SLAM necessary when Opening?

[Van G]

I’m in Toronto and use the spa late into the year while keeping clean and balanced.

I closed the pool on Dec with proper chemistry. Water temp was 44.

Opening pool now at 45. I’ve added a little chlorine every couple weeks once the ice cleared and fished out material when appropriate. There was some organic matter that was too fine for net that will be vacuumed and filtered out.

My question - Do I need to SLAM? How can I determine?

 

[ajw22]

Do I need to SLAM?

Not necessarily.

How can I determine?

Do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

 

[Van G]

great - will get pool cleaned up and balanced over next 2 days and then do OCLT with following;”:
FC 5
CYA 50
PH 7.4

Do I need to worry about salt, TA, or CH?

 

[ajw22]

Do I need to worry about salt, TA, or CH?

Not for the OCLT.

 

[Van G]

So my OCLT was .5 and the pool water continues to clear.

We’ve got a good amount of rain coming so I may hold off on manual vac and another round of testing.

I’ve run the robot a dozen times after thorough net session and brushing.

Should I be running pump 24/7 until water is sparkling clear?

 

[Newdude]

With a VS pump, absolutely. I found that low speed worked better for me with less stirring. It just needs time.

 

[Van G]

I’ve passed OCLT again and the pool is spotless.

However, the water is still slightly ‘blurry’, as in not crystal clear and sparkling.

We did have 4+ inches of rain last week…. But how long should it take to sparkle?

 

[JJ_Tex]

What is your current FC reading? With a CYA of 50 you should be keeping it in the 6-8 range. Your 5 FC reading is flirting with the minimums, so I would get it up to the target range or even a bit higher and then do another OCLT for good measure.

Also, when was the last time you cleaned your filter and how does your pressure look (now vs your clean PSI).

 

[Van G]

FC is 5. Do I need 6-8 because I’m using liquid chlorine as opposed to SWG?

When water temps come up for SWG I keep FC between 3-5 with a CYA of 60.

Filters are clean and PSI is normal.

 

[Newdude]

FC is 5. Do I need 6-8 because I’m using liquid chlorine as opposed to SWG

No matter what, you need to have enough FC to remain free and clear of min for your CYA level.

It's a moving target when you lose less daily now, and more in the peak season.

Most SWG pools swing, albeit less than liquid chlorine pool. You need to understand how yours behaves.

If you produce all your FC at night, you swing like a LC pool during the day, losing the full amount.

If you run 24/7, you produce your daily FC over 24 hours but lose 100% of it in 6(?) hours.

If you only run mid day, it's closer to matching the loss as it happens, but still may dip a little.

There is no wrong way to do it, but understand how each may affect your FC and ensure it always has wiggle room at the low point of the day.

However, the water is still slightly ‘blurry’, as in not crystal clear and sparkling.

Mine took up to 2 weeks every spring for the filter to polish the pollen out with heavy trees.

 

[Van G]

We’re just about out of pollen season here. My numbers are good but water is still somewhat blurry, as in looks great but not sparkling crystal clear.

Will the pollen cloud/blur the water like this?

We have large pine, Norway maple, and other flowering trees around our pool.

Filter basket sock changed at least once a day shows pollen on all areas of sock.

This years pollen was extended because we didn’t get a good wind to blow it out of trees until the other day.

 

[ajw22]

Pollen does not make pool water blurry.

My pool is surrounded by pine tress and other flowering plants and the water always stays crystal clear.

 

[Newdude]

Pollen does not make pool water blurry.

I can vouch that oak pollen will. The skimmers would be full a couple times a day and the flowering snots that didnt make it there yet would steep the pool into more of a pollen tea.

Maybe some kinds float better than others ?
I also see similar with farm dust now on the open yard everytime the plow behind me.

And just think that we run 24/7. It'd be worse for anyone who doesn't.

 

[Van G]

Has to be pollen - just changed sock again and it’s got a fairly thick coating of golden pollen on all areas.

I’m not running 24/7 still - about 8 hrs a day at 45%. Solar cover at nights.

Will give it another week. It is still May after all!

 

[Newdude]

I’m not running 24/7 still

With a VS pump it's foolish not to when needed at the lowest RPM needed to skim. Mine draws 110W at that RPM. Would you turn on an old skool light bulb if it helped clear it faster ? Cuz that's what it'll cost you.

food for thought.

 

[Van G]

I realize the power consumption but with the solar cover on it’s not drawing from surface and the next day when cover comes off and pollen is flying again…..

Once pollen is done flying I’ll run it 24/7 for a couple days.

 

[Newdude]

I realize the power consumption but with the solar cover on it’s not drawing from surface and the next day when cover comes off and pollen is flying again…..

It just needs to filter. It takes days to get out what got in when the cover was off.

Once pollen is done flying I’ll run it 24/7 for a couple days.

Run it now and lower the time needed later, if any.

 

[Van G]

Reporting back for those who may run into similar down the road: my issue was definitely pollen.

Pollen season is starting to wind down and water is back to sparkling clear. I still find small amounts of golden dust on the solar cover and the sock is golden tan colour end of day but system is able to deal with it at this point.

Believe your numbers

 

[wayner]

With a VS pump it's foolish not to when needed at the lowest RPM needed to skim. Mine draws 110W at that RPM. Would you turn on an old skool light bulb if it helped clear it faster ? Cuz that's what it'll cost you.

food for thought.

After my pool clears up after opening (I am in Toronto as well) I run the pump much less. I am on ULO pricing with Toronto Hydro so my overnight electricity is WAY cheaper so I run the pump from 11pm to noon.

 

[Newdude]

After my pool clears up after opening

OP wasn't fully out of the opening/spring woods at the time of my suggestion. He was rationing runtime when he needed more, not less.

Once you're into the season, by all means everyone run however you like. Many of us *choose* 24/7 but it's certainly not necessary mid season. In the pollen assault of the spring however, and also in the fall, it's money well spent when one has a VS pump.