Yellow Water

[duraleigh]

I'm pretty sure I read a post by Ben that said a greenish tint is not indicative of metals. I have no experience in this area but I'm almost positive I read that post within the last 10 days. Brown for iron and deep blue green for copper and whitish scale for calcium.

Also, wouldn't metals precipitate out onto a surface rather than stay suspended in the water? Some clarification on this subject would certainly be helpful to me.

1. Is a greenish tint to the water indicative of metals?

2. When metals precipitate, do they discolor the water, attach to surfaces, or both?

[jrotull]

Thanks for the info guys. I plan to get my water tested for Metals. To reiterate my water color, it appears to be yellow, not green. It looks like lemon-lime soda or gatorade. There are absolutely no visible particles floating around either, on the bottom, on the sides, on the ladder, etc. It's simply a crystal clear "yellow liquid". Is this STRANGE or do you still think I have excess metals? Thanks again in advance.....

[ladybug_3777]

1. Is a greenish tint to the water indicative of metals?

From my personal experience, a greenish tint IS indicative of copper.

Yellow.. I don't know about that one

[waterbear]

When metal ions in the water are oxidized (by shocking) they will form colored compounds in the water. This is what colors the water. When they precipitatate out of the water they form stains. Pools that are stained often don't test positive for metals since the metals are no longer in the water.
A full set of tests results, including metals, will let us know what is happening in your pool, including the possiblity of staining if metals are present.
Green water ususally indicates copper
Yellow to brown water ususally indicates iron
Purple water usually indicates manganese.

[mbar]

I am thinking that something you used may have had some chlorine in it, and gave you a little of the lime-ade coloring you get when you put chlorine in a baquacil or non chlorine pool. As the chlorine goes away, the color probably will too. Just a thought.

[waterbear]

It was my understanding that E-Z Pool/Chlor-Free is not biguinide but some sort of propiretary mixture (I would guess sodium percarbonate as the main ingredient since it's level can be tested with DPD) that is supposed to eliminate the need for chorine. I don;'t believe it is EPA approved.
http://www.americasbestpoolsupply.co...1/PageNumber/1
http://www.ordinis.com/chemistry/e-z_pool.htm
http://www.rogerspools.com/chemical.htm
There is also an ionizer called Chlor-free.
http://www.chlorfreeglobal.com/how_works.php
http://www.chlorfreeglobal.com/product.php
In either case I would have the water tested for metals. I would also recommend switching to chlorine.

[mbar]

Wow, I didn't know what it was! Sounds like it is a mineral based product - which could lead to stains. Thanks waterbear!

[waterbear]

I'm pretty sure I read a post by Ben that said a greenish tint is not indicative of metals. I have no experience in this area but I'm almost positive I read that post within the last 10 days. Brown for iron and deep blue green for copper and whitish scale for calcium.

Also, wouldn't metals precipitate out onto a surface rather than stay suspended in the water? Some clarification on this subject would certainly be helpful to me.
If conditons are right for precipitaton they will 'stain out' (high pH, high carbonate alkalinity, etc.) If not they stay in solution.
1. Is a greenish tint to the water indicative of metals?
Metal ions in solution can take different oxidative states. Some of these oxidative states can cause color in the water
2. When metals precipitate, do they discolor the water, attach to surfaces, or both?
When the metals precipitate out as stain they will no longer color the water since they are no longer in the water. They appear as stain.

Hope this helps.