Freaking OUT! Brown stains on my gunite pool!

[dblomom]

waterbear/PoolDoc,

We have had a TON of rain (and bad storms) the last several days so my pool problems have been put on the back burner. We are supposed to have better weather this weekend so I hope to have something to report back with the information you provided in your post(s). Thanks!

Amy

[PoolDoc]

Just don't make the mistake many do, of letting chlorine levels drop when it rains!

[Watermom]

Funny, I was just thinking the very same thing!

[dblomom]

PoolDoc,

I'm looking at the links you provided and getting ready to place my order(s) on Amazon...
how do I know which CuLator product that you recommended of the 3 to purchase? I can't seem to figure out which one I need.

TYA,

Amy

[PoolDoc]

Did you do the bucket test?

The CuLator products are distinguished by how much metal they can collect. If you have a LOT of metal (lots of colored sediment in the bucket test) OR if you are pretty sure you have metals in your FILL water, you might want to get the biggest one. If you do NOT have much colored sediment, and do NOT have metal in your fill water, then the smallest will probably work.

But . . . either way, you probably want to get skimmer socks, to protect the CuLater from gunk that could otherwise clog it, and render it useless.

[dblomom]

No, I did not do the bucket test...yet But now that you've explained it again, it makes sense that I need to do that first.
Thanks, I'll get that done and report back.
Until then, thx!...
Amy

[dblomom]

OK, life (and a ton of rain) got in the way, but I have done the bucket test. It yielded zero sediment in the bottom of the bucket. Do I still buy the CuLator product(s) you recommended?

Also, I do have an algae problem. Not sure if I had the algae all along or just because of all of the rain. I tried to stay on top of the chlorine test, but apparently, failed. I know, you warned me. I shocked it last night, after brushing the visible algae off of the tile line(s). I turned the chlorine level up a bit as well. The water is still crystal clear.

While scrubbing the algae, my husband dove down to the bottom where the drain is. Is it normal 1) for the drain to only pull from maybe 1/3 of it's length? (it's not a round drain but a horizontal one) and 2) for the 2/3 that it's not pulling from to be very dark (maybe even greenish) in color?

As far as the spots that initially got me to this site, they are still there, they don't appear to be any bigger, smaller, darker or lighter.

I feel like I have so many questions, I hope I'm not too all-over-the-place. I've given up on my pool company; I called them yesterday to get 4 lbs of shock for my chlorine pool (I called 1st b/c they're sort of a drive for me). Low-and-behold, they didn't have any. What pool company doesn't have shock? Really?

TYA,
Amy