Culator -- Solution or Just Another "Pool Store" Product?

[PoolDoc]

David indicated that their testing showed that metal test strips did NOT work if a chelant or sequestrant was present. They had not yet tested drops based metal tests. But he said one of their frustrations was a lack of reliable testing to use to evaluate results.

[Lawrosa]

Anything I can do or try then? Otherwise it would be like when you change the oil and wash your car. You think it runs better.

[chem geek]

I asked the folks at Taylor Technologies whether their drop-based metal tests would measure total metals even when sequestrants were used and they thought it would, but I didn't get a warm/fuzzy feeling that they knew for certain.

[mbar]

Lawrosa, I have been trying to figure out how to test for, remove, control, or live with stains for about 11 years now. My conclusion is that every time I think I have it figured out, something else happens to make me wonder if the "stain gods" are just having a little more fun! What I really tried to do is figure out where the metals are really coming from. My well water does not show iron, but Jack's magic test showed the stains were iron. I do have a heater, so maybe they come from that. I just don't know. I also have three other friends that have the same pool, within different water sources and they all get stains too, so I have experimented with theirs too. The conclusion I came to is that I don't worry about where or how they get there anymore. Now I just get rid of them as they come, because no matter I still hate them with a vengence! My husband calls me "the stain nazi" You will figure out how to work your own pool water to keep your pool stain free. So, don't drive yourself crazy, but if you do please share your results with us, I love to learn about all the ways to get rid of stains, I add them to my "bag of tricks".

[Lawrosa]

Marie,

I know where my metals are from. The well. I have not had a problem with the pool until this yr with metals. But I have a shallow well and had some plant growth (Golden algae ) growing down there. How it grows without sunlight is beyond me. I e mailed everyone and no one knows what it is.

Anyway I think you posted that you tried the C U Lator. Is it working? Anything?

[mbar]

So far I have not seen any color change in the culator bag. It is supposed to turn colors for different metals, and comes with a chart to match the color to the metal. I did not have any stains in the pool, because I just finished removing them and balancing all my chemicals at the beginning of this swim season. I put the bag in to see if it does change color if I do start to precipitate metals, or if the pool stains. If I get any stains, then the culator does not work.

[rcy100]

I too have a CUlator in my skimmer basket. It's been just over a couple of weeks, and no change in colour. Why did I want to try it....??

I have a DuoClear system (pool built in 2007) and was running the Nature2 cartridge and suffering from brownish stains on my white skimmer and pump baskets and on the nozzles of my returns. Last fall I removed the bag from the mineral cartridge and reinstalled the cartridge without the bag (the DuoClear system needs a cartridge in place or it will leak everywhere). I then did an ascorbic acid treatment and removed the stains and added sequestrant. The pool ran for one additional month last fall and I opened in early April. The stains had not returned prior to the CUlator being used. My assumption was that the metals removed were in suspension from using sequestrant and I was hoping the CUlator would remove them completely, but to be honest, I don't even know if it can remove metals that are sequestered.

[mbar]

Just an update, I was away for a week, and had high amounts of chlorine in my water. So far no more stains, but the bag has not changed color either. I have not added anymore sequestering agent. So the jury is still out. I will let you know if the stains return.

[mbar]

Just wanted to update on the culator. I have not gotten any stains back since I have it in my skimmer. This is the longest I have gone without stains. I have not put any sequestering agent in since then either. So far for me it works. I have not had to really shock the pool, because the water has been clear all summer, so I don't know what will happen if I do. The ph has drifted up, and still no stains. My fingers are crossed - it will save a lot of money in the long run if this really works.

[waterbear]

Marie, did you ever try increasing your calcium hardness to plaster pool levels to see if it has any impact on the staining? I know we discussed this once before and I have seen this lower the tendency to stain in several fiberglass pools that had very low calcium, including my own. I have not used ascorbic acid or seqestrant in about 3 years now since I brought my calcium up to between 350-400 ppm from the 180 ppm or thereabout I was running it at (natural water hardness when the water softener is bybassed). Before I would need to deal with the staining about twice a year. Water in the pool is still the same.