Newbie - Stain removal via ascorbic acid

[waterbear]

Janet,
I mentioned the chlorinating using calcium hypochlorite granular chlorine because it was what Ben's initial directions gave me when giving he help develop a plan to address the stain.

But if the calcium is going to be an issue,,,then obviously I just want to do the right thing.

I would follow Ben's directions. In fact, in this newsletter he talks about shocking with cal hypo in the skimmer
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=10246
and he gives much fuller directiosn here:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=10217
He suggests that by using cal hypo this way excess calcium precipitates out in the filter and acts as a 'filter aid'. Worth trying but do keep tabs on your
CH and if it climbs beyond reasonable levels switch back to bleach.

[aylad]

Evan, you must not have read my post just above yours!!

Janet

[waterbear]

Evan, you must not have read my post just above yours!!

Janet

It wasn't there when I started posting! We must have been posting at the same time. You just finished first because I was looking for Ben's threads with the cal hypo info.

[herb396]

I could not read the post, when trying I get a message "you do not have permission to access this page"...(looks like it would be good info) Anyway, I'll proceed by following Ben's direction, thanks for getting me back on track.

Thank you all for the guidance, can't tell you how valuable it has been for us.
BTW - we don't hate or pool anymore,,,,thank you!

herb

[waterbear]

I could not read the post, when trying I get a message "you do not have permission to access this page"...(looks like it would be good info) Anyway, I'll proceed by following Ben's direction, thanks for getting me back on track.

Thank you all for the guidance, can't tell you how valuable it has been for us.
BTW - we don't hate or pool anymore,,,,thank you!

herb

If I am not mistaken, upgrading your membership subscription to Supporter will allow you acccess to those sections AND help keep this forum going. I believe it has already proved it's value to you! The Upgrade is well worth it!

[Watermom]

Waterbear is correct. Upgrading to supporter will let you read those private sections of the forum with the Pool Letters in them. Full of good information.

Also, it is helpful to put all your pool specs in a signature line so that as we try and help, we can quickly see what your pool set up is without having to re-read long threads.

[herb396]

We are fully stain free and the water it pretty clear now, I'd say about 95% clear. (thank you all!)

I've stpped using the pucks for a full day and began adding (to the skimmer) about a cup of calcium hypochlorite granular chlorine per day for the past three days. I've also added about a gal. of bleach over the course of the last two days.

My current readings are: (as done by the pool store)

Tot Chlorine = .3
Free Chlorine = 0
CYA = 100 (two days ago this only read 70)
PH = 7.2
Tot. Alkalinity = 115
Adj. Total Alk = 85

So what should I be using and how much
Again it's a 25K gal painted/gunite in-ground pool

thanks,
herb

[PoolDoc]

You should start GRADUALLY raising your chlorine level using cal hypo* added to the skimmer, to the 5 - 10 ppm range, while watching to see if stains reappear.

Meanwhile, continue to use polyquat regularly. Until your chlorine level is over 5 ppm, it won't be safe to depend on chlorine alone to keep your pool algae free.

PoolDoc

*All previous cautions about the dangers of doing this still apply. This is safe ONLY if you 'follow the rules'!

[herb396]

OK,,Things have been going great, the water is very close to being perfectly clear. I have been trying to gradually raise my CL level. I started last Thursday adding 1 cup every 12 hrs of cal hypo. I test every time prior to adding. First three days basically no change in the levels. (but I've stayed safe by adding the polyquat). Then bumped up the dosage by going 1-1/2 cup each time again every 12 hrs, level rose to .5. Yesterday I began to add 2 full scoops 3 x a day. last night my reading was still .5

In the morning I backwashed and then added 3 scoops. (It was 95 degrees here all week including today) I just tested and my CL level is now 10 ! , and the water is also a bit cloudy. I really tried to avoid this sudden rise. I might just be paranoid I think the steps are getting darker.

Should I add something to quickly lower the CL?

I wonder if there is something going on with the filter that would have released a bunch of cal hypo after backwashing?

[PoolDoc]

What is your stabilizer level?

If it's low, and you've been testing in the PM, but tested in the AM this time, you would expect results like that.

Full intense sun with clear water and low CYA can strip chlorine VERY rapidly.

Ben