SLAM Help!

[chad.smith6682]

A week ago I noticed a little bit of algae starting to grow in the corner of our tanning ledge. Then I noticed that my SWG at 100% was not keeping up with the chlorine demands and was constantly 2ppm or less. Once I brushed the algae off it hasn’t returned. Also CC has never been higher than 0.5 and the pool water is clear (no additional algae, water isn’t cloudy). However, two nights ago I did the OCLT and FC went from 3 to 0.5 so I knew there was an issue. I started the SLAM yesterday morning and the FC levels are still dropping like crazy. Current CYA level is 70 so have been slamming to 28 FC. After about 3 hours my FC is already down to 19. I am in Fresno and the weather is over 100 and closer to 110 and the water is warm (90 degrees). SWG has been off during the SLAM.

How long will a SLAM take? I thought I had only a small problem given my water is crystal clear and .5 or less CC, but still seems like the liquid chlorine I keep adding disappears so quickly. Help!

 

[ajw22]

SLAM Process can take 1 week to a few weeks.

The more often you test and get your FC back up to 28 the faster it will go.

With the hot water check your CYA level at least every week and correct your SLAM FC level if your CYA decreases.

 

[chad.smith6682]

SLAM Process can take 1 week to a few weeks.

The more often you test and get your FC back up to 28 the faster it will go.

With the hot water check your CYA level at least every week and correct your SLAM FC level if your CYA decreases.

But that amount of FC loss isn’t concerning? At what point should I do the OCLT again?

 

[ajw22]

But that amount of FC loss isn’t concerning?

Nope. It's the algae consuming it.

At what point should I do the OCLT again?

When your FC stays stable and you get the normal 3-4ppm daily FC loss.

 

[chad.smith6682]

Nope. It's the algae consuming it.



When your FC stays stable and you get the normal 3-4ppm daily FC loss.

And this is just invisible algae? Like I said no visible algae right now and CC is good. So must be some other bad/unseen stuff that is consuming?

 

[ajw22]

And this is just invisible algae?

Yup

Like I said no visible algae right now

By the time algae is visible you have a swamp.

and CC is good.

CC is not the best indicator.

So must be some other bad/unseen stuff that is consuming?

Nope, just algae.

 

[chad.smith6682]

Yup


By the time algae is visible you have a swamp.



CC is not the best indicator.



Nope, just algae.

Can we use the pool during the SLAM? I have two young kids and being cooped up in the house sucks during summer in Fresno!

 

[ajw22]

Can we use the pool during the SLAM? I have two young kids and being cooped up in the house sucks during summer in Fresno!

FC level below SLAM FC level is safe to swim in.

Let the FC drop a bit below SLAM FC level and let the kiddos swim then raise it back up to SLAM FC level when they are done.

 

[chad.smith6682]

FC level below SLAM FC level is safe to swim in.

Let the FC drop a bit below SLAM FC level and let the kiddos swim then raise it back up to SLAM FC level when they are done.

Thanks for your help! This is the 3rd summer with pool and first SLAM we’ve had to do. But that’s probably my bad since I got a little bit lax with CYA and it dropped too much over the last 2 months. Finally got it back up but too late.

 

[ajw22]

Thanks for your help! This is the 3rd summer with pool and first SLAM we’ve had to do. But that’s probably my bad since I got a little bit lax with CYA and it dropped too much over the last 2 months. Finally got it back up but too late.

Everyone gets bit once.

Life is easier when you don't lose control of your pool chemistry and have algae take over.

 

[chad.smith6682]

Everyone gets bit once.

Life is easier when you don't lose control of your pool chemistry and have algae take over.

I just retested CYA and it is borderline between 60 and 70. I’ve been slamming to 28 FC (based on CYA of 70) but am still losing about 6ppm of FC every 3-4 hours. Should I lower the FC and slam to 24 or keep doing what I’m doing?

 

[PoolStored]

Keep going at 28.

Post a picture of the pool.

 

[chad.smith6682]

Keep going at 28.

Post a picture of the pool.

 

[chad.smith6682]

Keep going at 28.

Post a picture of the pool.

I tried but it didn’t work. Honestly the water looks great and clear. No different from healthy water. Just crazy FC loss.

 

[PoolStored]

Take a picture of the pool. Then do a screen grab of the picture and try posting that.

 

[chad.smith6682]

Take a picture of the pool. Then do a screen grab of the picture and try posting that.

 

[PoolStored]

Super cool pool!!!

Time to become a detective. Remove main drain covers and scrub in there, waterfall, run that and scrub it up. Scrub skimmers. Check your weir doors for algae.

BE A SLEUTH...you have something hiding.

BTW, fill out your signature, will help us...be verbose, include everything.

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[chad.smith6682]

Super cool pool!!!

Time to become a detective. Remove main drain covers and scrub in there, waterfall, run that and scrub it up. Scrub skimmers. Check your weir doors for algae.

BE A SLEUTH...you have something hiding.

BTW, fill out your signature, will help us...be verbose, include everything.

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Okay a few questions. Do I literally swim down with a screwdriver and take off my drain covers like that and scrub? Is it possible there is some build up of algae somewhere in the pipes that I’ll never see? I did clean my filters this past weekend. Very dirty but got them squeaky clean. Need to clean them again?

 

[PoolStored]

Do I literally swim down with a screwdriver and take off my drain covers like that and scrub?

Yep! You can use a dumbbell to help you stay down. DO NOT ATTACH WEIGHT TO YOUR PERSON!!! Have a rescue swimmer with you. MAKE SURE THE PUMP IS OFF!!!

Is it possible there is some build up of algae somewhere in the pipes that I’ll never see?

No.

I did clean my filters this past weekend. Very dirty but got them squeaky clean. Need to clean them again?

What kind of filter do you have? I'm assuming cartridge. You should clean your filters, note clean pressure. When pressure rises 25%, clean again. Both during slam and normal operations.

 

[chad.smith6682]

Yep! You can use a dumbbell to help you stay down. DO NOT ATTACH WEIGHT TO YOUR PERSON!!! Have a rescue swimmer with you. MAKE SURE THE PUMP IS OFF!!!

No.

What kind of filter do you have? I'm assuming cartridge. You should clean your filters, note clean pressure. When pressure rises 25%, clean again. Both during slam and normal operations.

Cartridge. Pressure is very low close to 0% now.