Was fighting Algae Bloom (with Leslie’s..) became TFP convert, but curious about path forward.

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W

Woozle

Member
Jul 6, 2024
10
Ohio
Pool Size
15000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Hey all,

Have had my pool for a few years, and really always just kind of mailed in the chlorine and never had any problems, added a bit a few times a week and everything was pretty smooth.

This year however Ohio was SUPER hot for the last couple weeks, I was traveling and was not able to put any chlorine in, cover was on.. when I took it off, the pool looked like a pond.

In trying to deal with the issue with Leslie’s, I lost faith in their ability to help when they kept saying the pool water reads fine and I kept telling them it’s cloudy and had (dead?) algae on the bottom.

That is when I came across TFP, I have since ordered a TF-Pro, and I am ready to start taking and understanding my pool chemistry better.

That being said, today I used the kit for the first time, and have my logs. I vacuumed to waste the bottom of the pool very well, cleaned my (very nasty) filter, and am refilling with water.

The water looks fairly clear, after traveling again this week, I have 0 chlorine present and 0 CYA, I took my water to Leslie’s to see what they said and their measurements matched mine mostly.

My question is, since I know I have had algae, do I SLAM anyway? Or chlorinate regularly and see how it does?

Also, the app recommends adding just 3qts of 12% liquid chlorine to hit the right levels, and for SLAM it’s 2gal 2qt, for what it’s worth Leslie’s recommended 4..

Just curious best steps moving forward from here, thank you!
 
First thing is stop going to Leslie. Comparing TFP methods and what Leslie tells you will just create confusion.

Add 30 ppm of dry stabilizer using the sock methods.

Lower your pH to around 7.4. Does not need to be exact.

Add 2 gallons of 10% liquid chlorine to get your FC to 12 ppm SLAM level.

Maintain the 12 ppm if your FC drops. When your FC is not dropping do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test top confirm you are algae free.

Then move on to normal pool care.
 
Oh, I wasnt really comparing the method, just trying to understand since the numbers were so far off and I am new to TFP process. I will get more stabilizer tomorrow as well as some muriatic acid and add, I had 1 gal liquid stabilizer and added that but unsurprisingly that isn't enough to register on the test.

Unfortunately I added 3 gal prior to your reply since I knew my CYA is low and the sunny day tomorrow would drop it a lot. I believe right now I am at 25ppm FC and ~2.5 to 2 CC, I will see how much they drop overnight. Is it still "valid" even though my FC is much too high? My understanding is that it doesnt hurt except it may cause wear on pool equipment.
 
Woozle said:
Unfortunately I added 3 gal prior to your reply since I knew my CYA is low and the sunny day tomorrow would drop it a lot. I believe right now I am at 25ppm FC and ~2.5 to 2 CC, I will see how much they drop overnight. Is it still "valid" even though my FC is much too high? My understanding is that it doesnt hurt except it may cause wear on pool equipment.
Click to expand...

Is what valid?

Add the stabilizer and roll into the SLAM Process.
 
I meant was asking does FC being super high invalidate the test results for overnight loss. I haven’t seen anywhere it does but not sure.

If not, I did the test:
9:30PM
-FC 25ppm
-CC 1.5

7:30AM
-FC 14.5ppm
-CC 0.5

So definitely still fighting some organisms, but does that much FC loss overnight make sense for that CC amount? Seems like a lot but I’ve never done this before so
 
With high FC you can normally lose 2-3 ppm of FC instead of less than 1 ppm during the OCLT.

Your 10 ppm loss indicates you need the SLAM Process

Low CC does not rule out algae.
 
Yes, organics in the mix can and will cause FC lose. Be aware as per your poolmath you added 128 ounces of stabilizer which puts you CYA at about 60 or a bit more. The slam level for you is now approximately 24. Keep it at slam level at 2 hour intervals with good brushing minimum twice daily.
Looked at poolmath log again but not sure when the "15 CYA" was recorded but if that's before the additional 128 ounces then the CYA is 75-80 range which makes the slam level higher too.
 
Yes, I am planning to start SLAM just based off of the visible algae, so starting and holding that now.

As far as the CYA, I must be missing something, the original 15 CYA was an estimate because I had 0, added 1 gallon liquid and it still couldn’t read on the TF Pro kit. So this morning I added another gallon, my pool math app is suggesting that should bring it to 40 or so? I haven’t been able to test yet, unfortunately won’t be able to until later this evening.

Here’s a picture from my pool math app, maybe I have something wrong put in?
 

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You should be good with CYA 40 and a SLAM FC of 16.

It can take a few days for stabilizer to show in the test.

When you added the gallon of liquid stabilizer did you shake it well, pour it into the water, fill the jug halfway with water and shake again and pour into the pool, and repeat until it pours clear?
 
ajw22 said:
You should be good with CYA 40 and a SLAM FC of 16.

It can take a few days for stabilizer to show in the test.

When you added the gallon of liquid stabilizer did you shake it well, pour it into the water, fill the jug halfway with water and shake again and pour into the pool, and repeat until it pours clear?
Click to expand...
Yes, that is how I applied both gallons, and I brushed along the bottom of the pool anywhere that it may have settled some.
 

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Woozle said:
Yes, that is how I applied both gallons, and I brushed along the bottom of the pool anywhere that it may have settled some.
Click to expand...
I am confused how many gallons of liquid stabilizer you added.

1 gallon of liquid stabilizer will give you 25 ppm of CYA.
 
ajw22 said:
I am confused how many gallons of liquid stabilizer you added.

1 gallon of liquid stabilizer will give you 25 ppm of CYA.
Click to expand...
I added one last night, all I had yesterday and stores were closed. I tried to measure but couldn’t detect as the tf pro gage only goes to 30 lowest. The 15 number was just a guess I put in since I couldn’t actually measure it.

I added another gallon this morning and have not yet been able to measure, can’t until later tonight when I am home. But if 1 gallon makes 25ppm I guess I should be around 50ppm.
 
I would assume a CYA of 60 and a SLAM FC of 24.
 
Okay, home finally so I was able to test, FC now at 7 so obviously needs to go way up, but it lost 7 points from 7AM to 4PM? Feels like a lot if my CYA is truly 60?

I know you said CYA may take a bit to show, it’s still not even registering at a minimum of 30 on my tube, I’ve read the instructions several times and am fairly confident I am performing it correctly.

Should I put my solar cover on? I know it will help with UV chlorine loss as well.

Pool math says to add 2.2gallons of 12% chlorine to hit 24ppm at 60cya, so I guess I’ll do that now, not sure what’s up with my CYA
 
The 7 ppm of FC you lost was from both the suns UV and algae consumption.

Assume the CYA is in the water if you added it and start the SLAM Process
 
Hello - so I just wanted to give an update and confirm if I should be good to exit my SLAM now.

As far as the criteria goes, 2 nights ago I met all criteria, CC 0, water looks good, and I had FC loss of 1.0 overnight. Since the exit criteria says 1 or less, I assume this counts as passing. However just to be sure I gave everything a real good final cleaning, inspection, cleaned filter again, etc. and then stayed at SLAM level for another night.

Result from last night was a repeat, CC 0, water looks great, and FC loss was 1.0 overnight.


Just wanted to get an opinion on if that is truly okay to exit the SLAM? Should I just hold out to see 0 FC loss overnight? Or is that not likely and 1.0 is totally fine? I just dont want to leave it earlier than I should and end up having to start all over.
 
What was your starting FC for a overnight loss of 1?
 
Let your FC drop down around 10 and see if you get an overnight loss of 0.
 
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