Ascorbic acid surprise.

[sweep49]

Put the filter back on and added a 3rd quart of the Pink Stuff last evening. Water is clear and colorless this morning. Little improvement to the major stain areas except for the top step where I sprinkled aa directly. Will take some pictures of the stains and Culator later. Now to work on getting FC and pH back in order.

BTW I looked at Jacks Magic website and yes they have some stuff for removing copper stains but it would be expensive. Pool contractor said he would drain and acid wash the pool for $300 + $80 for refill water; cheaper than Jack's treatment. Don't want to do that but when you see the stain pictures you will understand my frustration.

[Watermom]

You may already know this, but in case you don't ------- acid washing removes the top layers of your pool's surface making them more porous and vulnerable to staining.

[mbar]

I noticed that your calcium is a little low for a gunnite pool. It should be at least 250. Sometimes ascorbic acid will lower calcium too, so you should check it again. You may want to try putting ascorbic acid in a sock so you can concentrate it on the stain. Just rub it where the stain remains to see if it lifts. let me know if it works, thanks

[sweep49]

Thank you for your comments. I will get some calcium into the pool soon. I did read about the downsides of acid washing, but the stains are pretty ugly. I have sent pictures of them to the forum's email address and hope they will get posted for further consideration.

[PoolDoc]

Haven't received any pictures at poolforum@gmail.com . . .

While your calcium is a little low, I'd hold off on adding any now. You're thinking about removing FAR more calcium with an acid wash, then you would with a year of slightly low calcium pool water.

But, get your pH up to at least 7.0. Then I'd recommend 3 things:

1. Try ascorbic acid in a sock on a badly stained area.
2. Also try "Iron Out" in a sock on a similar area.
3. And finally, tell me what Jack's chemical they are recommending: you may be able to get some THAT chemical in a bagged version somewhere, and try that before you get a bunch.

Good luck!

[sweep49]

Thanks for the advice; I have raised the pH to 7.2 and FC to 6. There was no specific recommendation for Jack's chemicals, just that I visit their website. Jack has a treatment for copper stains but as I read it, the regimen for "the Copper and Scale Stain Stuff" would cost well over $200 and take the pool off-line for weeks. Don't think I want to do that.

I have resent the pictures to the gmail address.

[PoolDoc]

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[PoolDoc]

I'm not sure what I'm seeing.

If the colors of the FIRST 2 pictures are correct, you may have copper staining + plaster mottling.

In the second 2 pictures it looks ONLY like plaster mottling, to me. The fact that you mention "brownish stains" in your first post make me think you ONLY have plaster mottling.

Plaster mottling is a defect in the plaster, possibly accentuated by water conditions. It's NOT a stain. Acid washing will tend to even the surface coloration, but at the cost of a more porous and abrasive exposed surface.

Here are some resources:
http://www.poolhelp.com/handouts/oB_...%20Handout.pdf
http://www.poolhelp.com/handouts/oB_...%20Handout.pdf
http://www.poolhelp.com/handouts/oB_...%20Handout.pdf
http://www.poolhelp.com/handouts/oB_...%20Handout.pdf
http://poolhelp.com/handouts/oB_Conf...%20Handout.pdf
http://www.poolhelp.com/handouts/oB_...%20Handout.pdf

http://www.poolhelp.com/npc_cal-poly.html