Well water disaster

[zipsman03]

Well update,
I went back to the pool people and I was told I should not have drained the pool but just waited for the metal to settle, sinceI did they will give me salt when I refill due to the bad info from there employee, so thanks for that. So I ended up draining the pool cleaning it really good. I then went to the drinking water folks here in town, and they rented me this large filtering tank, in which they told me it should remove most of my problems, add the metal clearing solution as before; then 1 cup of bleach which I did. woke up to finish filling this morning and everything is very clear so far. I haven't added the salt, nor have I shocked it for obvious reason, I don't want the previous problem. so now what do I do? I ordered a sand filter hope that was a good Idea. I was told the paper filter would not keep me happy. Or should I cancel it Again what now test the water? and if so what am I looking for?

[St-John-swim-mom]

I ran an Intex pool for 2 summers with 'well' water and I bought the salt chlorinator from Intex too. Here's what I used to do (and NO, I am no expert by any means, this is just what worked for me): I filled the pool, added the salt, ran the filter for 24 hours. My water then turned 'mud' brown when I began chlorinating, so then I added 'Metal Magic' and continued to run the filter for 24 hours. Eventually -- and with a lot of filtration -- the iron and metal matter would settle onto the bottom of the pool. Eventually, I would disconnect the outlet hose and I would vacuum the bottom of the pool letting the water being sucked up to go right into the yard because if I left it connected to the filter canister, I would see the brown settled matter being spewed right back into the pool ( a vicious circle/cycle). The Intex filtration is weak, the filter does not filter out finely enough, but it can work adequately. We have since 'graduated' to an above ground pool this year (tired of getting the pool water in our Intex crystal clear just in time for the end of the swim season and then draining it all out into the yard....). We have yet to have our new pool installed since it is too wet. Again, we got plenty of enjoyment from our Intex pool and it's a good starting place. I wish you luck and plenty of summer fun.

[Bree1978]

I ran an Intex pool for 2 summers with 'well' water and I bought the salt chlorinator from Intex too. Here's what I used to do (and NO, I am no expert by any means, this is just what worked for me): I filled the pool, added the salt, ran the filter for 24 hours. My water then turned 'mud' brown when I began chlorinating, so then I added 'Metal Magic' and continued to run the filter for 24 hours. Eventually -- and with a lot of filtration -- the iron and metal matter would settle onto the bottom of the pool. Eventually, I would disconnect the outlet hose and I would vacuum the bottom of the pool letting the water being sucked up to go right into the yard because if I left it connected to the filter canister, I would see the brown settled matter being spewed right back into the pool ( a vicious circle/cycle). The Intex filtration is weak, the filter does not filter out finely enough, but it can work adequately. We have since 'graduated' to an above ground pool this year (tired of getting the pool water in our Intex crystal clear just in time for the end of the swim season and then draining it all out into the yard....). We have yet to have our new pool installed since it is too wet. Again, we got plenty of enjoyment from our Intex pool and it's a good starting place. I wish you luck and plenty of summer fun.

He is not using chlorine.......

[aylad]

He is not using chlorine.......

Bleach is chlorine, and I don't think raising the pH at this point is helpful. It's already obviously high enough to precipitate the metals...

Janet

[Bree1978]

mods please edit (if you think it has any relevance) last post: add

maybe the method would work if he had a high ph? this makes the metals oxidize....

[aylad]

I'll let Pooldoc come back and continue with his advice, since he's the one with the manganese experience...but if the cup of chlorine didn't really mess with your water, then at least you know you can keep very low levels of chlorine in the pool now to keep algae from making the situation worse. Until you add stabilizer to the water (and you're not at the point to do that yet, I don't think), the sun will rapidly consume the chlorine you've added, so you may need to add bleach 2-3 times a day just to keep "some" chlorine in the water. The sand filter will be much easier to deal with than the cartridge, I think, so I think that ws probably an ok move..

Janet