Argh. I really, really *wish* we had a simple way to remove stains and metals.

But you've got a sand filter; that will help. Let me explain the concept, and then get to the details.

1. You need to find out out the metals are getting into your water -- and stop it, if possible.
2. You need to make sure that standard chemicals will remove the stains -- test with Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and Iron Out (sodium hydrosulfite)
3. You need to prepare to re-dissolve the stains into the pool water (Vit. C or Iron Out) -- using non-chlorine compatible chemicals.
4. You need to re-chlorinate BUT keep the metals dissolved.
5. You need to gradually remove the dissolved metals from solution, without returning them to the stains
6. You need to act to prevent metals from entering your pool (preferable) or else manage their entry, if you can't prevent it.
7. Because the process often isn't perfect, you may have to repeat the stain removal 1 or 2x, before you can permanently eliminate them.

Whew!

As you can see, this is a complex process. As far as I know, there is no simple one-step fix. The various products on the market for metal control or management are over-hyped and under-described, presumably because explaining to pool owners how complex this process is, hurts sales.

Keep in mind, that doing nothing is an option.

Stains don't hurt anyone, and if no one in your family is getting green hair, deciding you can live with them is a perfectly good option. You *should* figure out (a) if that 0.5 ppm Cu result is real or bogus, and (b) if it's not bogus, how copper is entering your pool. Once you do, you probably want to stop it.

If you decide you DO want to deal with the stains and metal, you need to do all of the following:

1. Enter your pool data in the pool chart:
http://pool9.net/pf-pool-form/
2. Enter test results from your pool into the pool history spread sheet:
http://pool9.net/pf-hist-form/
You can see results here:
http://pool9.net/pf-hist-chart/
3. Enter test results from your pool FILL water into the pool history spread sheet as well.

4. Try to identify HOW metals are entering your pool. (Algaecides, ionizers, fill water)

5. Test your stains with Vit. C and Iron Out to see if applying a few tabs or 1/4 cup granules will lift the stains.



Lemme know what you plan do to!