Results of Ascorbic Acid Treatment for Stains

[Cookieman]

Thank you mbar, watermom, JimK and Ben for the helpful advice from experience. Please check to make sure my summary from all is accurate. Outside of bringing ph/chlorine levels up too high too fast, I did not add enough HEDP, and should not have used to trichor tabs ( in floatie and skimmer opposite of Culator)for chlorine source while using Culator. Stains have continued to darken while I am waiting on another batch of HEDP, Algeacide, and ascorbic acid, so, more questions: Are the skimmer tabs Ben refers to chlorine tabs or tabs for removing metals? The dosage on the KemTek HEDP for my pool is about 2 1/2 quarts per dose. I only ordered 2 doses, but sounds like I need more. How much should I be adding and how often - full dose each time I see stains after AA treatment? Should I buy sequestering test kit to take guesswork out like JimK? Once stabilized, what is the maintenance dose? By the way, how many quarts of HEDP are in a case?! Sounds like I am in same boat as JimK, and need a case or or two on hand for the near future. I also ordered a 4.5 Culator thinking the 1.0 was not enough - should I return it and continue with the 1.0? Not sure if it is working. Is still clean, but last time I cleaned basket, it seemed to have a clear gel on outside of the sack. Thanks for the help.

[PoolDoc]

Cookieman,

Last night, I dug out the old Monsanto Dequest 2010 -- HEDP -- technical literature I have, and have begun wading through it. Give me a day or two to re-read it, and think about the implications for pool use and dosing. One key element I'm not sure I'd ever noticed before is that high calcium reduces the effectiveness of HEDP. But test conditions were focused on boiler and cooling tower treatment, rather than pool use, so I need to check with Chem_Geek. And, I'm not sure he's ever seen this literature.

[JimK]

Thank you mbar, watermom, JimK and Ben for the helpful advice from experience. Please check to make sure my summary from all is accurate. Outside of bringing ph/chlorine levels up too high too fast, I did not add enough HEDP, and should not have used to trichor tabs ( in floatie and skimmer opposite of Culator)for chlorine source while using Culator. Stains have continued to darken while I am waiting on another batch of HEDP, Algeacide, and ascorbic acid, so, more questions: Are the skimmer tabs Ben refers to chlorine tabs or tabs for removing metals? The dosage on the KemTek HEDP for my pool is about 2 1/2 quarts per dose. I only ordered 2 doses, but sounds like I need more. How much should I be adding and how often - full dose each time I see stains after AA treatment? Should I buy sequestering test kit to take guesswork out like JimK? Once stabilized, what is the maintenance dose? By the way, how many quarts of HEDP are in a case?! Sounds like I am in same boat as JimK, and need a case or or two on hand for the near future. I also ordered a 4.5 Culator thinking the 1.0 was not enough - should I return it and continue with the 1.0? Not sure if it is working. Is still clean, but last time I cleaned basket, it seemed to have a clear gel on outside of the sack. Thanks for the help.

The Jack's Magic Purple Stuff has 12 quarts in a case. The maintenance dose for this product is 6 oz per 10k gal once a week. As I mentioned, since the bucket test Ben suggested was negative for metals, I've reduced the maintenance dose by half (3oz per 10k gal) and so far no staining has returned. I should be able to stop using it, but at least right now I feel better having that bit of insurance.

I noticed in the information posted about metal staining there is no mention of pool salt (high purity) being a possible source. Was I misinformed when I was told by my pool store that it could be a source of metals?

[PoolDoc]

I noticed in the information posted about metal staining there is no mention of pool salt (high purity) being a possible source. Was I misinformed when I was told by my pool store that it could be a source of metals?

I gather that salt from some sources introduces iron into pool water, and it wouldn't take much iron, per bag, to have a problem by the time you add 10 bags.

I guess a prudent, low risk, step would be to add a small dose of HEDP along with any major dose of salt, and to keep a Culator in the skimmer (under a skimmer sock) for a week or so after adding salt.

[JimK]

I gather that salt from some sources introduces iron into pool water, and it wouldn't take much iron, per bag, to have a problem by the time you add 10 bags.

I guess a prudent, low risk, step would be to add a small dose of HEDP along with any major dose of salt, and to keep a Culator in the skimmer (under a skimmer sock) for a week or so after adding salt.

Thanks Ben.

It looks like my lower dose of HEDP is working, so I'll re-evaluate the cost of just maintaining a lower level of HEDP vs. only adding HEDP when adding salt plus the cost of the Culator + skimmer socks (I have questions about these which I'll post in a new thread as to not hijack this thread).

[Cookieman]

I tried process again putting in the Ascorbic Acid and HEDP last Monday, 7/31. Put in more HEDP - double dose. Put in 4.5 Culator. Have kept PH at 7.0 all week. No stains, but the cloudiness that began on Wednesday has gotten only slightly better - can barely see drain. My FC goes between 0 and .5. I have only been adding no more than 1-1.5 gal 1-2 times per day for fear of raising too fast or putting in too much at one time and producing stains. Is it ok to add more bleach at a quicker pace? Using Poyquat to prevent the algae while FC low. Will cloudiness eventually clear on its own or do I need to take action? Filter running 24/7. Also put in a maint dose of HEDP today - 1 week after initial dose.

[PoolDoc]

Do you know what your calcium hardness levels were, before you started this process? What are they, now?

[Cookieman]

80 before procedure and 80 now. Never could get sample to turn red - only purple. Took 8 drops to get it to turn blue.