Stains returning

[gerri]

I am going to be using Metal Magic by ProTeam this week and it (in theory) will make the iron in the water "crystallize" so that it can be filtered and vaccuumed out.

You aren't Marty Weston by any chance are you?

[MartyW]

No, the last name is Wagner. Let me know how the Metal Magic works. I suspect my metal is probably copper from my heater, although I really try to keep my pH high enough to keep it from leaching the copper out.

Thanks Marty

[gerri]

I will post after I use the metal magic.. I think it's scheduled for delivery tomorrow. Marie (mbar) is also trying it out, she is actually who gave me the idea to try it.

I would think your heater is where the metals (copper) are coming from. I don't have a heater so hopefully once I deal with the metals they will be out, until I have to add water or something.

[mbar]

Marty, If you keep your alkalinity in range - 80 - 120, and your calcium in range - with fiberglass I keep mine at 150 - 200, you can keep your ph as low as 7.0, and it won't damage the heater. If you have a fiberglass pool that is having staining issues, then I would keep the ph at 7.2, and no higher than 7.4. Keeping sequestering agent in at all times.

Gerri, Take your ph down to 7.2 - with the additional sequestering agent, the stains should lighten up till you use the metal magic. Let me know how it goes. I haven't used it yet. I just got home from vacation and am having company, so I won't get to it for a while.

[MartyW]

Everyone says to keep the pH low to prevent the stains from coming back. I thought too low of a pH (acidic) would cause the copper to be leached out of the heater and subsequently cause more stains. Do I have it backwards?

Marty

[mbar]

Anything below 7 is acidic, anything above is ok. If you have good alkalinity, at least 80, and a ph of 7.2, you will not leach out any copper.

[MartyW]

Thanks, Marie,

When I last tested my ALK was 70. I have a vinyl liner. What should I try to keep it? What do I use to raise it without screwing up anything else?

Thanks, Marty

[mbar]

You can keep your alkalinity anywhere from 80 to 125. You can use baking soda for just raising alkalinity. It will raise your ph a little, but then you can take your ph down with muriatic acid. You use borax for just raising the ph. It is a good idea to keep the ph and alkalinity on the low side when you are dealing with metals. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have, I know how confusing it is at first, but you will get the hang of it!