Bromine Chemistry Question

[FormerBromineUser]

Miss the South....

[BigDave]

Most of the people I know in Illinois think they're in the south.

[PoolDoc]

. . . while those of us actually IN the South, suffer no such mental confusion!

And, now, back to our regularly scheduled pool discussion:

Metal stain removal has 3 parts:

1. Dissolve the metal stain.
We usually recommend ascorbic acid; Jacks Magic uses sodium bisulfite I think, and there are other reducing agents or acids that work. Most these materials are incompatible with chlorine, and cannot co-exist.

2. Keep the now dissolved metals IN the water, as you rechlorinate. THAT is what HEDP does.

3. Remove the metals from the water. CuLater is the ONLY method we know of to remove the DISSOLVED metals. The other methods require that you 'un-dissolve' them, but 'aim' for the filter OR for a floc (like aluminum sulfate)

Before you buy HEDP, get some vitamin C tabs, and drop them on your steps. If it's iron, the tabs will clear a small spot. (Or, you can put a tablespoon full of Iron Out (sodium dithionite + sodium sulfite) there).

[FormerBromineUser]

I did both the Vitamin C and Iron Out and I immediately got white spots on my steps! Now what?

Also, I did a round of borax/cal-hypo last night and at some point I would like to talk about that before I do it again.

[FormerBromineUser]

Update: I went ahead and scoured the steps with ascorbic acid and they are white again! I realize the iron is still in the water. I should receive the CuLator and skimmer basket/liners early in the week and will begin that when they arrive. I also ordered the Lamotte borate test strips; I did not order HEDP. My current numbers are:
FC 1.5
CC 0
pH 7.6

The first time I did the borax/cal-hypo, I left the pH high for a day as the instructions didn't say to lower it again. I did a second dose last night and 2 hours afterward, I added MA. I didn't want to leave my pH so high. Not sure which way I am supposed to do it.

My plan is to do the CuLator and keep the FC 2 or less. Is that right? Do I continue with the cal-hypo or go back to dichlor?

Thanks so much and Go Blackhawks!

[PoolDoc]

1. With the metal in solution, you probably want a middle pH, 7.4 - 7.6.

2. Using the cal hypo in *small* doses, via the skimmer (NO FEEDER WITH TRICHLOR!!), can help bring the metal out, on the filter.

3. Don't allow cal hypo to contact the CuLator packs. You could add cal hypo when you clean the skimmers -- but take the Culator out first.

4. I'd put ALL my Culators in the water, maybe 1 or 2 in the skimmer(s) and any others suspended in near a return, or even resting on the main drain. Don't discard them unless they are discolored or gummed up.