brown water AGAIN

[retyler]

Bucket test water from the well turned brown after adding Clorox. I filled a bucket with water from the well tap 3 days ago, it turned brown just sitting after a day. Water is clear but brown. When we drained the pool the last bit of water had to wait till we got back from an out of town business trip. The water was clear and there were small brown patches that gathered together. When we swept the water toward the vacuum hose the brown patches would mix back into the water making it brown again. A professor at NCSU (our local university) tells us they have had many problems with iron in water this summer. Is this possibly the cause?

[PoolDoc]

Pool photos










Bucket test:

[PoolDoc]

The colors that are showing up look in between iron and manganese, but it's possible you have some of both. Of course, it also could be camera color error.

+ In the picture of the clumped iron, did those clumps wash or brush away easily?
+ Do you have a pole, vacuum head and hose?
+ Has the iron or whatever in the bucket test settled out? If so, how long did it take?

I'm thinking you may be able to add polyquat, settle the iron, and the vac to waste, or even to filter, if you have several extra filters, and are prepared to clean them properly.

[retyler]

Thank you. Colour appears to be the same in the photo.

To answer your questions;
+The clumps will reintegrate with the water if disturbed. Water turns brown again.
+Yes, we have pole, vacuum head and hose.
+In the bucket test the iron or whatever is forming "small clumps" but is still hanging suspended in the water has not settled to the bottom.

We have 4 filters that we rotate changing every 24 hours. The last one we took out after the coffee coloured water is stained beige, but clean.
The second (clear) bucket is a bucket test we are doing from one of our other wells. It is still clear after two days, so I we have begun to fill the pool
with water from this well as it takes much longer to fill than from the other "big" well. The ph is lower in the water from the small well but the calcium
and the alkalinity #'s are much lower. We are hoping this will prove to be an easier way to go.

[PoolDoc]

1. Use polyquat initially, instead of chlorine (info, below). It will keep your pool from turning green, and will help filter the iron, etc. Once the pool is full, add very small doses of chlorine, gradually raising the chlorine level.

2. Make sure you are cleaning your cartridges properly. Links and info below.

Ben
==============================

+ Chlorine is the strongest algaecide you can buy . . . but occasionally, you may need a different one. Almost the only alternative algaecide we recommend is polyquat -- poly [oxyethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene dichloride] . This product is a GOOD clarifier and a moderately good algaecide, with almost no bad side effects. We often recommend it for use when you are going on vacation, or when you need to lower your chlorine, to prevent remove stains. It has become quite difficult to purchase locally at the normal full strength 60% concentration. If you find it locally, at a 60% concentration, that's fine. But be SURE to check the chemical name. If you need to buy it online, here's an Amazon link:

Kem-Tek 311-6 Pool and Spa 60-Percent Concentrated Algaecide, 1 Quart

+ The OEM cartridges in Intex / Summer Escapes / etc. filters are not high quality. The Intex manuals recommend replacing them completely every 2 weeks. A BETTER option is to replace them permanently with 2 - 3 Unicel cartridges, and rotating them through a cleaning solution. Properly maintained, the Unicel cartridges will last all season AND will filter better. So even though they cost more per cartridge, they cost less per season! Learn to maintain them, by reading this post, Cleaning-your-Cartridge-Filter-wiithout-Damaging-It!

But, purchasing them is tricky. Amazon does not consistently stock them, and some of the 3rd party sellers are charging high prices and/or high shipping. So, check the Amazon link, but watch out for the prices and shipping costs.

It would be nice if you could just buy them elsewhere, but many of the online pool stores are listing Pleatco or other Asian made low quality filters, as "Unicel C-4607 type" or "fits Unicel C-4607". So shop carefully!

Here are the Amazon links:

Unicel C-4607 Replacement Filter Cartridge (Easy Set Size A or C) @ Amazon
Unicel C-5315 Replacement Filter Cartridge for 15 Square Foot Intex B Filter @ Amazon

[retyler]

Thanks so much Ben for all your information. You are a winner for sure! I will get the polyquat (we've already gotten the filters from Amazon).
I have been trying to read all the posts about caring for indoor pools, but there is much to absorb. Especially for brains that are not quite a flexible as they once were.
be well,

[PoolDoc]

Please let us know how it goes. I'm trying to learn more about how to help people manage pools filled with well water, but often we don't here how things end up.

[retyler]

I certainly will let you know how things go. I get the feeling we will need to subscribe to the forum as I feel many questions coming up. Dick ordered his birthday present solar heater today after spending several days on the computer and with the WW Grainger catalogue. I foresee many questions down the road as we learn how to manage an indoor pool.
Thanks again, your help in invaluable.