The metal ring around my light completely rusted this summer, I'm guessing because the ph has been too low. However, my water has been crystal clear all summer until yesterday.
A couple of days ago, I added baking soda to bring the ph up.
Now my water has a brown tint to it. Thinking it was algae starting, I added algaecide and shocked it last night. It's still brownish.
I'm wondering, now, however, if increasing the ph caused the rust from the light and in the water to come out of solution, and the problem is actually iron in the pool.
I'll be taking a water sample to get tested today and will post those results.
In the meantime, any ideas for getting the rust off of the light fixture without it further browning the water and getting the iron out of the water, if that's the problem. I've read all kinds if ideas from chemicals to socks. I don't have a lot of extra money to play with.
Please don't berate me for not testing and balancing. Still new to this and had no problems last year. I realize I'll need to get the pool properly balanced, of course.
Also, what is a good, cheap but reliable test kit? Any recommendations for test strips? They seem a lot easier, but if they're not reliable, there's no point.
I stuffed some socks in the skimmer basket to see if it will help catch some of the iron particles, if that's the problem.
A couple of days ago, I added baking soda to bring the ph up.
Now my water has a brown tint to it. Thinking it was algae starting, I added algaecide and shocked it last night. It's still brownish.
I'm wondering, now, however, if increasing the ph caused the rust from the light and in the water to come out of solution, and the problem is actually iron in the pool.
I'll be taking a water sample to get tested today and will post those results.
In the meantime, any ideas for getting the rust off of the light fixture without it further browning the water and getting the iron out of the water, if that's the problem. I've read all kinds if ideas from chemicals to socks. I don't have a lot of extra money to play with.
Please don't berate me for not testing and balancing. Still new to this and had no problems last year. I realize I'll need to get the pool properly balanced, of course.
Also, what is a good, cheap but reliable test kit? Any recommendations for test strips? They seem a lot easier, but if they're not reliable, there's no point.
I stuffed some socks in the skimmer basket to see if it will help catch some of the iron particles, if that's the problem.
