SLAM question

[Scleveland]

I'm currently on day 10 of a slam and want get some advice. The last 2 days I have noticed a much larger overnight drop than I had the several days prior. Last night I dropped 3 ppm and 4 the night before, but for days prior I had gotten down to 1.5-2. My CYA has been at 60 and I'm testing several times a day and slamming at 24. I am seeing a reduction in the size if several of the lines and elimination of some spots all together, yay, but other spots seem unchanged. I'm also brushing multiple times a day. I believe I'm dealing with MA. Is it possible that I'm seeing a spike in FC loss because the chlorine has finally gotten through to the algae? I'm keeping at it, just very surprised to be 10 days in and this stuff not be gone. Any thoughts/advice greatly appreciated!

 

[frogabog]

10 days isn't very out of normal for a SLAM, especially for stubborn algae. I wouldn't bother with the OCLT yet (nor does it's results mean much) till you're seeing crystal clear water, <.5ppm CC and not losing lots of FC when testing and adding all day. The SLAM for MA is the same as for regular algae, just with an extra 24 hours of MA level FC after passing OCLT.

How does the water look?

Got any pics?

 

[Scleveland]

10 days isn't very out of normal for a SLAM, especially for stubborn algae. I wouldn't bother with the OCLT yet (nor does it's results mean much) till you're seeing crystal clear water, <.5ppm CC and not losing lots of FC when testing and adding all day. The SLAM for MA is the same as for regular algae, just with an extra 24 hours of MA level FC after passing OCLT.

How does the water look?

Got any pics?

The first pic is a shot of on of the lines I'm dealing with. The second shows the whole pool. This lighting is bad, but it's a brownish color with a hint of yellow. The water has been clear the whole time. This stuff is on the walls and floor.

 

[frogabog]

If I'm reading/seeing correctly, those spots don't poof or brush away, right?

Can you get down to them and scrape some off? Then wipe it on a piece of paper. Does it smear green?

 

[Scleveland]

If I'm reading/seeing correctly, those spots don't poof or brush away, right?

Can you get down to them and scrape some off? Then wipe it on a piece of paper. Does it smear green?

They do brush away into what I assume is a cloud of algae. Some of these line were thicker and longer when I began the slam and other haven't seemed to make any real progress. Some of them are harder to remove than others. I checked the texture the other day and they were slimey.

 

[Scleveland]

I should also say that while slimey, they look like sand.

 

[frogabog]

OK, well sand isn't slimy and it also doesn't cloud when brushed. That's just algae most likely. Are those lines forming in wrinkles or divots in the liner?

Brushing them up to poof helps get it suspended into the water so the filter can catch it, but it does need to be killed first. Are you very sure about your CYA and FC SLAM levels? When was your last CYA test? Did you round down or up?

 

[Scleveland]

OK, well sand isn't slimy and it also doesn't cloud when brushed. That's just algae most likely. Are those lines forming in wrinkles or divots in the liner?

Brushing them up to poof helps get it suspended into the water so the filter can catch it, but it does need to be killed first. Are you very sure about your CYA and FC SLAM levels? When was your last CYA test? Did you round down or up?

It has been cloudy and hard to test CYS the last 2 day, but I have checked it several times since starting the slam and keep getting 60. Would it be helpful to go up to 70 in the event I might be misreading it?

 

[frogabog]

I don't have your eyes, so I can't say for sure. If you feel you've got a hard 60, then probably no, it might/could damage your liner if you SLAM at the higher level. (24 hours for MA is ok, but SLAM at too high and you risk bleaching). If you think you see the dot at any level over 60 though, you do want to round up to 70.

Maybe these will help you decide if you're misreading the CYA test?

 

[Scleveland]

Here's an update on my SLAM. Today I begin day 14. My numbers FC is holding much better. I forgot that I had not cleaned all of the toys, so I did that and am continuing to SLAM until everything is back where it need to be and I pass OCLT and all other areas are complete.

I have what I think is dead algae in lots of places and what I think might still be some hanging on in others. I would like to get some opinions what exactly this stuff is. The last pic is what I believe is dead it's hard to tell here, but it's more a yellowish brown. It was originally the color of what is in the other two pics, kind of a greenish brown. It all easily brushes away when touched and isn't gritty. I'm continuing to brush multiple times per day. Am I correct thinking I still have some algae that isn't dead just yet?

 

[frogabog]

Dead algae isn't brown or green, it turns white/milky when dead. Then you have to maintain SLAM level and filter it out till the water is clear, .5ppm CC, and you pass the OLCT.