Iron in water source

[FormerBromineUser]

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While waiting for an answer from someone more knowledgable than me, get some cal-hypo in there pronto!!!!
FC is WAY too low at 1.0.
Keep an eye on your filter pressure.

[stcohen]

OK, just added 1 cal hypo to each skimmer. Will watch pressure. Do not plan to backwash until pressure increases.

[FormerBromineUser]

Retest FC 1 hour after the tabs dissolve. I am thinking you need more cal-hypo but retesting will tell you. Get FC up to >5.0 SOON !
Please don't backwash (rinses out DE and calcium layer) until you absolutely have to. (don't vacuum to waste either)

[BigDave]

I agree that you should keep FC at or above 5ppm. Use the cal-hypo tabs to maintain FC at 5.0ppm. Let us know how the pool responds as pH and FC rises.

[stcohen]

So, this am pH 8, FC >>5. Pressure at filter and water appearance unchanged.
Slowed return by approx. 50% by adding more DE (used an additional 1/3 cup).
Water began clearing. Vacuumed to filter until began to come out of return.
Backwashed when psi increased and flow slowed-rust in discharge.
Then added 1 cup each DE and polyquat. 1 cal-hypo in each basket.
Will check in am.

[FormerBromineUser]

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I am optimistic! Good job! Did you adjust your pH down a tad?

It still may take a while, but keep up with the system: DE, cal-hypo, and holding off on back-washing until you must. It sounds like the filter is working just fine. I could be wrong, but I think you might have just been back-washing/vacuuming to waste too often for the system to work.

Don't hurry, but next time you are at the hardware store, get a new, large white bucket (usually in paint dept for under $5). When you stop seeing symptoms of iron you will want to run a metals-bucket test to make sure it's gone. Here's the link so you can begin reading up:

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...est-for-metals

[stcohen]

pH 8.0, FC >>>5
Lower pH to what level? Do I want Fe back in solution? What would that do to captured Fe in filter?
Felt like filter couldn't capture/hold Fe until flow decreased significantly.