A few weeks after I successfully completed a SLAM Process, it looks like it's time to do one again. I've been needing to add more chlorine recently and just did an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test and it failed .
I understand there's a constant battle going on between the chlorine molecules and other uninvited organisms that want to come and have their own party in my pool. I'm wondering why the chlorine seems to do just fine sometimes and other times it gets overwhelmed. What kinds of things get into the pool water that overwhelm the chlorine? Do they tend to come from nature or people in the pool? Right now, my water temperature averages between 82-86F/28-30C (no heater). I'm sure the warmer water helps these organisms win the battle. I believe SLAM is effective because it just overwhelms the bad stuff and kills it before it can reproduce, right? My anguish now is that it's probably the 3rd time this swim season I'm having to do a SLAM, and it's not that long after my previous SLAM. Is it just bad luck with Mother Nature or indicative of something else?
My other complication is that for years it's been difficult for me to maintain my CYA level. I add conditioner and the CYA doesn't seem to stay long. TFP people have said the only way to lose CYA is through water loss, but that doesn't seem to be my experience. My CH sure likes to build up until I drain/refill, but the CYA doesn't. I also did an evaporation test ~2 years ago and that didn't show any loss beyond evaporation. For example, maybe 4-5 weeks ago, CYA was at 60. I added CYA ~2 weeks ago. Yesterday I tested and it was at 50.
The pool does get used several days a week, but typically it's 2-4 people and not a great deal of splashing or waves. There are some other occasional, bigger events, but nothing recent.
I understand there's a constant battle going on between the chlorine molecules and other uninvited organisms that want to come and have their own party in my pool. I'm wondering why the chlorine seems to do just fine sometimes and other times it gets overwhelmed. What kinds of things get into the pool water that overwhelm the chlorine? Do they tend to come from nature or people in the pool? Right now, my water temperature averages between 82-86F/28-30C (no heater). I'm sure the warmer water helps these organisms win the battle. I believe SLAM is effective because it just overwhelms the bad stuff and kills it before it can reproduce, right? My anguish now is that it's probably the 3rd time this swim season I'm having to do a SLAM, and it's not that long after my previous SLAM. Is it just bad luck with Mother Nature or indicative of something else?
My other complication is that for years it's been difficult for me to maintain my CYA level. I add conditioner and the CYA doesn't seem to stay long. TFP people have said the only way to lose CYA is through water loss, but that doesn't seem to be my experience. My CH sure likes to build up until I drain/refill, but the CYA doesn't. I also did an evaporation test ~2 years ago and that didn't show any loss beyond evaporation. For example, maybe 4-5 weeks ago, CYA was at 60. I added CYA ~2 weeks ago. Yesterday I tested and it was at 50.
The pool does get used several days a week, but typically it's 2-4 people and not a great deal of splashing or waves. There are some other occasional, bigger events, but nothing recent.
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