Kem Tek 338 vs Jack's Magic Purple Stuff in salt pool?

[JimK]

Ben, when I checked the bucket this evening the water was still cloudy from the addition of washing soda. When first I started the test and added the chlorine, the water got cloudy, but cleared the next day (I didn't see any staining or sediments). When I then added the washing soda, it got cloudy again, but this time it has not cleared after more than 24hrs so I cannot see if there are any stains or sediments.

Any suggestions on how to proceed?

Do you have a K-2006 or an HTH 6-way drops kit? If so, what are your calcium and alkalinity levels?

Calcium is about 240, TA is 90-100

Hi Ben.

I let the bucket sit another 24 hours and now the water is clear. The only thing I see is white sediment on the bottom of the bucket. What do these results mean? Anything useful?

BTW, a clarification/correction; the calcium level I mentioned above is actually the "Total Hardness" per pool store testing. The TA figure is from my own testing using a Taylor kit (the figure is unadjusted for CYA which is 80 per my own test using Taylor kit). Today I purchased the Taylor reagents needed to test for calcium, but need help with that (see my post in the appropriate section).

[waterbear]

Today I purchased the Taylor reagents needed to test for calcium, but need help with that (see my post in the appropriate section).

FYI, I answered that post.

[JimK]

FYI, I answered that post.

Thanks. I'll take that conversation over there.

[JimK]

Hi Ben.

I let the bucket sit another 24 hours and now the water is clear. The only thing I see is white sediment on the bottom of the bucket. What do these results mean? Anything useful?.....

Hi Ben.

I know you are really busy and I greatly appreciate your help with doing the bucket test for metals.

Waterbear helped me with problems I was having reading the Taylor calcium test kit results ( http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...lcium-test-kit ). I appears my calcium level is 250ppm max.

So to summarize, my TA is at 90-100 (NOT adjusted for a CYA level of 80; don't know what the adjusted level would be) and Calcium is at 250ppm max. After waiting an additional 24hrs. the water in the bucket is now clear with only white sediment visible on the bottom (sides of bucket are also white).

Let me know what you think when you get a chance.

[PoolDoc]

You did the bucket test. You added bleach -- to break down any phosphonates, and then oxidize any metals to the insoluble form, and then soda ash, to raise the pH to the point where they would precipitate.

Colors tell the tale: iron would make the sediment brown or orange; copper blue or green, or maybe black. You got tan. That means calcium plus maybe a tiny bit of iron. You *might* have other metals, but it's unlikely.

[JimK]

You did the bucket test. You added bleach -- to break down any phosphonates, and then oxidize any metals to the insoluble form, and then soda ash, to raise the pH to the point where they would precipitate.

Colors tell the tale: iron would make the sediment brown or orange; copper blue or green, or maybe black. You got tan. That means calcium plus maybe a tiny bit of iron. You *might* have other metals, but it's unlikely.

Thanks Ben. Actually, the sediment is white. I take this to mean it's not likely I have any metals and that adding the sequest isn't doing anything?

If I wanted to later test for metals using a Taylor kit, how long should I discontinue sequestrant use before testing to be sure the sequestrant doesn't interfere with the results?

[PoolDoc]

Wow. Missed this one.

Yes, white sediment in a metals test strongly suggests no metals are present.

As far as how sequestrants / chelants interact with copper tests (of various flavors), that's information we haven't been able to find yet!

[JimK]

Wow. Missed this one.

Yes, white sediment in a metals test strongly suggests no metals are present.

As far as how sequestrants / chelants interact with copper tests (of various flavors), that's information we haven't been able to find yet!

No problem, Ben. I know y'all have been swamped with requests for help this season. I kind of figured that if tan sediment meant a small amount of iron, that white sediment like I got meant no metals.

I'd still like to discuss and get a better understanding of what happened to the metals that I did have in my pool, but since I'm not currently having any issues that discussion can wait until after the end of the busy season. I look forward to that discussion.

[PoolDoc]

Thanks.