Kem Tek 338 vs Jack's Magic Purple Stuff in salt pool?

[JimK]

Hi Ben.

I let the bucket sit another 24 hours and now the water is clear. The only thing I see is white sediment on the bottom of the bucket. What do these results mean? Anything useful?.....

Hi Ben.

I know you are really busy and I greatly appreciate your help with doing the bucket test for metals.

Waterbear helped me with problems I was having reading the Taylor calcium test kit results ( http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...lcium-test-kit ). I appears my calcium level is 250ppm max.

So to summarize, my TA is at 90-100 (NOT adjusted for a CYA level of 80; don't know what the adjusted level would be) and Calcium is at 250ppm max. After waiting an additional 24hrs. the water in the bucket is now clear with only white sediment visible on the bottom (sides of bucket are also white).

Let me know what you think when you get a chance.

[PoolDoc]

You did the bucket test. You added bleach -- to break down any phosphonates, and then oxidize any metals to the insoluble form, and then soda ash, to raise the pH to the point where they would precipitate.

Colors tell the tale: iron would make the sediment brown or orange; copper blue or green, or maybe black. You got tan. That means calcium plus maybe a tiny bit of iron. You *might* have other metals, but it's unlikely.

[JimK]

You did the bucket test. You added bleach -- to break down any phosphonates, and then oxidize any metals to the insoluble form, and then soda ash, to raise the pH to the point where they would precipitate.

Colors tell the tale: iron would make the sediment brown or orange; copper blue or green, or maybe black. You got tan. That means calcium plus maybe a tiny bit of iron. You *might* have other metals, but it's unlikely.

Thanks Ben. Actually, the sediment is white. I take this to mean it's not likely I have any metals and that adding the sequest isn't doing anything?

If I wanted to later test for metals using a Taylor kit, how long should I discontinue sequestrant use before testing to be sure the sequestrant doesn't interfere with the results?

[PoolDoc]

Wow. Missed this one.

Yes, white sediment in a metals test strongly suggests no metals are present.

As far as how sequestrants / chelants interact with copper tests (of various flavors), that's information we haven't been able to find yet!

[JimK]

Wow. Missed this one.

Yes, white sediment in a metals test strongly suggests no metals are present.

As far as how sequestrants / chelants interact with copper tests (of various flavors), that's information we haven't been able to find yet!

No problem, Ben. I know y'all have been swamped with requests for help this season. I kind of figured that if tan sediment meant a small amount of iron, that white sediment like I got meant no metals.

I'd still like to discuss and get a better understanding of what happened to the metals that I did have in my pool, but since I'm not currently having any issues that discussion can wait until after the end of the busy season. I look forward to that discussion.

[PoolDoc]

Thanks.