What is "Jack's Magic"?

[Aviendha]

The company that poured my plaster sent me a letter recommending that I use Jack's Magic in my pool to prevent staining.

The letter indicated that "the blue stuff" was added to my pool initially (although I don't remember anyone doing this), and that I should add "the purple stuff" to my SWG pool as the original product becomes depleted. It also said that I should test for the product at least 1x/month and also adjust the water to maintain a level of 12ppm.

Does this sound right? Should I be using this product? I was skeptical because the letter sent was on Jack's Magic letterhead paper, so I figured it was a sales tactic.

I haven't added any of Jack's Magic at all to my pool. Lately I've noticed several small rust colored stains randomly scattered around the walls and floor of the pool. The stains are very small, around the size of a pin head or the tip of a pencil. They won't brush out.

What is this stuff? I don't want to add anything that will throw my water chemistry off, but I sure don't want stains on my new plaster, either.

Thoughts?

[GraceByDesign]

I believe Jack's Magic is a metal sequesterant. Beyond that I can't help.

[waterbear]

The letter was downloaded from the "for professionals only' section of the Jack's Magic website! It is the form letter (with the Jack's magic logo on a blue background on the left side that starts "Dear Pool Owner" and goes on to talk about some of the Jacks Magic products including Blue Stuff, Purifiber, Purple stuff, and seaquest test kit! (I have access to that part of the site and am looking at the letter as I type!). IMHO, it is simply a marketing ploy! A sequesterant can help prevent stains in new plaster but I think they go a bit overboard to sell the product. If you have metals in your water then you should use a sequesterant. If you don't you don't need one! If the plaster company wants you to use it for the warrenty ask them for how long and then use it to protect your warrenty. Otherwise, I wouldn't waste the money!
Just my 2 cents!

[GraceByDesign]

......... Lately I've noticed several small rust colored stains randomly scattered around the walls and floor of the pool. The stains are very small, around the size of a pin head or the tip of a pencil. They won't brush out.........

Waterbear, Aviendha mentioned there is already staining...

[waterbear]

If there are stains try holding a vitamin C tablet on them ..If they disappear let us know and we can help you get rid of them and keep them from coming back. New plaster is prone to staining but the Jack's Magic letter IS a form letter and seqesterant is NOT normally needed on a routine basis.

[Aviendha]

The letter was downloaded from the "for professionals only' section of the Jack's Magic website! It is the form letter (with the Jack's magic logo on a blue background on the left side that starts "Dear Pool Owner" and goes on to talk about some of the Jacks Magic products including Blue Stuff, Purifiber, Purple stuff, and seaquest test kit!


YES!!! This is it! I thought it seemed like a sales pitch since it sounded so "generic". But, I wanted to make sure. My company didn't tell me that I had to use the product to maintain my warranty, so I was a little confused. Maybe they have some kind of marketing program going with Jack's Magic company.

Anyway, thanks to you both for the info. I was just out adding bleach and brushing when I noticed some new spots, so there is definitely something going on. I will try the vitamin c after the bleach circulates through and report back.

[Aviendha]

Well, I just tried the Vitamin C tablet on a few spots and the good news is that it DID remove the stains!!! :D

Now, what should I do to get rid of 'em all and keep the little buggers from returning?

I really appreciate everyone's help. Thank you so much!

[Simmons99]

Go get Jacks Magic or other sequesterant - it would also help for you to test your fill water for metals (iron and copper). It sounds like you have iron in the water. Wait for some more information from the stain experts, but I believe you need to read the bottle and adjust your chemistry before you add Jack's Magic in order for it to work correctly.

[waterbear]

If you have iron staining the first thing I would try is dropping your pH to 7.2 and adding a double dose of sequsterant (Pink stuff or purple stuff if you have a SWG....I personally like ProTeams Metal Magic over the Jack's Magic line. You will need to add a maintenance dose of sequesterant monthly to keep the stains away (even though the bottles say add it weekly I have not found it to be necessary to add it that often). Also, don't let your pH go above 7.6 since high pH is one of the factors of stains returning! Run your pump for 14-48 hours after dropping the pH and adding the sequesterant and this might take care of the stains. Be aware that your water might get cloudy....this is normal. If it doesn't remove the stains you will need to treat with ascorbic acid. Mbar (Marie) is the forum's expert on that!
The most important thing is to try and figure out where the iron is coming from. Having your pool water and fill water tested for iron is a good idea.
If this doesn't get rid of the stains start a new thread about the staining and you will get all the help you need with the ascorbic acid treatment.

[Roddapool]

How do you test your water for Iron/metal. Do you think the pool store could test it or do you have to send it away

[aylad]

The pool store can test for it. Unfortunately, their test results also usually come with advice and a long list of stuff they want to sell you. Be strong! :)

Janet

[Roddapool]

Thank you. I know where Im going today.

[Aviendha]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post!

I suspect that the iron is coming from my fill water. Our pool was a very nasty color when we first added water. And I'm sure that high pH is involved since it keeps creeping up on me.

One last question (well maybe 2)...

Waterbear~ You mentioned that my water may turn cloudy when I add the sequesterent...How long will this last and will I have to treat the water for the cloudiness or will it clear up on its own?

[mbar]

The water will clear up on it's own. The water may get cloudy from the sequesterant. The sequesterant will bind with the metal that is in the water and keep it from falling out onto the surface of the pool. Waterbear is right, high ph along with high chlorine levels will let any metal that is not tied up with a sequesterant fall out and stain the surface of the pool. When dealing with metals it is a good idea not to let your ph get higher than 7.5, and when raising your chlorine, raise it slowly. If you start to see stains coming back, drop the ph down to 7.2 add more sequesterant. I also find that when dealing with metals, using cal hypo shock seems to add to the staining. I like to use plain bleach for chloriniating with the occasional use of trichlor pucks. Waterbear suggests metal magic by proteam, I think this is a good idea because the metal magic is supposed to turn the metal into crystals so that it can eventually be removed. Other sequesterants just keep the metals suspended, therefore there is always metal in the water. Hope this helps.