First Pool water trouble

[PoolDoc]

I'm really having a hard time with your question, because I'm not really equipped to give a "here's how you solve your problem" answer. The whole issue of how to get metals out of Intex pools is a stumper -- they are low cost pools, and have really low capacity filter system.

Working out a 'best way' is inevitably going to require 'field testing', AKA trial and error. Ideally, I could spend the next 3 weeks shuttling by private plane between the well-water filled Intex pools having this problem . . . trying different combination till I found something reasonably easy and reasonably priced. Unfortunately, being "independently broke", that's not gonna happen. So, the "trials" and the "errors" will have to be yours, not mine.

Next best thing, I'll tell you what I would try first, if I was you.

1. Drain your pool, and rinse out the goo.
2. Refill adding about the label dose of a liquid metal control product. Do NOT overdose. Do NOT repeat the dose.
3. Add 2x the label dose of polyquat AND keep adding every 2 days.
4. Adjust your pH to 7.0 - 7.4 using muriatic acid as needed.
5. Do NOT add any baking soda (alkalinity increaser) or calcium.
6. Add small doses of borax (1/4 box daily) till you've added 3 boxes
7. Continue using muriatic acid to keep the pH below 7.4
8. Add SMALL (1 ppm) doses of PRE-DISSOLVED dichlor to your pool nightly.
9. Operate your filter 24/7. (Get some extra cartridges before you refill).
10. Try to avoid having to add lots of water at once.
11. After the initial dose, only add liquid control product as needed with NEW water additions.
12. Continue with the polyquat and low dose chlorination, till your filter stops turning really brown.
13. Switch back to the polyquat and low dose chlorination, any time you have to add more than 1/10 of your pool volume.
14. Run your filter 24/7 for several days after each water addition.

Ok. That's what I'd try.

I'm next going to start writing an "Iron and Intex" FAQ in which I'll try to explain why that's what I'd try.

Of course, if you have an iron removal system on your household water, filling with THAT water would be far and away the easiest thing.

But, I wouldn't try to clean up the water you've got, unless you're first get a new and larger filter and pump for your pool.

There is one exception. If you turn your pump and filter off overnight, and find that the iron has settled to the bottom, leaving clear water on top, you've got a third option. You can VERY carefully set up your vacuum system --- without disturbing the iron on the bottom --- to vacuum to waste, by siphoning onto the ground. Then you can vacuum most of the iron out. If you go this route, you'll want to fill the pool to flooding first, so you have some water to spare.

Best wishes,

PoolDoc

[Upnorthpoolproblem]

Thanks everyone for your input. It helps put some perspective on my options.
Thanks as well PoolDoc for your best guess as to what I should trial and error. Jet setting to my place is definitely not what I'd expect. It is interesting the number of similar questions you must field. I just wanted to know what I could I try or what someone would recommend who had more experience with pools than I do. I'm good with trial and error. You've more than given me some options. Sincerest thanks. I'll look forward to your faq to figure out all the whys. Understanding that might help as I'm trial and erroring through it all.
Although it would definitely seem filling with conditioned water, no matter how much slower it may be, will definitely be less time consuming than dealing with iron in the water.
Regarding the upgrade of the filter and pump. If I were to consider such a thing, is it worth it for the kind of pool I have and what might you recommend? Just a best guess/opinion. I wouldn't have a clue without somebody giving me one as far as what to get. Thanks for any input you have.

Thanks again,

Kris

[mbar]

Kris, can you please post all of your results so we can learn from your experiences too? It is how we all learn and we can pass on what works! Thanks

[CarlD]

The EasySet is the donut, right? Since you must take down the pool every year, it's probably just easier to fill with the iron-free water. Intex filters will handle ordinary conditions, but serious deviations go beyond what they can do. It's your decision but even a decent small pump and filter will probably cost more than the pool itself. Is it worth it? That is your decision.

Been there, done that--I had a 15' donut we used for 3 years.

[Upnorthpoolproblem]

Yes CarlD my pool is a donut, 12' I think.
Well, based on what everyone has said here and my available options. It would seem easiest to empty and refill with conditioned water from my house with no iron, or at least much less. As much as it would probably benefit someone else as I work through the iron problem, I don't really want to invest that time, energy ,and money, since I have other options.
So right now my plan of action is to drain, refill with conditioned water and go from there. Thanks for your help everyone. Who knows I may have more questions about the other process too.
I do have one more question. I began draining it today. It appears that much of the water on the surface is clear. I was wondering why. I did try to vacuum the bottom first as PoolDoc had suggested but got no iron, only some dirt. I was wondering why it appears this way. Anybody have any suggestions. Is it gunk on the pool floor? Settling out of the iron toward the bottom but not on the bottom (so maybe its in the bottom foot or so of water. I've had my pump/filter turned off for a day or so waiting to drain. Anybody that has any info would be appreciated. I'd just like to learn as much as I can in the process.
Thanks all,

Kris

[aylad]

Just wanted to reiterate this from Pooldoc's earlier post..There is one exception. If you turn your pump and filter off overnight, and find that the iron has settled to the bottom, leaving clear water on top, you've got a third option. You can VERY carefully set up your vacuum system --- without disturbing the iron on the bottom --- to vacuum to waste, by siphoning onto the ground. Then you can vacuum most of the iron out. If you go this route, you'll want to fill the pool to flooding first, so you have some water to spare.

IN answer to your last post, just remember that you'll have to make frequent additions of chlorine until you get some stabilizer in the water, because the sun will consume a lot of the chlorine. Let us know how it's going!!

Janet

[Upnorthpoolproblem]

Well, first I'd like to thanks everyone for the information and expertise or at least there experience to help shed light on my situation and give me some ideas as to how to get the most enjoyment out of my pool.
As far as how its going, I'm debating whether or not we will try to set up the pool again this year. We got a late start and our seasons for enjoying it is well over half over. Also with what we've tried already, we've exceeded what we've budgeted for the pool. So with the above two considerations, we are leaning toward starting over next spring with our newfound understanding, thanks to the helpful folks here.
I did try the vacuum process, but I must not have the right type of vacuum because it is only designed to pull debris out of the water not the debris and water which it sounds like the type that is described here and what I would need to vacuum the iron out. What I did just seemed to move it from the bottom and mix it in with the rest of the water. So we drained the pool and will try to clean it out and start over with the process. How I wish I knew what I know now when we started this process. It would have been so much easier.

Thanks again.

Kris

[Upnorthpoolproblem]

One other question. Is there anything I should be aware of when I am filling up the pool and starting over? You don't have to recreate the wheel. If there is a FAQ or something someone could point me to that would be fine. There may not be anything. I just thought it would be worth asking some people who've been around the block once or twice before and keep me from making anymore unnecessary mistakes.

Thanks

Kris