New Pool Owner With High Iron

[labdi01]

I'm honored, that you replied.

We put 6 gallons of bleach in, turned the light (return jet to pool) to the surface to aerate (that's all we have). Tested pH - it was low. Added 1 cup Borax to pool. Gonna let it filter all night. Good start? Should I throw in sequestrant (HATE problem water - in and out). I'll apply POP. Thank you so much! You are Pool Master!!!!!!!!!!!

[labdi01]

Good Morning, Marie.

This morning the pool is definitely clearer, but the color is darker (yellow/brown). The pH is really high (in the 8s).

Can't tell what the chlorine level is - the only drop-test I could find from local non-pool-stores is a "4 in 1 test kit" and when testing for chlorine, the color-comparison range are yellows and our test came out dark orange - the test instructed to compare chlorine color within 10 seconds, then wait 5 mins and if there's a drastic color change, superchlorination is required. It remained dark orange.

I had a little bit of muratic acid and added that to get the pH down so I can add metal sequestrant later on.

I also turned the return jet, to stop aeration.

[mbar]

You should not be honored to hear from me, I am only a pool owner that has dealt with metals for 10 years! Thanks for the complement I would still use the aeration method since your alkalinity is so high. Just keep watch, and add muriatic acid to bring the ph back down as it rises until the alkalinity is in range. Sequestering agent also brings down ph, and using pucks in the skimmer basket will add cya and lower the ph. It just goes to show how everything you add to the water reacts against each other, that's why it is so important to put the least amount of chemicals in the water You will know that there is not anything growing in your water, or anything that needs to be broken down, when the chlorine remains steady overnight. Once you hit this milestone you can work more on what is going on with the stains. Do you have any calcium in your water? I know that vinyl liners don't need calcium, but I have found that in my pool some calcium works to keep the staining away. I am not sure if it would be the same in a vinyl liner (i have fiberglass). Once you are sure there is not any algae, we can move ahead from there. As for the sequestering agent, it seems that you have put a lot in your water already. You can try some more to see if it will do anything for the color now, but sequestering agent uses up chlorine too, so if you are dealing with algae (I think you are since the water cleared with the chlorine), I would just continue doing the chlorine until it holds steady overnight. I will check back later to see if you have any questions. Keep the faith - you will have a clear pool soon!

[labdi01]

Hi Marie - thanks again for sharing your experience/knowledge with me!

I took another sample to the pool store this am because my drop-kit is less than stellar (I ordered the Taylor kit this am).

He said all my chemicals were in check - pH was at 7.6, so I'll still get that down. My TA was 130 and my CL was 4 (he said that was a tiny-bit high and I forgot to ask for FC and CC). He advised no more CL (I remain confused about everything I read about shock levels to 15 and keeping it there...)

When you say staining are you referring to the water or to the liner. I have no liner/filter/ladder staining - just the water is brownish/yellow with maybe a teeny hint of green. It is clear - though there seems to be some 'interference' with the clarity, not sure if it's sediment or just the color - if any of that makes sense.

Pool-Store-Guy told me not to add more sequestrant, saying once metal reacted with the CL, the best way to get the color out is filtering using Sparkle Up - so I purchased a 10# bag of D.E. and put 1.5# through the skimmer and I'll monitor the pressure and backwash as needed.

Please advise if I should be doing something different.

[labdi01]

Correction: I put 3/4# of D.E. in - not 1.5#.

[labdi01]

I am now getting staining on the skimmer and light - and I forgot to mention that my metals level was at 0.5 this am as well. Presuming the bleach knocked metals out of suspension...

[aylad]

You need to stop listening to pool store guy. Marie is giving you solid advice, and can help you get it straightened out, but much of what she's going to advise you to do goes against standard pool-store advice. Remember, they're in the business to make money, and most of them don't own or maintain pools--they regurgitate what they've been told by the chemical reps. Marie knows her stuff!

One quick correction--in an earlier post she said to add baking soda if your pH goes down to 7.0 to raise it to 7.2--she meant Borax (which you caught already). Just wanted to eliminate any confusion. You don't want to add baking soda because it raises TA, and yours is already too high.

Janet