First test readings of season

[PoolDoc]

You can try to commonly available products to test for metals: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and Iron-Out (sodium sulfite + sodium hydrosulfite). If neither one lightens the stains, it probably is NOT a metal stain.

Unfortunately some non-metallic stains can be very chlorine resistant. But, using a sequestrant, chelant, or reducing agent (sodium hydrosulfite -- dissolves metal salts or stains) will have NO effect on a non-metallic stain.

[michael3]

Thanks Ben, I guess what I'm wondering is can I have metal in my water, it would have come from copper shock, but not stain the liner? In effect can metals in the water give the green color but not stained the liner? If so what approach would I take

[PoolDoc]

Please complete this form for me:

Pool Chart Entry Form

[stma]

@Ben: While I am making strides with the DE as Michael is, I did add a dose of Natural Chemistry's Metal Free into the water.. ( this is one of very few items I buy from the pool store)... it has worked like a charm the past 4-5 years....This years dose (which was yesterday) has yielded no results... I dropped FC to near -0- and PH in the 7.0 range..... (( Alk is 110 )) Any idea why this didnt take this time around... ? (the stains DO disappear with the Vit C powder)

[michael3]

Chart completed Ben

[PoolDoc]

@Ben: I did add a dose of Natural Chemistry's Metal Free into the water..) (the stains DO disappear with the Vit C powder)

Citric acid is incompatible with chlorine; if you have adequate chlorine in the pool, the citric acid will be destroyed almost instantly. This is also true of ascorbic acid (V. C) but it is a better stain remover than citric acid. However, to use either one, you have to operate with low / no chlorine, which is why we recommend dropping the chlorine and adding polyquat, when lifting (dissolving) metal stains, then adding HEDP (somewhat chlorine stable) to KEEP the metals in the water, THEN rechlorinating.

If you use the *old* Metal Free, it was EDTA based, which would still work for a little while in the presence of chlorine. Natural Chemistry reformulated that product on a no-notice basis.

[michael3]

Ben any chance you had time to look over the chart I filled out?

[stma]

Michael:::: I had posted to Ben yesterday that after dosing with PolyQuat, the water (within seconds) completely clouded over.... Although the water "blue'd" up somewhat, I could not see 6 inches into the water... Ben had mentioned that it could be a conflict of chemistry between the flocculant I dosed with and the Poly... Just got home 6 minutes ago and this pool is CRYSTAL CLEAR !!!!! As im attempting to clean up some metal stains, I have the CL at almost zero (going to do the Ascorbic treatment) and PH is low as well.... SO, I dont know if its a combination of all those factors or JUST the Poly, but its Crystal as I type this....
Perhaps your next $20 bill should be to PolyQuat and i hope you get the same results..>>!!!

LET US KNOW..,
Steve