Test
Get a current CYA reading and a reliable FC result before you pick the target.
Cadence
Printable SLAM rhythm
Use the cards to keep the maintain/brush/retest cycle obvious while the pool is in recovery.
Brush
Expose growth and suspension so the chlorine and filter can do their work.
Maintain
Restore the FC target after every drop and keep circulation running.
Exit criteria
Do not stop until the water is clear, CC is low, and overnight loss passes.
Water Clarity Reference
What does your water look like?
Clear
Bottom details visible, water sparkles in sunlight
Hazy/Dull
Bottom visible but not sharp, water lacks sparkle
Cloudy/Milky
Cannot see bottom clearly, white/gray tint, may be dead algae or fine particles
Green
Visible green color, algae present, may still see bottom or steps
Dark Green
Cannot see bottom, heavy algae bloom, urgent SLAM needed
When a pool really needs a full algae cleanup
Use this after you have confirmed algae or abnormal chlorine demand
Best when
- Use this after you have confirmed algae or abnormal chlorine demand
Check before you start
- CYA
- Free Chlorine
Stop if
- Do not start SLAM without a current CYA test
- Do not use non-chlorine shock or algaecide as a substitute
- Do not SLAM if the pump is not running or the filter is bypassed
Start here
Confirm CYA and calculate the right chlorine level, then keep the pump running and the pool brushed while you test and redose often enough to hold level.
Skip this
- ✕Do not start SLAM without a current CYA test
- ✕Do not use non-chlorine shock or algaecide as a substitute
- ✕Do not SLAM if the pump is not running or the filter is bypassed
Check these first
CYA / Free Chlorine
1
Confirm CYA and calculate the right chlorine level
Use a current stabilizer result before you choose the chlorine target.
2
Keep the pump running and the pool brushed
SLAM depends on circulation, brushing, and filtration, not one product dump.
3
Test and redose often enough to hold level
The maintain step is the work: test, dose, brush, and filter until the pool holds.
4
Exit only when clarity, CC, and loss criteria are met
Raise FC from 0 ppm toward about 12 ppm, then verify with a retest after circulation.
5
Maintain, brush, and filter
The 'maintain' part is what makes SLAM work.
6
Use strict exit criteria
Do not stop because the pool merely looks better.
7
Return to normal operation carefully
After SLAM, transition back to your ordinary operating target rather than swinging chemistry again.
Questions? (4)
When should I not start SLAM?
Do not start with unknown CYA, obviously broken circulation, a source-water or chemistry-edge-case problem, or a problem that is clearly mechanical rather than biological.
Why is the target tied to CYA?
The common residential FC/CYA model for algae remediation raises the FC target as stabilizer rises.
When should I stop and not keep SLAMing?
Stop if the pool is clearly mechanical, the water is only mildly cloudy, or the chlorine demand keeps behaving like a different problem. In those cases, use the matching diagnostic path instead of extending SLAM by habit.
Why does pH become hard to trust?
High chlorine can distort the pH reading, so the pH test is most useful before SLAM starts and again after FC comes back down to normal operating range.
Educational guidance only. Verify labels, manuals, local code, and site conditions before acting. Stop for electrical, gas, structural, drain, drowning, injury, emergency, or chemical-mixing risk.