Green Hair Problem After Using Bioguard Smart Shock

[PoolDoc]

"ChemTek" or "KemTek"? There are many "ChemTek" companies.

No pool chemical I know of is LABELED as HEDP; many contain HEDP; the few listed, and even fewer linked to Amazon are ones I could identify as CONTAINING HEDP, and nothing else. And, it doesn't look like the "Kem-Tek Metal and Calcium Eliminator" calls itself a "clarifier". Look at what you've got, and then look at this photo:



I'm guessing, you've gotten the wrong thing.

Citric acid is a less effective and cheaper product than ascorbic acid. Like ascorbic acid it is COMPLETELY incompatible with chlorine. Unlike ascorbic acid, some nasty by-products form when you began re-chlorinating citric acid.

Also, you need to put on your thinking had a minute. You say

I have been using SeaKlear Clarifier for the past two years . . . The SeaKlear also says that it removes metals from the pool.

But, if it were actually true that SeaKlear "removed" metals . . . you wouldn't be having a green hair problem!

[SnoopysGirl]

Hi Ben,

Sorry for the misunderstanding and misspelling.

It is: Kem-Tek Metal & Calcium Eliminator, as in the photo above. As you can see on the bottom center, it says "Clarify," which is why I classified it as a clarifier, same as SeaKlear. SeaKelar states on the package that it "removes excess metals," but I had been using it only sporadically when needed, and not every time I was adding water or the copper-containing product to the pool.

That is why I was asking about it, and why it might not have been effective in removing the stain buildup on my steps, liner, or hair.

I did forget to mention in my previous posts that I do have the Culator unit. When I add another bag, if you are still interested in seeing results, I can open up the used bag and post a picture with my findings so you can see it's performance.

[PoolDoc]

As you can see on the bottom center, it says "Clarify," which is why I classified it as a clarifier, same as SeaKlear.

Duh. Do I feel really stupid, or just stupid? I'm going with "just stupid".

No, it's not a clarifier. It's amazing how often merchants use descriptions that are at odds with the actual contents of their products -- it's not just pool companies, either.

And NEITHER product actually removes metals from your pool! (How could they: both the 'remedy' and the metals are wholly within the pool!) The CuLator only 'removes' the metals, when you finally throw the bag away! And NONE of the three products remove stains (ie, re-dissolve the metal back into the pool water!)

Don't cut a bag for my sake, but I'd love to have pics when you do so -- post them here with Picasa, Photobucket or whatever, or send them to poolforum@gmail.com

[SnoopysGirl]

Great, will do (regarding the Culator). I do understand what you are saying about the "metal removal" description. It is curious why those claims are made on the package.

[PoolDoc]

It is curious why those claims are made on the package.

Not curious; just sad. Maybe the only market segment in the US that lies as much as attorneys do, are advertisers and marketers. Worse, some legal changes in the fiduciary obligations of officers of public held companies apparently REQUIRE them to rip-off customers as much as is profitable, so long as it won't put them in jail.

Ironically, these laws seem to have arisen as a result of John Q Public's envy and resentment of the rich kids created by family owned companies. Such companies have their own problems, but tend to take a longer view of their relationship with their customers. However punitive inheritance laws have mostly put an end to multi-generational mid-sized companies!

[SnoopysGirl]

Thank you so much for the advice. I can see that there are color changes in the Culator, and I will post those when I change out the bag. I have subscribed to the forum, so I hope you can see that. Let me know if you have any questions about that. I have two additional questions, and one is a pool structural one that I would like to get opinions about, and post pictures. Please let me know if you'd like me to post that here or start a new thread. Thanks again so much for all of the help!!!!

[PoolDoc]

Start a new thread, please. We try to keep topics separate.

By the way, you posts will no longer be moderated, as soon as the server completes its daily cycle. (I can do it manually, but then it tangles the database records a bit.)

Please DO get pictures of the CuLator, when you can!

[waterbear]

The SeaKlear product is a chitosan based clarifier. While it will remove a tiny amount of metal ions from the water by absorption and then, in theory, but allowing the absorbed metal to be filter out, it is by no means anywhere near as effective as a sequestrant like HEDP which chelates the metal ions and deactivate them so they cannot react chemically.

Also, for future reference, to remove the green from the hair you can put two teaspoons of citric acid (sold in some grocery store spice sections as "sour salt" used in Kosher cooking, in 8 oz of warm water and pour it through the hair and let it sit until the green is gone, rinse for a full five minutes with warm water, shampoo and condition. If all the green is not lifted you can repeat the process.

[Watermom]

Ben,
Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think it is necessary to change out the Culator pack monthly??

[PoolDoc]

Monthly change out is what Periodic Products (the mfg) recommends, but I suspect that recommendation has more to do with their sales goals, than with necessity.

From their own data, it appears that color intensity indicates when the product is 'consumed'. In the pictures above, the CuLator looks to me like it still has a LOT of use left.

A cautious approach might be to put a new CuLator in beside a month old one. That way, if the older one really is failing, the pool is protected. But if it is NOT failing you'd be able to determine that, as the older unit continues to darken in color.