slimy, gelatinous strings of goo ruin a good dip.........

[PoolDoc]

Sorry it's taken so long to respond, Leyla.

OK. Do this:

1. Get a bottle of Vitamin C tablets.
2. Put a few on a stained area, wait 10 minutes, remove, and then confirm that the stains are gone. (We don't want to use a stain removal process that doesn't work on YOUR stains!)
3. Do a COMPLETE set of tests on your pool water: FC, CC, pH, TA, CH, CYA, and report the results.
4. Do a metal bucket test on your FILL water -- presumably that's where your stains came from, but we need to check:

Bucket-test-for-metals

Then, once we've confirmed that your stains are metal, and that Vitamin C will remove them, you can go ahead and get what you'll need.

I've copied the list of Amazon links that I gave you earlier, and put them below. For your size pool, you'll want

• 2 lbs of ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
• 1 quart of 60% polyquat
• 2 quarts of 20% HEDP or 1 quart of 60% HEDP (corrected!)
• 1 lb of sodium thiosulfate (to remove chlorine)
• 1 package of skimmer socks
• 1 or 2 1.5 ppm Culator units
• 1 gallon of muriatic acid (Lowes)
• 3 boxes of borax (Walmart)

The thiosulfate is not listed below, but here it is: Photographers' Formulary Sodium Thiosulfate, 1lb

Before you buy anything, read the ascorbic acid stain removal page and make sure you understand what you're going to be doing.

Products for metal control and clean-up:

HEDP is a liquid phosphonate that is pretty chlorine stable, and very good at keeping dissolved metals IN the water, instead of ON your pool surfaces. It can lift recent stains, OR it can be used along side of ascorbic acid, to keep the metals in the water, after the ascorbic acid is consumed by chlorine.

Jacks Magic The Pink Stuff 1qt (60% HEDP) @ Amazon
20% KemTek HEDP @ Amazon

Using polyquat during metal clean up accomplishes two things: it helps kill or prevent algae, letting you run lower chlorine levels, and it is a very good clarifier, that helps you filter out any small metal particles that may form.(Probably available from pool stores, and possibly some big box stores -- but you MUST learn to ID it correctly. See the polyquat page for more info.)

Kem-Tek 60% polyquat @ Amazon
Nava 60% polyquat @ Amazon

Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) can be used to remove copper and iron stains from pool surfaces, and put the metal BACK into your pool water. (Not likely to be available locally, except as Vitamin pills.)

Ascorbic Acid Powder @ Amazon
Ascorbic Acid Vitamin C Powder USP Pharma Grade 11 Lbs @ Amazon

The CuLator product is a special patented plastic material, contained in a bag that goes into the skimmer, that can slowly take metals OUT of your pool water. We think it works, and have some evidence that it does, but not proof yet. (Not likely to be available locally.)

1 ppm Culator @ Amazon
1.5 ppm Culator sold by Amazon, shipped from Periodic
4 ppm Culator sold by Amazon, shipped from Periodic
Poolmaster 16242 Poolmaster Skimmer Basket Liner @ Amazon (to protect CuLator from being damaged by scum)

[heyred52]

Thanks. I'll get back to you after I do what you say. Leyla

[PoolDoc]

Please note correction regarding 20% polyquat, now 20% HEDP!

(thanks, Dave)

[heyred52]

Please note correction regarding 20% polyquat, now 20% HEDP!

(thanks, Dave)

So the 2 quarts of 20% polyquat or 1 quart 60% polyquat SHOULD READ "HEDP" instead of "Polyquat"------right?

[PoolDoc]

I've copied the list of Amazon links that I gave you earlier, and put them below. For your size pool, you'll want

• 2 lbs of ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
• 1 quart of 60% polyquat
• 2 quarts of 20% HEDP or 1 quart of 60% HEDP (corrected!)
• 1 lb of sodium thiosulfate (to remove chlorine)
• 1 package of skimmer socks
• 1 or 2 1.5 ppm Culator units
• 1 gallon of muriatic acid (Lowes)
• 3 boxes of borax (Walmart)

Does read that, since being corrected.

[heyred52]

The vitamin C pill lifted the stain, so I will proceed. THANKS so much for all your help. More later...........

[PoolDoc]

Don't do it yet! We've had a couple of failures to remove all the stains, and keep them off, and I want to prevent any more.

Please do a COMPLETE test with a K2006, and then list EXACTLY what you have on hand, and the quantities. Also, please complete the

Pool Chart Entry Form

(If you've already started, tell me what you've done so far, but FIRST lower your pH to near 7.0, if it's not already there!)

[heyred52]

yes, as you requested in post #49, I will do the testing and let you know the results before I buy anything.

[heyred52]

STAINS GONE!

here's what I did.

No money for all the chemicals suggested so I did a goggle search, read some stuff and proceeded with my own cure.

I got the chlorine down to nothing, added 3# ascorbic acid and by morning the pool was sparkling and stains were completely gone. Started adding chlorine back in immediately.

Also added Ph-UP (no borax to be found in any stores....) through filter basket to bring it up a bit (couple scoops as my Ph was still in the 7 range).

So far----so good. I'll let you know if anything happens to change this miracle! Thanks for all your help.

[PoolDoc]

You have to watch out. AA will remove the stains -- redissolve the metal into your pool water -- but the metal is ALL still in your pool. Adding chlorine and raising the pH tends to make it come back OUT of your water. Some will end up on the filter, but it's also likely that your stains may begin to re-appear.

You can minimize this by
+ running your filter 24/7
+ raising the pH and chlorine gradually.
+ using a no-copper algaecide to prevent algae while the chlorine is low.