SLAM timeframe while passing OCLT & 0 CC?

[JJ_Tex]

I would keep it at SLAM level and keep hunting for the algae. Have you scrubbed weir doors, behind lights, etc?

I've seen many people in your position and the algae will keep coming back until they find it, scrub it to remove its protective film, and let it be killed by chlorine. Some of my favorite posts are when they find the culprit and can finally end the SLAM, like these:

Found the hidden algae

My pool water has been clear but my fc usage has been too high causing me to run my swg IC40 at 80%. Also, getting a lot of milky debris coming off the cartridge filter when I clean it. So, from past experience and comments here, I knew there must be algae hiding somewhere in the system. It...

www.troublefreepool.com

Algae behind pool light

After a couple of days of SLAMming and not passing the OCLT, despite crystal clear water and no CC, we decided to look behind the light. Bingo. It was quite gross behind there. We brush the nook and left the light out for a couple of hours with water at the SLAM level. Then my husband spent...

www.troublefreepool.com

Found algae under main drain cover. Can I remove?

SLAMMED a month ago, but have had a couple small algae spots come up if I don't brush the pool for 4-5 days despite very adequate FC levels. They brush away easily, but obviously it meant I didn't get everything. Anyways, decided to investigate more closely under my main drain cover, and what...

www.troublefreepool.com

Algae living in plastic stairs

I have been continually fighting algae in my pool. I shock and pass the OTC and then in a week the algae is back. I just noticed that in the support tube for my ladder in the pool, it is bright green. I then inspected the tiny holes in each step and they too are bright green. Now I am taking the...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[offtheclock]

No signs of algea in the two skimmers or on the doors. My lights are MicroBrites so I can not remove them. No other water features or anything. Very simple pool.

 

[Mdragger88]

I agree- I would hold out until no more reoccurrence.
No auto fill or overflow drain?
Main drains?
Scrubbed your bot ?
The inside of mine can get a little iffy & require a scrub- like there’s a cavity space where you open it.

 

[offtheclock]

I agree- I would hold out until no more reoccurrence.
No auto fill or overflow drain?
Main drains?
Scrubbed your bot ?
The inside of mine can get a little iffy & require a scrub- like there’s a cavity space where you open it.

3 returns, 2 skimmers, 2 drains, 2 MicroBrites. Brought back up to SLAM. Scrubbed all inside skimmers again and scrubbed entire pool floor, walls and vinyl covered steps. No auto fill and not only goes in to clean and is removed and washed every time. Also metal ladder was just put in after being out for winter and stored inside for 3 months. Should I pull the ladder back out? Also should I remove the skimmer faceplates

 

[offtheclock]

 

[Newdude]

Also metal ladder was just put in after being out for winter and stored inside for 3 months. Should I pull the ladder back out?

Did it go in with SLAM water, or possibly algae'd before SLAM water ? If it went in when you opened, I'd pull it. If it went in yesterday, I wouldn't.

Also should I remove the skimmer faceplates

No. If the liner shifts you'll never get the holes screw holes to line up.

I'm sorry this is really giving you a run for your money. It could very well be just environmental now and/or filter issues. It wasn't last time and it might not be this time either, there's just no way to know without failing the OCLT. The key is to keep the FC free and clear of min (as you've done) so it won't turn to a swamp.

 

[offtheclock]

Did it go in with SLAM water, or possibly algae'd before SLAM water ? If it went in when you opened, I'd pull it. If it went in yesterday, I wouldn't.

No. If the liner shifts you'll never get the holes screw holes to line up.

I'm sorry this is really giving you a run for your money. It could very well be just environmental now and/or filter issues. It wasn't last time and it might not be this time either, there's just no way to know without failing the OCLT. The key is to keep the FC free and clear of min (as you've done) so it won't turn to a swamp.

It went in when I opened and dust started with in days of opening. Also the skimmer faceplates have these snap on cosmetic covers that I was referring too. Wondering if algae could be behind the snap on covers. I don’t think it is filter related as it went away at SLAm level. Also I am getting the yellow pollen ring now but this dust looks exactly like previous brown dust and not yellow like pollen.

 

[Newdude]

It went in when I opened

Ok then pull it as it holds a gallon or two in each rail, with terrible circulation.

skimmer faceplates have these snap on cosmetic covers that I was referring too

Ahhhhh. Go for it then.

Also I am getting the yellow pollen ring now but this dust looks exactly like previous brown dust and not yellow like pollen

Ok then SLAM away. It just doesn't make any sense that it held your FC all winter, never went close to min since, but is growing anyway.

 

[offtheclock]

Ok then pull it as it holds a gallon or two in each rail, with terrible circulation.

Ahhhhh. Go for it then.



Ok then SLAM away. It just doesn't make any sense that it held your FC all winter, never went close to min since, but is growing anyway.

I agree at a loss. There was zero dust when I closed, held FC all winter and then almost immediately came back upon taking cover off. Of it was not for the fact that the dust went away while slamming I would say it was something with the filter.

 

[kul]

I’m so frustrated on your behalf. Went through something similar last year and I think in the end i determined it was pollen or dust that had blown in. Can you get a sample and show us a photo? Does it smear easy? When you say grainy- that was how the pollen/dust felt that I thought was algae. Is it mostly around the waterline tile or does it continue to be on the floor?

 

[JJ_Tex]

I hate posts like these, but please keep at it. The one thing I haven't seen you mention are the main drains. Sometimes those can get algae in them under the cover. Are the drains fully open at the equipment pad to maximize circulation there? Ideally you could dive in and remove the cover to inspect and scrub in there but that's more of a summertime activity unless you have a wet suit.

I have seen some people get creative and use a super soaker style water cannon and shoot a mix of bleach and water into the drains to stir things up and break up the algae. I cant find the post, but someone also tied their water hose with a high pressure nozzle to their pool pole and was able use the water pressure to get in there and get rid of the algae.

 

[Mdragger88]

The ladder rails can trap moisture (ie algae) so if you didn’t check those - like with a flashlight - it would be wise to do so.
Many main drains are like a bowl with a pipe in the middle which sometimes sticks up a little underneath the cover. It can get funky & hold things. If you can’t remove them A good blast with the hose in all directions + some liquid chlorine directed into them can do the trick (some people use a pvc pipe for this).
I would certainly snap off the removable skimmer faceplate covers and give all that a good scrub.
Take no prisoners!

 

[offtheclock]

I’m so frustrated on your behalf. Went through something similar last year and I think in the end i determined it was pollen or dust that had blown in. Can you get a sample and show us a photo? Does it smear easy? When you say grainy- that was how the pollen/dust felt that I thought was algae. Is it mostly around the waterline tile or does it continue to be on the floor?

This dust was collecting at the liner seams and divot spots through out the liner. I dont think I will be able to get another photo as now that I have gone back to SLAM level the dust has not reappered today so far.

 

[offtheclock]

I hate posts like these, but please keep at it. The one thing I haven't seen you mention are the main drains. Sometimes those can get algae in them under the cover. Are the drains fully open at the equipment pad to maximize circulation there? Ideally you could dive in and remove the cover to inspect and scrub in there but that's more of a summertime activity unless you have a wet suit.

I have seen some people get creative and use a super soaker style water cannon and shoot a mix of bleach and water into the drains to stir things up and break up the algae. I cant find the post, but someone also tied their water hose with a high pressure nozzle to their pool pole and was able use the water pressure to get in there and get rid of the algae.

I have not gotton into the water yet to check the main drains but I leave the valve set at 50/50 skimmers/drains so there should be plenty of circulation through them.

 

[offtheclock]

The ladder rails can trap moisture (ie algae) so if you didn’t check those - like with a flashlight - it would be wise to do so.
Many main drains are like a bowl with a pipe in the middle which sometimes sticks up a little underneath the cover. It can get funky & hold things. If you can’t remove them A good blast with the hose in all directions + some liquid chlorine directed into them can do the trick (some people use a pvc pipe for this).
I would certainly snap off the removable skimmer faceplate covers and give all that a good scrub.
Take no prisoners!

Removed ladder and it is clean besides some rust looking residue, water looked clean pouring out of it as well and I removed the skimmer snap on covers and all clean there as well.

 

[kul]

Removed ladder and it is clean besides some rust looking residue, water looked clean pouring out of it as well and I removed the skimmer snap on covers and all clean there as well.

You’re doing all the right things!

 

[offtheclock]

I must of Slammed improperly last time or had some false results. I am on day 6 today and still did not pass the OCLT last night. Went from 29.5 to 28 with Zero CC. Floor is clean of any dead algae dust finally. I think I will pass OCLT tonight. Pollen is officially falling here in Upstate SC now though. I have a solid yellow ring around the pool and the top surface has a yellow layer of floating pollen as well. I wonder if that will have a effect on my OCLT? I really want to make sure I knock this thing out this time.

 

[Mdragger88]

The pollen shouldn’t really cause you to fail oclt- you can get a skimmer sock(s) to help collect it.
Fingers crossed you pass tonight!
While doing oclt’s during slam can help you gauge where you stand in the process it’s not necessary to do them until you pass the crystal clear - no algae dead or alive part. (Aka- no dead algae dust)
Since until that is gone you’re not done anyway.

 

[offtheclock]

Another Question. Hope this was not a problem. When I started SLAM the first time around 12 days ago my CYA was 70. We have had several rain events and I have had to let water out twice prior to last night. Around 2" each time. Then again last night around another 2". A total of 6". Decided to retest CYA this morning and it was just under 60. My wife said 55 and I say 58. So call it 60. Yesterday it was probably just over 60 before I let more water out last night. That means I have been targeting 6 PPM over SLAM for around the last week or so. Was this bad for my liner? I realize that during the day FC was dropping to 23-25 when I had a SLAM of 29 so it should not spent too much time over SLAM level, but has me concerned.

Another interesting thing my liner does that as the water drops it looks faded but then as it is exposed it goes back to the same dark appearance as the top portion of the liner. I noticed it when kids are splashing or when I let water out or there is evaporation. Liner is a year old and is the GLI Eclipse Amber Full

 

[Newdude]

it should not spent too much time over SLAM level, but has me concerned.

Nah. You're fine. Mustard algae SLAM FC is 60% of the CYA instead of 40% regular SLAM FC, and MA SLAM is held for 24 hours.

Liner is a year old and is the GLI Eclipse Amber Full

Mine (2 year old looploc) is fading too, from full sun. My bench is many shades lighter than the walls around it and there's noticeable fading both above and below the waterline. It's not terrible, hopefully it peaks soon and stays however it is. Lol.