clear, but I will see if I can grab a picture.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,759
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
So your water looks good, Can you confirm your CYA please? For a salt pool, normally your CYA would be closer to 70, but I have a feeling yours is lower. Let us know. Are those spots embedded, or is it something that brushes away when moved?
Cya when I started was 30 the slam. Should I test it again? Those spots brush right away. right now my FC is 12.6 and CC is .2
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,759
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
A CYA of 30 is fine for the SLAM Process. With a cartridge filter (no backwashing) there should be no need to retest the CYA at this time. So an FC of 12 is perfect. Since the green brushes away easily, we have to assume those are algae spots. So you should continue with the SLAM Process. Make sure to inspect all areas of the pool. With an AGP, you may not have a light to remove, but if you have a main drain, look under the cover. Liner wrinkles can hide algae. If there's a ladder, remove it and pull it apart for inspection and cleaning. If you have steps (i.e. wedding steps) those can easily hide algae, so you'll need to look at those as well. Hope that helps.
Main drain? Ok I will inspect ladder. So frustrating I thought a slam killed it everywhere without having to hunt it down! Crazy!
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,759
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
That's a good normal drop. Hang in there. Keep inspecting and cleaning all the nooks & crannies. Unfortunately, once algae finds a place to stick and grow, it needs help with scrubbing to break it up and allow the chlorine to penetrate.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,759
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Still looks like the same type of spots as from last Thursday. So let's do this ..... Maintain the SLAM Process for the remainder of today and do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test starting this evening. Let's see what your morning FC test is tomorrow. If you pass, we may need to shift our thinking a bit. Curious though, let us know if you uncover any algae in the ladder. Look closely under each step, separate the steps if possible, and check in each support tube. Ladders (adn steps can be some of the most frustrating areas of all.
Ok I’ll maintain and retest tomorrow. I did remove the ladder and did not see any signs of algae.
Ok so right now my CC is .2 and my FC dropped less than 1 overnight. I still had some spots on the bottom. I did notice that some looked like dry mustard.
What test kit are you using? You can't get those numbers with a TF-100 or K-2006.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,759
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
It's good you passed the OCLT. That, along with the other two passed criteria, essentially mean you have passed a regular SLAM. That's good to know. Now the stuff settling to the bottom is odd. If you begin to look at those clumps as Mustard Algae (MA), then you'll want to increase the FC to MA levels, but only for 24 hours. Below is the MA page for more info. With a CYA of 30, your MA shock level would be about 18. Unless you have any obvious dropping in/around the pool, I think doing the MA treatment for 24 hours is a good option. Jeff's questions above is valid as well and you should add the test kit to your signature. Did you ever make it down to the drain?
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Mustard Algae
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