SLAMming Confused: Deal w CYA First? What is “SLAM Level”?

[kimkats]

Two ways to remove the dead algae:

1. filter is out-takes a bit of time but will work

2. vacuum to waste-will work AND help lower your CYA. It will take a bit of patience as you have to go SLOW to keep it from stirring up.

 

[wireform]

You can let all the dead algae settle to the pool bottom and carefully strategically vac the floor via the filter. When done you'll need to backwash or open up your filter (no filter in sig) for a good cleaning.

 

[stretchphoto]

Deleted this reply. Didn't see replies to other thread.

 

[PoolStored]

@stretchphoto . I've been following all your posts on TFP since you joined.. I saw the CYA addition and felt for you. Here is exactly what I would do.

Exchange 40% of your pool water. Use the "no drain water exchange" in this post:

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Get a sump pump to pump out water and follow the instructions on where to drain and add. It WORKS.

When you are done, follow the SLAM instructions to a "T." Link-->SLAM Process

When you are done, we will ask you to post here. Link-->How Clear is TFP Clear?

I had to do the same thing when I came to TFP. Slamming a pool with CYA above 60 is one of the most painful, long, expensive, frustrating and difficult exercises. It will be a breeze if you can get your CYA down to 50.

 

[stretchphoto]

@stretchphoto . I've been following all your posts on TFP since you joined.. I saw the CYA addition and felt for you. Here is exactly what I would do.

Exchange 40% of your pool water. Use the "no drain water exchange" in this post:

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Get a sump pump to pump out water and follow the instructions on where to drain and add. It WORKS.

When you are done, follow the SLAM instructions to a "T." Link-->SLAM Process

When you are done, we will ask you to post here. Link-->How Clear is TFP Clear?

I had to do the same thing when I came to TFP. Slamming a pool with CYA above 60 is one of the most painful, long, expensive, frustrating and difficult exercises. It will be a breeze if you can get your CYA down to 50.

Thank you, sir!

Will check that out this evening and get going on it first thing tomorrow.

More soon -

 

[HermanTX]

That is unfortunate that your CYA went to 90.
You have a vinyl pool so need to careful about vacuum to waste ad draining too much. Please read Draining - Further Reading

If you can reduce your CYA by any amount is best. I would target 50ppm so that is about 45%-50% of your pool.
You will be in a much better position and try to remove as much solid as feasible.

Only Chlorine will clear the water so you need to SLAM Process.

 

[PoolStored]

@stretchphoto I am continually amazed at the collective knowledge and experience of the TFP Mods, experts and guides. I respect the elders that have lead the way to understanding pool chemistry. I can't tell you the number of pools that TFP, and the volunteers, have cleared and taught people to care for. I was there too. We got you.

BTW, my parents and grandparents, great grandparents all lived in Flanagan.

 

[stretchphoto]

@stretchphoto I am continually amazed at the collective knowledge and experience of the TFP Mods, experts and guides. I respect the elders that have lead the way to understanding pool chemistry. I can't tell you the number of pools that TFP, and the volunteers, have cleared and taught people to care for. I was there too. We got you.

Thank you, sir.

It looks like I have to be very careful

@stretchphoto I am continually amazed at the collective knowledge and experience of the TFP Mods, experts and guides. I respect the elders that have lead the way to understanding pool chemistry. I can't tell you the number of pools that TFP, and the volunteers, have cleared and taught people to care for. I was there too. We got you.

BTW, my parents and grandparents, great grandparents all lived in Flanagan.

Can you explain what's below to me, please?

Put the pump in the deep end and fill from the shallow end if your fill water is nearly the same temperature as the pool water, you have a saltwater pool, or have very high CH. Put the fill hose in the skimmer, if you have one, in the shallow end. If no skimmer, then use a bucket to put the water hose in and have the top of the bucket above the pool water surface. Be sure to secure the hose to the bucket.

I have no idea what this means. I have a salt water pool with a skimmer in the middle of the pool. I somehow... float?... a bucket in the pool?

And the below is a non-starter for me. I have no idea what this means.

Honestly, is this a practical joke? Like sending Scouts out looking for snipes?

Replacing water in-place process depends on several factors:[4]

• Pool Water TDS (PWTDS)
• Pool Water Temperature (PWT)
• Fill Water TDS (FWTDS)
• Fill Water Temperature (FWT)

DeltaT = (PWT - PWTDS / 165) - (FWT - FWTDS / 165)

If DeltaT is positive, then you want to fill at the lowest point and extract at the surface and at the greatest distance from the lowest point.

If DeltaT is negative, then you want to extract at the lowest point and fill at the surface and at the greatest distance from the lowest point. <-Preferred as it is easier to do with a drain pump and you can fill inside one of the skimmers.

If |DeltaT| < 5, then there will be a lot of mixing.

Salt is the largest component of TDS. No matter what chlorination method you use, salt is added to the pool water and can be significant after many years. Every 1000 ppm of salt is worth about 6F in temperature difference.

 

[PoolStored]

BTW...when you added the extra CYA, it made me think of my mother (God rest her soul). She would say, "that's the price of an education." Even with that, I've still made the same mistake twice with my pool...I couldn't figure out why my pool wouldn't prime this year...I forgot to remove the return plugs (I never told a soul, not even @Newdude). #alwayslearning

 

[PoolStored]

Deep end discussion:

Differential Draining of Pool Water

So I thought I would start this thread for the purposes of logging useful information and, perhaps, teaching others. I am currently doing a differential drain of my swimming pool whereby I am removing water from my deep end well using a submersible pump and some PVC plumbing while I am adding...

www.troublefreepool.com

Simple answer:

Put the pump in the deep end and fill from the shallow end if your fill water is nearly the same temperature as the pool water, you have a saltwater pool

Put the sump pump in the deep end if you have a saltwater pool and/or your fill water (likely 60 degrees in champaign) and your pool water is 60 degrees.

I would put your sump in the deep end, and fill on the top of your shallow end.

To make it simple, take a 5 gallon bucket. Time how long it takes to fill from your hose. Mine was about 60 seconds or 5 GPM.

Put the sump in and do the same. I had to put the hose from the sump over a ladder to increase the head (increase backpressure) to match the sump output to the hose input.

Let 'er rip and monitor the pool level. If it is rising, turn off the input for a bit. If it is lowering, turn off the sump for a bit.

 

[stretchphoto]

Deep end discussion:

Differential Draining of Pool Water

So I thought I would start this thread for the purposes of logging useful information and, perhaps, teaching others. I am currently doing a differential drain of my swimming pool whereby I am removing water from my deep end well using a submersible pump and some PVC plumbing while I am adding...

www.troublefreepool.com

Simple answer:

Put the sump pump in the deep end if you have a saltwater pool and/or your fill water (likely 60 degrees in champaign) and your pool water is 60 degrees.

I would put your sump in the deep end, and fill on the top of your shallow end.

To make it simple, take a 5 gallon bucket. Time how long it takes to fill from your hose. Mine was about 60 seconds or 5 GPM.

Put the sump in and do the same. I had to put the hose from the sump over a ladder to increase the head (increase backpressure) to match the sump output to the hose input.

Let 'er rip and monitor the pool level. If it is rising, turn off the input for a bit. If it is lowering, turn off the sump for a bit.

I went to Joyful's thread and just got more lost, but thank you.

I'm packing it in for the evening. Too tired, angry, frustrated and confused to continue tonight. I actually just had a great conversation with a pool mentor of mine from years back and that was helpful. I'll see what I can do tomorrow.

Thanks again.

 

[stretchphoto]

I have three hoses adding a gallon of water every 4-5 seconds to the far shallow end of the pool. Same-ish rate on pumping out water from about 8’ deep on the far end.

Pump is off. Once the water exchange is complete I imagine I should tuen the pump back on and let it circulate for a while before re-checking the CYA. How long do you suggest for that?

Thanks. -

 

[PoolStored]

Pump is off. Once the water exchange is complete I imagine I should tuen the pump back on and let it circulate for a while before re-checking the CYA. How long do you suggest for that?

24 hours should be good to get it circulated...great job getting input and output balanced!

 

[HermanTX]

I have three hoses adding a gallon of water every 4-5 seconds to the far shallow end of the pool. Same-ish rate on pumping out water from about 8’ deep on the far end.

Pump is off. Once the water exchange is complete I imagine I should tuen the pump back on and let it circulate for a while before re-checking the CYA. How long do you suggest for that?

Thanks. -

So you are exchanging about 10-12 gallons a min. Or 650-700 gals per hour. That would indicate 30 hrs for 22kgal pool
Good work on getting this started.

 

[stretchphoto]

@HermanTX - how do you get 30 hours?

I’m getting what’s below:

50% of 22k gallons = 11k gal

Pumping in/out 11k gal @ 4 seconds per gallon = 44,000 seconds = ~12 hours & change.

Thanks.

 

[HermanTX]

@HermanTX - how do you get 30 hours?

I’m getting what’s below:

50% of 22k gallons = 11k gal

Pumping in/out 11k gal @ 4 seconds per gallon = 44,000 seconds = ~12 hours & change.

Thanks.

I was considering the full 22k gals and I rounded down on the flowrate to what it would be over many hours as there is always some efficiency loss. I was doing all of this in my head so it’s not an exact science. So 12-15 hours for 11k gals makes sense.

 

[stretchphoto]

I was considering the full 22k gals and I rounded down on the flowrate to what it would be over many hours as there is always some efficiency loss. I was doing all of this in my head so it’s not an exact science. So 12-15 hours for 11k gals makes sense.

Thanks.

At this point I’m questioning every decision I make re the pool.

I’m going to run it til I crash tonight, then start the pump.

 

[PoolStored]

At this point I’m questioning every decision I make re the pool.

Man, I feel you. I did the same after I was pool stored. I asked lots of questions. Measure twice, cut once. Now it is just second nature and I don't fret anymore.

We got you. The group here are good peeps.

 

[wireform]

Give it an additional 15% of water exchange time to be sure you pass the percentage you're after. Once the pump is turned on and the mix is complete there's no going back to the exchange. If you exchanged more then you need it wouldn't take long to just add the additional CYA.

 

[stretchphoto]

Give it an additional 15% of water exchange time to be sure you pass the percentage you're after. Once the pump is turned on and the mix is complete there's no going back to the exchange. If you exchanged more then you need it wouldn't take long to just add the additional CYA.

Gave it a rest over night. Exchanging again now that I can keep an eye on it periodically. I'm curious what you mean by "no going back" once the pump has been turned on. Thanks.