First Pool water trouble

[PoolDoc]

I'm really having a hard time with your question, because I'm not really equipped to give a "here's how you solve your problem" answer. The whole issue of how to get metals out of Intex pools is a stumper -- they are low cost pools, and have really low capacity filter system.

Working out a 'best way' is inevitably going to require 'field testing', AKA trial and error. Ideally, I could spend the next 3 weeks shuttling by private plane between the well-water filled Intex pools having this problem . . . trying different combination till I found something reasonably easy and reasonably priced. Unfortunately, being "independently broke", that's not gonna happen. So, the "trials" and the "errors" will have to be yours, not mine.

Next best thing, I'll tell you what I would try first, if I was you.

1. Drain your pool, and rinse out the goo.
2. Refill adding about the label dose of a liquid metal control product. Do NOT overdose. Do NOT repeat the dose.
3. Add 2x the label dose of polyquat AND keep adding every 2 days.
4. Adjust your pH to 7.0 - 7.4 using muriatic acid as needed.
5. Do NOT add any baking soda (alkalinity increaser) or calcium.
6. Add small doses of borax (1/4 box daily) till you've added 3 boxes
7. Continue using muriatic acid to keep the pH below 7.4
8. Add SMALL (1 ppm) doses of PRE-DISSOLVED dichlor to your pool nightly.
9. Operate your filter 24/7. (Get some extra cartridges before you refill).
10. Try to avoid having to add lots of water at once.
11. After the initial dose, only add liquid control product as needed with NEW water additions.
12. Continue with the polyquat and low dose chlorination, till your filter stops turning really brown.
13. Switch back to the polyquat and low dose chlorination, any time you have to add more than 1/10 of your pool volume.
14. Run your filter 24/7 for several days after each water addition.

Ok. That's what I'd try.

I'm next going to start writing an "Iron and Intex" FAQ in which I'll try to explain why that's what I'd try.

Of course, if you have an iron removal system on your household water, filling with THAT water would be far and away the easiest thing.

But, I wouldn't try to clean up the water you've got, unless you're first get a new and larger filter and pump for your pool.

There is one exception. If you turn your pump and filter off overnight, and find that the iron has settled to the bottom, leaving clear water on top, you've got a third option. You can VERY carefully set up your vacuum system --- without disturbing the iron on the bottom --- to vacuum to waste, by siphoning onto the ground. Then you can vacuum most of the iron out. If you go this route, you'll want to fill the pool to flooding first, so you have some water to spare.

Best wishes,

PoolDoc