Starting to look better...but.

[setsailsoon]

Great! Good idea to confirm your CYA and then SLAM with the appropriate FC. Try to check FC a couple times per day and you should have a relatively short one.

Please keep us posted and continue to ask any questions.

Chris

 

[LoneWolfArcher]

Oh yeah, you can manage with CYA/80 and just let the water dilute it "naturally" with rain overlow and splashout! No empty gut! You got this!

Yes, especially the cost of a drain and fill is on par with the additonal LC costs. I did the math last year because I have no onsite water source. And managing with my elevated CYA was the right approach.

It has slowly come down (30 pts in a year), so it can be managed over time. I expect to be in the suggested range by opening next year.

 

[Niteowl]

Great! Good idea to confirm your CYA and then SLAM with the appropriate FC. Try to check FC a couple times per day and you should have a relatively short one.

Please keep us posted and continue to ask any questions.

Chris

You think I still need to SLAM? its crystal clear this morning. CC is way down. Which numbers indicate that I need to SLAM? Going to go out and check the CYA & FC now. I added another .5 gallons before I went to bed at 3:15am. BTW, can you all see my logs now? I paid for the app, do I need to turn on a setting here so you can see it?

 

[splashpad]

You think I still need to SLAM? its crystal clear this morning. CC is way down. Which numbers indicate that I need to SLAM? Going to go out and check the CYA & FC now. I added another .5 gallons before I went to bed at 3:15am. BTW, can you all see my logs now? I paid for the app, do I need to turn on a setting here so you can see it?

Yes we can see the logs

IF your CC's are 0 (everytime), You can try an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test, raise and verify FC level after sunsets (or no more sun on pool) and then recheck the next morning before sun is on pool. If the FC level is the same in the morning (with no or less than CC 0.5), you can choose to maintain FC level (with liquid chlorine). But if it's not (or there is still debris in the pool), we definitely recommend you keep your FC up at SLAM Process level, it's not a one-time "shock" and go, it is a continuous process. That works!

 

[Niteowl]

Did another full set of test today, in more natural light:

FC = 6.5
CC = 0 (I was soo happy to not see it turn red with those drops, not even a little bit red)
pH = 7.5
TA = 140 (What made this go up soo much after the refill?)
CH = 325
CYA = 40

I read the article on how to do the OCLT, it doesn't really give a minimum time between tests. Since I work until about 2am, its not practical for me to get up at 6am to do the test before the sun comes up. The sun sets at 8:30 tonight. If I take my lunch break at 8:00 and run home to test at 8:30 then stay up until 3:30, after work, and do the 2nd one, that's 7 hours apart, is that long enough?

 

[setsailsoon]

You think I still need to SLAM? its crystal clear this morning. CC is way down. Which numbers indicate that I need to SLAM? Going to go out and check the CYA & FC now. I added another .5 gallons before I went to bed at 3:15am. BTW, can you all see my logs now? I paid for the app, do I need to turn on a setting here so you can see it?

Nite,

I was reacting to the still 1 cc plus algae on the bottom that you thought was dead but still had high FC consumption. Here's what I saw:

Ok, I added .5 gallons of chlorine twice before going to work. Let the pool fill while I was at work. When I got home I added another .5 gallons and ran the full set of tests again after an hour of running the pump.

FC = 4
CC = 1
pH = 7.3
TA = 140
CH = 350
CYA = 30 (This one I want to do again tomorrow, in the sunlight)

I can only react to what you post. CC 1 indicates you need to SLAM, Plus all I saw previously was cloudy material at the bottom. Maybe dead, maybe not but your FC sure was high. Your new numbers that I hadn't seen do look better though. Perform an OCLT to be sure. If you pass the OCLT motor on! If not, SLAM. The process is very simple and clear. One of the things that makes it work so well for people.

Test your fill water. Could be it's high in TA or you are just getting better at the test. Rest of your numbers look pretty good. You'll be adding acid eventually and when you do you can aerate after to reduce the TA. Mine was the same as your initially and with a few cycles I brought it down to 80. I run a little less than that now and it helps reduce the pH rise.

No matter what your OCLT indicates you're very close to TFP pool bliss. Just do the SLAM if indicated and if not keep up with frequent pH, FC, CC testing and adjusting to stay in TFP range. Soon you'll get to know your pool. Get very familiar with ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry. Don't add anything unless you have a test that indicates a need for it and you'll be fine. Good luck to you!

Chris

 

[Niteowl]

Nite,

I was reacting to the still 1 cc plus algae on the bottom that you thought was dead but still had high FC consumption. Here's what I saw:

Ok, I added .5 gallons of chlorine twice before going to work. Let the pool fill while I was at work. When I got home I added another .5 gallons and ran the full set of tests again after an hour of running the pump.

FC = 4
CC = 1
pH = 7.3
TA = 140
CH = 350
CYA = 30 (This one I want to do again tomorrow, in the sunlight)

I can only react to what you post. CC 1 indicates you need to SLAM, Plus all I saw previously was cloudy material at the bottom. Maybe dead, maybe not but your FC sure was high. Your new numbers that I hadn't seen do look better though. Perform an OCLT to be sure. If you pass the OCLT motor on! If not, SLAM. The process is very simple and clear. One of the things that makes it work so well for people.

Test your fill water. Could be it's high in TA or you are just getting better at the test. Rest of your numbers look pretty good. You'll be adding acid eventually and when you do you can aerate after to reduce the TA. Mine was the same as your initially and with a few cycles I brought it down to 80. I run a little less than that now and it helps reduce the pH rise.

No matter what your OCLT indicates you're very close to TFP pool bliss. Just do the SLAM if indicated and if not keep up with frequent pH, FC, CC testing and adjusting to stay in TFP range. Soon you'll get to know your pool. Get very familiar with ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry. Don't add anything unless you have a test that indicates a need for it and you'll be fine. Good luck to you!

Chris

I am sorry, I did not post it, but did put it in the logs. After that test you just posted, which was done at 2:15am, I added another .5 gallons at 3:15am to hopefully clear out that last 1 CC. Then I went to bed, planning to test again when I woke up. Soo happy to see it was at 0 CC today. I am going to attempt the OCLT tonight, if 7 hours is long enough between the tests.

 

[splashpad]

I am sorry, I did not post it, but did put it in the logs. After that test you just posted, which was done at 2:15am, I added another .5 gallons at 3:15am to hopefully clear out that last 1 CC. Then I went to bed, planning to test again when I woke up. Soo happy to see it was at 0 CC today. I am going to attempt the OCLT tonight, if 7 hours is long enough between the tests.

Yes that is long enough
The one mistake that can be observed from a quick search of multiple "SLAM" posts here in the forums, is pool owners letting their FC lower to "maintenance" too soon. It's better to keep FC at an elevated SLAM level for an extra day or two, rather than fighting or barely maintaining any FC, because it's being "used up", oxidizing organics in the water

 

[Niteowl]

Yes that is long enough
The one mistake that can be observed from a quick search of multiple "SLAM" posts here in the forums, is pool owners letting their FC lower to "maintenance" too soon. It's better to keep FC at an elevated SLAM level for an extra day or two, rather than fighting or barely maintaining any FC, because it's being "used up", oxidizing organics in the water

If I am using the app correctly, I activated the little slider in FC that says "SLAM", it says that my target slam level is 16. So I should try to get it to 16 and do the OCLT tonight at that level?

 

[splashpad]

If I am using the app correctly, I activated the little slider in FC that says "SLAM", it says that my target slam level is 16. So I should try to get it to 16 and do the OCLT tonight at that level?

I believe so You can double check against this FC/CYA Levels. Your FC SLAM level is based on your CYA level ^{(to repeat it again)}

 

[Niteowl]

Mystery solved, my tap water has a TA of 200, thats why I jumped to 140.

 

[IceShadow]

Mystery solved, my tap water has a TA of 200, thats why I jumped to 140.

That's fine, it will come down over time as you add acid with the slow rise of pH.

 

[setsailsoon]

Mystery solved, my tap water has a TA of 200, thats why I jumped to 140.

Nite,

That usually the reason. Easy to address later. Best to do an OCLT all night but if all you can do is 7 hrs that should work.

I didn't realize you were posting test results, sorry my bad. You sure do your testing at late hours no wander "Niteowl"!

It certainly won't hurt to take it up to SLAM level. Then do the OCLT. Based on all of your results if you need a SLAM I suspect it will be very short. Getting all that algae out of your light fixtures is definitely gonna help.

Chris

 

[Niteowl]

Thank you all soo much for your patience. I added 1.2 gallons of the chlorine that the app called for, going to wait an hour and test to see if I am at SLAM level. Then start the OCT tonight when sun sets.

 

[Niteowl]

Nite,

That usually the reason. Easy to address later. Best to do an OCLT all night but if all you can do is 7 hrs that should work.

I didn't realize you were posting test results, sorry my bad. You sure do your testing at late hours no wander "Niteowl"!

It certainly won't hurt to take it up to SLAM level. Then do the OCLT. Based on all of your results if you need a SLAM I suspect it will be very short. Getting all that algae out of your light fixtures is definitely gonna help.

Chris

Yeah, I live up to my name...lol. I work most nights until about 2am, do some testing when I get home and again when I wake up at about noon. This is a temporary schedule for me, I am doing uber eats to make up for some lost income and its busiest at night, especially on weekends.

 

[Niteowl]

Just did the test again after adding 1.2 gallons recommended by the app. I think that I have have misjudged the pour and went over 1.2 gallons. Fc is now 20.5. I will test again tonight when I start the OCLT and see how much it drops. (hopefully it doesn't)

 

[IceShadow]

The sun will eat some of the FC even if there's nothing it's fighting in the water.

 

[Niteowl]

Starting the OCLT at 8:15pm:

FC = 12.5
CC = 0

 

[Katodude]

You need to get that FC higher. Slam level for CYA of 40 is 16 ppm. I dont think you have gotten there. Before you want to think about OCLT your water needs to be crystal clear.

 

[Niteowl]

You need to get that FC higher. Slam level for CYA of 40 is 16 ppm. I dont think you have gotten there. Before you want to think about OCLT your water needs to be crystal clear.

The water has been crystal clear since I drained 70% and refilled it, the CC has been slowly coming down. It was at 0 all day today. But I did get the FC up to 20.5 today, to hopefully kill off anything left in there. I just got home from work now at 2:45, but going to wait a bit longer to finish the OCLT. I want to give it atleast 7 hours in between the tests.