Waterbugs appeared today, clear water, unable to maintain FC level

[38koldpool]

Hello,

I am a new pool owner to an older pool.

I have been using the Taylor K-2005 test kit and have been consistently getting low or no FC. I shock the pool. The CYA seems to be in range. I am suspecting an invisible algae problem.

My numbers this morning.

FC - 0 (ordered the Taylor 1515 kit to find low levels of chlorine, hopefully it arrives soon)
TC - 1
PH 7.2
ALK 100
CH 325
CYA 30

I shocked with 12 lbs of 68% cal hypo last night since that is what I had on hand. Disappointed to see water bugs this morning and still no FC.

Please advise.

Last filter clean was Sunday 05/26.

Been brushing daily and skimming and vacuuming as needed

Reaching out before I buy algaecide in desperation.

Thank you,

38koldpool

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
Add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine each day to the pool with the pump running until you get your K1515 kit.
Once you get it, test the FC/CC of the pool water.
Then follow the SLAM Process

Do not add algaecide. It will take more chlorine to eliminate that from the pool water.

I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[38koldpool]

Thank you! I did get my Taylor test 1515 and my free chlorine was at 0.2 and combined chlorine at .6. Tonight I will do the slam process.

Before I do the slam process I'm wondering if I need to increase my cya? When I did my cya test at the 30 PPM mark I could barely barely barely see a black dot. I knew it was still there. Does that mean I have less than 30 PPM like maybe 25 PPM? Should I add cya before doing slam tonight? We do get a lot of sun on the pool from 11:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. daily.

Thank you for your help with this.

 

[38koldpool]

I should also add we don't have any trichlor tabs in the inline feeder right now. Should I keep those out for the slam process or should we add some back in?

 

[mknauss]

From your description of the CYA test, I would say you have 30 ppm in the water. So leave that.
Do not use trichlor pucks right now. They add CYA and then that becomes a moving target.
SLAM Process is a continuous process until you meet the three criteria. No need to wait. Read the article. Get started.

 

[PoolStored]

When you test FC, use a 10ml sample size. Each drop is .5 FC. Using 10mL instead of 25ml sample size will save reagent. .5 increments is plenty accurate for a SLAM.

 

[38koldpool]

From your description of the CYA test, I would say you have 30 ppm in the water. So leave that.
Do not use trichlor pucks right now. They add CYA and then that becomes a moving target.
SLAM Process is a continuous process until you meet the three criteria. No need to wait. Read the article. Get started.

Thank you, I slammed all day yesterday and I am now at 12.5 . My CC is at .5 and my water looks beautiful crystal clear!

We have light rain today.

I will maintain 12 FC until I can get clear overnight weather to perform an OCLT.

I would like to do a filter clean again but that process takes me about 1.5 hours to complete (4 large cartridges). I will be ordering a 2nd set of cartridges for easier swap during filter clean. I read somewhere that I should be soaking my cartridge filters in a container with TSP for 12 hours and thoroughly rinsing for a complete clean. Do you see a problem with this during the slam process as long as I have a 2nd set to use while the dirty filters soak?

 

[PoolStored]

That approach is just fine.