Stain Removal Questions

[SuitUp]

Ok thanks! no I did not get the advice for Metal Magnet on this forum. I found out the stains were probably from metals by reading the forum, but I picked out the Metal Magnet on my own .

I'll get the right test kit and post the results.

Are you referring to the polyquat and HEDP as the same thing? I don't know what an HEDP is. I looked into polyquats when I was trying to get rid of the algae before, but the algaecide products don't actually say whether they are a polyquat. I know some of them contain copper, which would probably stain my pool, so I ran into a brick wall on that decision before ... and just used high chlorine with low PH to kill the algae.

So as I understand now, I need a polyquat to keep out algae while I get the FC to 0. It is taking a long time for the chlorine levels to drop. I'll take the Magnet back and ask for a polyquat but I doubt the pool store will know what that is.

Meanwhile I'll do the tests you recommend on the stains. Remaining questions: HEDP? and if you have a recommendation on what polyquat to purchase?

Thank you very very very much!!

[PoolDoc]

Complete the pool chart, above. Let me know when you do, and I'll post links and approximate doses for your pool.

It's very hard to buy HEDP locally; the chemical companies try to conceal ingredients. Polyquat is not quite as hard, but you still have to become an expert "label inspector". Amazon has pretty good pricing; is a reliable suppler; and allows me to specify EXACTLY what the link goes to, so you get the right thing. Plus, the PoolForum gets a small commission on each purchase.

[SuitUp]

OK, I didn't have time to fill out the chart yet. FC=0, PH=7.0
There was a little algae on the sides which brushed off easily, mainly in the spa. I bought the 6 way HTH and took a sample in to the pool store and they confirmed all other levels were within range. I thanked them for not using the test strip.

It's very hot now in Sacramento, 100 - 104 the next 5 days. It's now or never for the stain removal. Deep breath... Last night I took out the filters, put in 2 lbs of powdered Vitamin C. sprinkled around sides of pool, let the pump run for 24 hours. Pool is 15,500 gals. After work today the stains were much lighter. I put the filters back in and am running the pump with the pool sweep. The sweep is on a valve, not a dedicated pump.

Now, how do I get chlorine back in?? I read don't shock but I don't know why? Pump is still running with filters in, but when can I add chlorine??? I'm going to have a serious algae bloom very soon. I know I didn't exactly follow your instructions but I don't know where to buy POP locally!! haha. When and how can I add chlorine? Thank you!!

[PoolDoc]

SuitUp;

As you say, you didn't follow directions.

You're situation is sorta like someone saying, well, yeah, when I got to Chattanooga, I was in a hurry and wasn't paying attention and didn't follow your directions to get to Atlanta, so I took I-75N. Now, I'm in Knoxville. How can I get to Atlanta?

The only possible answer is: "Turn around, go back the way you came, and when you get to Chattanooga, take I-75S to Atlanta!"

In your case, you've dissolved some of the stains into your water, but have no way to keep them in the water, nor anyway to get them out of your pool. You've got to re-chlorinate, or as you say, you'll add algae to your list of problems. Once you do, the stains are likely to reappear. If you're lucky, some of the iron may be filtered out.

You'd better add chlorine really soon.

So . . . good luck!

(And, let us know when you are ready to do what it takes to get the stains out of your pool . . . )

[SuitUp]

I followed all the directions I had, except the one that said fill out the chart. Limited time during weekdays. I asked 3 very specific questions which were not answered. 1. what is a polyquat and where can I get it? 2. what is HEDP and where can I get it? 3. why do you say not to shock after AA and then how do I safely get chlorine back in?

I was expecting answers to these questions. Like, 1. this is a polyquat and here is a link. 2. This is an HEDP and here is a link. They have speedy delivery available. I would have paid extra for speedy delivery because like I said, short on time. I don't mind if you get a bit of a kickback because everybody has to eat and I don't expect anyone to put out their time for free. 3. Rechlorinate this way instead of shock because (fill in answer).

The answers I got were 1. You have to be really good at reading ingredients to get a polyquat. 2. HEDP is very hard to find locally. 3. You didn't follow directions and went to Knoxville - good luck! All very vague and meaningless answers to my very specific questions. I was willing to follow instructions if you had given them.

Now: I'm happy with the stain removal, the AA removed the brown stains and even some of the organic stains in the deep end. I had a slight algae bloom in the attached spa that scraped off easily. The water is slightly cloudy. I added 2 gals of liquid chlorine and am floating 3 pucks of chlorine with acid. The chorine is holding steady and the ph is at 7.2.

My fill water tested with chlorine barely visible at about .5 and ph high at 7.8. If you don't want to post this or only post part of it I'm ok with that. You can contact me directly at (Email address removed for your protection).

[PoolDoc]

Suitup,

There are all sorts of places you can go for products and instructions for removing stains. Many of them are simple and easy. You don't have to follow instructions well, to use those products or methods. I think that's what you're looking for -- an easy, simple way to remove stains. Occasionally, these methods work. Often they don't, but at least they are simple!

The method I've described -- and posted -- here is not simple; it's complicated. Worse, you not only have to follow the instructions, you have to follow them in EXACTLY the right order for the process to work.

Since I first posted the method, we've had some failures occur. I don't like it when things I recommend fail; it embarrasses me a lot. So, I've backed off on helping people with it, until I'm sure they can succeed with it. And at this point, I'm pretty sure that people who can't spend 30 seconds completing a pool chart, aren't going to spend 30 minutes carefully reading a complex strain removal process.

So honestly, I'd rather you call Jacks' Magic, and buy all the stuff they recommend, and dump it in. It might work; sometimes it does. But, if it fails, it's THEIR method failing, not mine. And if it succeeds, that's great. As I've often said, it's usually better to be lucky than smart!

I may be able to figure out how to make the method here simpler. And, if I do, and you have stains again, you're welcome to try again.

Good luck!

[SuitUp]

What stain removal process are you referring to? I tried Jacks magic last year and it did not work. If you have a stain removal process on this website can you please supply a link or point me in the right direction? I'm not looking for a simple solution, but with my FC at 0 and high temps the next week I had to either try it, or give up and rechlorinate.

Right now the AA has removed most of the stains. I do not want them to come back. It did lighten the heavy organic stains in the deep end, but I would be very happy if you have a process to follow for that, aside from draining and acid wash, which I have considered.