Culator -- Solution or Just Another "Pool Store" Product?

[chem geek]

I ran into this product elsewhere and also had some contact with the company, read the patent, etc. The results so far have been mixed from the few people who have tried it. Unfortunately, for many they didn't have measurable metal ion levels to start with so it is hard to know if it works in such cases. There was a case that seemed to work, but we just don't have enough to be conclusive. So the jury is still out on this one. I had high hopes initially since there isn't much that actually removes metals from the water as opposed to sequestring them (except for Ben's "precipitate it into the filter at high pH" method). I have a bag still in my skimmer, but I've never measured metals though have a yellowing light stain that seems to only appear at higher pH so I figured it might be iron (I have rusting stainless steel mounts where my Trichlor floating feeder caused corrosion 7-8 years ago).

[mbar]

I have also decided to try culator. I have it in my skimmer now. I didn't have any staining, since I got rid of it. It usually returns sometime so I thought I would put it in to see if it keeps it away. If it just keeps it from restraining it wii be well worth the money since I won't have to put any more sequestering agent in the water. I will let you know.

[Lawrosa]

OK guys. I found the culator product on line for 19 bucks.

I may purchase but would like to know how to test my pool for the metals it says it removes. I have iron for sure because of my well situation. I know what my water has. It is treated but my iron is .7 ppm. I probably had breakthough of the softner when refilling my pool.

Do I just have a iron test done? Before and after? I guess The instruction would explain, but do I use a sequest agent first to get the iron to souluable form?

Since I am not a chemist I want to try and use my own pool for a test and let everone know the results. Just want to get some test parameters that may be somewhat accurate.

[PoolDoc]

David indicated that their testing showed that metal test strips did NOT work if a chelant or sequestrant was present. They had not yet tested drops based metal tests. But he said one of their frustrations was a lack of reliable testing to use to evaluate results.

[Lawrosa]

Anything I can do or try then? Otherwise it would be like when you change the oil and wash your car. You think it runs better.

[chem geek]

I asked the folks at Taylor Technologies whether their drop-based metal tests would measure total metals even when sequestrants were used and they thought it would, but I didn't get a warm/fuzzy feeling that they knew for certain.

[mbar]

Lawrosa, I have been trying to figure out how to test for, remove, control, or live with stains for about 11 years now. My conclusion is that every time I think I have it figured out, something else happens to make me wonder if the "stain gods" are just having a little more fun! What I really tried to do is figure out where the metals are really coming from. My well water does not show iron, but Jack's magic test showed the stains were iron. I do have a heater, so maybe they come from that. I just don't know. I also have three other friends that have the same pool, within different water sources and they all get stains too, so I have experimented with theirs too. The conclusion I came to is that I don't worry about where or how they get there anymore. Now I just get rid of them as they come, because no matter I still hate them with a vengence! My husband calls me "the stain nazi" You will figure out how to work your own pool water to keep your pool stain free. So, don't drive yourself crazy, but if you do please share your results with us, I love to learn about all the ways to get rid of stains, I add them to my "bag of tricks".

[Lawrosa]

Marie,

I know where my metals are from. The well. I have not had a problem with the pool until this yr with metals. But I have a shallow well and had some plant growth (Golden algae ) growing down there. How it grows without sunlight is beyond me. I e mailed everyone and no one knows what it is.

Anyway I think you posted that you tried the C U Lator. Is it working? Anything?

[mbar]

Just wanted to update on the culator. I have not gotten any stains back since I have it in my skimmer. This is the longest I have gone without stains. I have not put any sequestering agent in since then either. So far for me it works. I have not had to really shock the pool, because the water has been clear all summer, so I don't know what will happen if I do. The ph has drifted up, and still no stains. My fingers are crossed - it will save a lot of money in the long run if this really works.

[waterbear]

Marie, did you ever try increasing your calcium hardness to plaster pool levels to see if it has any impact on the staining? I know we discussed this once before and I have seen this lower the tendency to stain in several fiberglass pools that had very low calcium, including my own. I have not used ascorbic acid or seqestrant in about 3 years now since I brought my calcium up to between 350-400 ppm from the 180 ppm or thereabout I was running it at (natural water hardness when the water softener is bybassed). Before I would need to deal with the staining about twice a year. Water in the pool is still the same.