Help a newbie?

[GlenKlein]

Thanks Evan - I also forgot to mention:

I noticed an orange residue on my skimmer basket - it almost looks like my skimmer basket is rusting! I tried to wipe it off and it was pretty stubborn (if that tells you anything else).

I'll get to studying your notes!! Thanks so much for your help!

And BTW - the water is clear... emarald green was a good call. There is no slimy feel to it at all, and my inner liner is mostly white with a blue pattern. Also, the water's only been in the pool for 3 days now and it was emerald green as soon as it was full (the first morning). Doesn't algae take a while to form?

[waterbear]

Thanks Evan - I also forgot to mention:

I noticed an orange residue on my skimmer basket - it almost looks like my skimmer basket is rusting! I tried to wipe it off and it was pretty stubborn (if that tells you anything else).

I'll get to studying your notes!! Thanks so much for your help!

And BTW - the water is clear... emarald green was a good call. There is no slimy feel to it at all. Also, the water's only been in the pool for 3 days now and it was emerald green as soon as it was full. Doesn't algae take a while to form?

Algae can form pretty quickly but the color from metals usually happens when high chlorine levels oxidize the metals in the water and usually appear soon after the chlorine is added. At this point I would try getting a bottle of sequesterant and FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON THE BOTTLE in terms of chlorine levels and pH needed when you apply it. I have used Jack's Magic and Proteam Metal Magic and they are both good but there are many good ones out there. It won't really hurt anything if you don't need it and if it is what you need it will work like magic. You can try rubbing the orange stain with a vitamin c tablet and see if it lightens or disappears. If it does then the problem is definitely iron! Post your findings.

[GlenKlein]

Hi Evan,

I just wanted to ask if there's any possibility of the greenish color coming from sand? We don't live far from Lake Michigan, and the soil around here is sandy... shot in the dark, but wanted to ask.

And also in case it matters - the orange rusty stuff did wipe off of the basket, I just had to rub it vigorously - (otherwise, I would've tried the vitamin C thing).

We live out in the sticks, so I'll have to try and find a nearby pool store for testing... might be difficult, but I'll find out today.

Thanks - Glen

[Watermom]

Especially since you don't live close to a pool store, you need the capability to test your own water reliably. (Actually, everyone does, regardless of where they live. Testing your own water is always better than relying on a pool store.) Consider buying the kit that most of us use from the sister site to this forum www.poolsolutions.com .

http://www.poolsolutions.com/cart/ps234.php

[waterbear]

Especially since you don't live close to a pool store, you need the capability to test your own water reliably. (Actually, everyone does, regardless of where they live. Testing your own water is always better than relying on a pool store.) Consider buying the kit that most of us use from the sister site to this forum www.poolsolutions.com .

http://www.poolsolutions.com/cart/ps234.php

I was suggesting in an earlier post that he have his water tested for metals. Unfortunately, most test kits, including Ben's, don't test for iron and copper. That is why I suggested the pool store. He has the walmart kit.

[waterbear]

Hi Evan,

I just wanted to ask if there's any possibility of the greenish color coming from sand? We don't live far from Lake Michigan, and the soil around here is sandy... shot in the dark, but wanted to ask
Don't have a clue. Sorry. Kinda doubt it though.
And also in case it matters - the orange rusty stuff did wipe off of the basket, I just had to rub it vigorously - (otherwise, I would've tried the vitamin C thing).
Might be from iron or something else.

We live out in the sticks, so I'll have to try and find a nearby pool store for testing... might be difficult, but I'll find out today.
You could purchase test kits for iron and copper but they are probably an unneeded expense. Once you know what is in your water you will know what to treat it with to keep it under control.

Thanks - Glen

Hope this helps.

[GlenKlein]

Hi Evan,

First - thanks for your patience with me... you've been VERY helpful.

Second... after giving some thought to your answers, I am convinced that my water is YELLOW and that you were right... the blue in the liner makes it look green.

I went to Walmart yesterday and bumped into another guy on well water... he said to get muriatic (sp?) acid and that would clear it up????

I looked online for your suggestions to clear up the iron and the Jack's stuff had a pink and a blue version? I'll go back this morning and read the descriptions again, but it didn't appear to be clear to me - which one to order?! I think I want the Blue Stuff (because it's stable in high chlorine and removes iron) but it sounds like that was designed mostly for plaster pools?!

Thanks again... I'm learning a ton if that's worth anything!

[GlenKlein]

no reply necessary... I found the Proteam Metal Magic nearby. I'm gonna give that a shot first.

I'll let you know what happens.

[waterbear]

no reply necessary... I found the Proteam Metal Magic nearby. I'm gonna give that a shot first.

I'll let you know what happens.

Metal Magic will work fine. As far as the Jack's....the Pink stuff is what you want. the Blue Stuff is stronger and works better on high copper concentrations in the water.

[Chaotic]

Thanks again... I'm learning a ton if that's worth anything!

You cant help but learn a ton with these folks. They really know what they are doing and will help you with just about anything pool related.

Reading this thread brings me to a question: I too am on a well, but I cannot take water to a pool store to test for metals because the results always involve selling something and they dont actually give you the results of the test, its just "put this in and it will fix you up". Is there a test kit available for metals to end users?