Taking charge of my pool

[ISinktro85]

I logged my numbers into the Poolmath App. Now I am going to track down the formula for SLAM here on the website. Now where is that cartoon............here it is.

 

[Texas Splash]

pH 7.8 ppm
FC 1.5 ppm
CYA 20 or less

Okay, so begin by using some muriatic acid to lower the pH to about 7.2. Use the PoolMath APP (Effects of Adding) for help. Be careful of acid splashing and the strong fumes (wind direction). You should also add another 10 ppm of stabilizer via the sock method. You really need a CYA of at least 30, and even if you went to 40 it's not bad.

Once you lower the pH and have a sock soaking for the stabilizer, it will be important to have a few gallons of liquid chlorine available to begin the SLAM Process by increasing the FC to "12". At that point, your main focus is all about maintaining the FC of 12 and cleaning the inside of the pool. Don't test the pH, TA, or CH until after the SLAM. You might test the CYA again in a day or two to ensure you made it to 30 or 40.

 

[ISinktro85]

While I am getting the SLAM prepared I have my FILTER problem:

I have an intex sand filter and have taken over the job of managing my pool with my new best friends at TFP...I am still 'opening' the pool and have been vacuuming/brushing over the past 8 days in preparation for my first SLAM. All this time, the pool filter :
1. is off or has shut off for an unknown reason...could be on a timer, who knows. I tell myself it is dirty.
2. I turn it on and observe very slow power and movement of water. The psi pressure is low on the dial, not high. Then I press button to turn off.
3. my fix is to turn dial to BACKWASH , uncap, press button on and watch dirty water flow out for 2 minutes. press off button then I turn dial to FILTER, cap goes on. I power on and the psi is in the green and my flow is better. What I discovered today is...
NEVER HAVE I EVER PUT IT TO RINSE like I see in this video....https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/deep-cleaning-a-sand-filter.73192/ NOR TO RECIRCULATE.... yikes, right?
Am I right to think I need to always BACKFLOW / RINSE / RECIRCULATE / return to FILTER?

 

[ISinktro85]

It is me again on Week 2 of Taking Charge of my Pool opening. Week 1 resulted in very poor filtering, non working skimmer. We put new sand in filter, cleaned it out and All is working very well. I had to stop my vacuuming 4 days ago and this is my dilemma.
Recent FC and CYA levels from June 10 to June 12 several times per day
FC 1.5 CYA 40
FC 8.0
FC 13.5
FC 12.5
FC 12.5 CYA 60
FC 20.5
FC 18.0
FC 19.5 CYA 50
FC 15.5 CYA 50
Today I look at pool and clarity is poor, cloudy, however the color is moving from green to blue. The floaty junk: organics, slime pieces, even bugs are diminished as of this morning June 12th. I usually need to skim that from the top from outside the pool, but saw no need to skim. Current skimmer has a modification of a filter 'sock' for the small stuff.
My decision is: I will be unable since June 10th to vacuum at all because of a wrist injury. The progress of the floaty junk disappearing is likely through the filtering system. I am diligent for the backwash/rinse/run 24-7.
Without vacuuming myself, I found a professional to help. They advised:
Put Flocc in pool, stop the filter, while the algae becomes attached to it it will fall to floor and then call them to come and vacuum.
I am ready to swim and this sounds reasonable to me. Aside from the cost of their help, etc.. what are my chances? I could still continue with the SLAM instructions (goal is 20.0) because I am close but have not reached the clarity level, TC level and the overnight level..Thank you for your careful help and advice!

 

[ajw22]

We do not recommend the use of floc.

Flocculant - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Be patient and complete the SLAM Process. If you do not get your pool algae free it is likely to return.

 

[Bperry]

It is me again on Week 2 of Taking Charge of my Pool opening. Week 1 resulted in very poor filtering, non working skimmer. We put new sand in filter, cleaned it out and All is working very well. I had to stop my vacuuming 4 days ago and this is my dilemma.
Recent FC and CYA levels from June 10 to June 12 several times per day
FC 1.5 CYA 40
FC 8.0
FC 13.5
FC 12.5
FC 12.5 CYA 60
FC 20.5
FC 18.0
FC 19.5 CYA 50
FC 15.5 CYA 50
Today I look at pool and clarity is poor, cloudy, however the color is moving from green to blue. The floaty junk: organics, slime pieces, even bugs are diminished as of this morning June 12th. I usually need to skim that from the top from outside the pool, but saw no need to skim. Current skimmer has a modification of a filter 'sock' for the small stuff.
My decision is: I will be unable since June 10th to vacuum at all because of a wrist injury. The progress of the floaty junk disappearing is likely through the filtering system. I am diligent for the backwash/rinse/run 24-7.
Without vacuuming myself, I found a professional to help. They advised:
Put Flocc in pool, stop the filter, while the algae becomes attached to it it will fall to floor and then call them to come and vacuum.
I am ready to swim and this sounds reasonable to me. Aside from the cost of their help, etc.. what are my chances? I could still continue with the SLAM instructions (goal is 20.0) because I am close but have not reached the clarity level, TC level and the overnight level..Thank you for your careful help and advice!

Floc does not kill algae, only theoretically helps with particles floating in the water but it can also make things worse. The pictures show algae and so you just need to keep going with the SLAM.

 

[ISinktro85]

So many set backs already. Okay, I will not do the Flocc, I put my trust in the process. Do you think my little robot with cotton balls will clear things well? Likely I am vacuuming just once per day on my own. How do my numbers look?
Thanks for the reply Bperry and ajw22.

 

[Bperry]

So many set backs already. Okay, I will not do the Flocc, I put my trust in the process. Do you think my little robot with cotton balls will clear things well? Likely I am vacuuming just once per day on my own. How do my numbers look?
Thanks for the reply Bperry and ajw22.

Good choice. Just keep adding chlorine to keep it at SLAM level as often as possible. The robot is great for picking up small stuff on the pool floor. I’m not sure I’d fool around with cotton balls. Just be patient.

 

[ISinktro85]

I want to have patience but could use some encouragement! I have not swum (sp?) in my pool all of June! Here are pics for comparison and the color is moving to blue and clarity is improving every other day. I only reached SLAM level twice and my levels go up and down..see below:
june 11 all FC:
12.5 cya 60
20.5
18
19.5 cya50
15.5
9.0
13.5
12.0
17.0
21 cya 50
in am 14.0
19.0
16.0 June 14th
15
17.5
14
11.5
22.5
in am 16.0
12.5 today at 2:30p on June 17th

We can visually see algae floating dead after we brush, then we scoop it out and clean it out of the skimmer. The filter is on but shuts off on its own overnight because I have to turn it on in the a.m.. I can't find how to keep it running 24/7. Any advice? Googling again...

 

[Texas Splash]

Improvement is good. Do your best to maintain the proper FC level of 20 based on the last CYA of 50. You've been doing well. The ladder is out of the pool correct?

Not sure why the pump is turning off though. That's odd. Is it connected to a timer of some sorts?

 

[Bperry]

I want to have patience but could use some encouragement! I have not swum (sp?) in my pool all of June! Here are pics for comparison and the color is moving to blue and clarity is improving every other day. I only reached SLAM level twice and my levels go up and down..see below:
june 11 all FC:
12.5 cya 60
20.5
18
19.5 cya50
15.5
9.0
13.5
12.0
17.0
21 cya 50
in am 14.0
19.0
16.0 June 14th
15
17.5
14
11.5
22.5
in am 16.0
12.5 today at 2:30p on June 17th

We can visually see algae floating dead after we brush, then we scoop it out and clean it out of the skimmer. The filter is on but shuts off on its own overnight because I have to turn it on in the a.m.. I can't find how to keep it running 24/7. Any advice? Googling again...

If you can see the bottom of the pool and you dont mind a little green, go swimming and take advantage of the cool water in all this heat.

 

[ISinktro85]

Improvement is good. Do your best to maintain the proper FC level of 20 based on the last CYA of 50. You've been doing well. The ladder is out of the pool correct?

Not sure why the pump is turning off though. That's odd. Is it connected to a timer of some sorts?

My ladder is in the pool. Next, it has been halfway in the pool so Robot Vacuum and the brush can access under ladder. I was thinking ladder would get dirty outside pool . Do I remove it?

 

[ISinktro85]

I will be checking my timer on the pump. Likely that is what is happening. I have not found a helpful video yet

 

[Texas Splash]

Do I remove it

Absolutely! In fact, don't just remove it, disassemble it or open as many parts of it as you can as ladders are algae traps. Any area you can't see, inject it with chlorine, mix it around, and rinse it really, really well.

 

[ISinktro85]

If you can see the bottom of the pool and you dont mind a little green, go swimming and take advantage of the cool water in all this heat.

As a matter of fact, I do not mind a little green! Thank you.

 

[ISinktro85]

.
Here is my link for Intex sand filter pump (and saltwater) pool chlorine systems how to instructional video! For operation of the timer go to 15:20. I hope it helps someone else too. My filter is now running nonstop and is not on the timer for the SLAM process.

Absolutely! In fact, don't just remove it, disassemble it or open as many parts of it as you can as ladders are algae traps. Any area you can't see, inject it with chlorine, mix it around, and rinse it really, really well.

This sounds like an expert DIY solution: How do you inject ladder spaces with chlorine? Squirtgun? Turkey baster? Please advise.

 

[Texas Splash]

Squirtgun? Turkey baster?

Any of those. A syringe can work as well.