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BadBack · Mar 15, 2025

I don't want to get too aggressive with it. No one notices it but me since some dirt/grime settles on the steps from usage anyway. I'll stop fighting with it and live with it since it's not something as easy as "oh just go buy xyz and let it sit 5 minutes.

Thank you!

krista.l.adams17 · Mar 15, 2025

Here’s the test I just did.

jubjub · Mar 15, 2025

proavia said:
I second what @Bperry said.
Those look like pool store test results.

Test Kits Compared

They’re not.

jubjub · Mar 15, 2025

Bperry said:
You need to get one of the two recommended test kits and post those results. Can’t really advise with what you have there.

Bperry said:

You need to get one of the two recommended test kits and post those results. Can’t really advise with what you have there.

Click to expand...

I have a Taylor test kit. Very familiar with how to use it. Have used one for years. I recently bought a WaterGuru device and test weekly with Taylor and it’s close. Soooooooo, back to my original question.

krista.l.adams17 · Mar 15, 2025

Heres the test from just now.

krista.l.adams17 · Mar 15, 2025

kimkats · Mar 15, 2025

flaversaver said:
Are you confirming its not a very good job?

Nope just saying it is an "okay" job. Like @Newdude said it will not be notice by anyone enjoying the pool when it is done and water is in it.

meatyor · Mar 15, 2025

I’m curious if any members have solar panels, and if so, does that allow them to run a pool heater essentially free of heavy electricity bills?

We have a great house for solar panels, and have been considering the investment. Then of course my mind went to, but how could it make my pool better?

I realize this is probably more of a solar panel question, but any thoughts would be appreciated!

JamesW · Mar 15, 2025

If you had no heat loss, it would look like this.

For the first 5 degrees, the heating is pretty close and then the lines begin to diverge.

Both methods give about 6.9 hours to go from 65 F to 70 F. (6.8899 Hours vs. 6.92475 Hours).

70 = 65 + 0.7257x - Wolfram|Alpha

Wolfram|Alpha brings expert-level knowledge and capabilities to the broadest possible range of people—spanning all professions and education levels.

www.wolframalpha.com

70 = 84 + (65-84)e^(-0.0441x) - Wolfram|Alpha

Wolfram|Alpha brings expert-level knowledge and capabilities to the broadest possible range of people—spanning all professions and education levels.

www.wolframalpha.com

JamesW · Mar 15, 2025

pjt · Mar 15, 2025

lvanpelt said:
An intellichlor will be included so will confirm why they didn’t plumb that

That should have been installed when they were building your equipment pad plumbing. If they don't have the cell, they can install a dummy cell.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VU8A1Q

It takes about two minutes to swap the dummy cell with an actual IntelliChlor cell.

lvanpelt said:
There also should be a heated bypass so they’ll have to fix that.

Good. Keep it simple with a 3-way diverter and check valve.

Heater Bypass - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

lvanpelt said:
So when I ask about it, can you explain why the 3 way is better than check valve between pump and filter? Thanks!

Unless you have special circumstances, a check valve isn't needed there. However, a 3-way diverter gives you the ability to vacuum to waste or quickly pump water out of your pool.

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Common_Guy_123839 · Mar 15, 2025

Tough to hear that tearing it down makes the most sense. We have that big ol' deck just for the pool. Ahhh! Timing sucks big time. Appreciate the feedback all.

krista.l.adams17 · Mar 15, 2025

JoyfulNoise said:
Trichlor pucks are acidic. They significantly lower pH in their local area as they dissolve. It’s low enough to etch and remove plaster. So while a puck can lighten an organic stain, it can also remove a small amount of the plaster as well and lift a metal stain. So it’s really not determinative in differentiating metal staining from organic staining. An organic stain will lighten almost immediately from exposure to chlorine. If the chlorine source has to sit there a long time with little or no effect, then it’s not organic.

Okay I understand what you’re saying! So how does one go about removing this metal staining?

JoyfulNoise · Mar 15, 2025

Trichlor pucks are acidic. They significantly lower pH in their local area as they dissolve. It’s low enough to etch and remove plaster. So while a puck can lighten an organic stain, it can also remove a small amount of the plaster as well and lift a metal stain. So it’s really not determinative in differentiating metal staining from organic staining. An organic stain will lighten almost immediately from exposure to chlorine. If the chlorine source has to sit there a long time with little or no effect, then it’s not organic.

ajw22 · Mar 15, 2025

vgomez1 said:
That’s not the answer I was looking for. Thx

Sorry, I will try and do better with your next problem.

krista.l.adams17 · Mar 15, 2025

JamesW said:
In my opinion, it is probably copper.

Can you show the system?

If you have cartridge filters, can you pull them out and show them before and after cleaning?

I’m inside for the night, but definitely will in the morning! Is it possible for the puck to remove copper? And how would I remove this entire area of copper staining?

PoolStored · Mar 15, 2025

JamesW · Mar 15, 2025

Copper in Pool Water - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

JamesW · Mar 15, 2025

You can try to scrape some off to see if it is black algae, but I am 99.999% sure that it is copper.

Black algae is a type of black mold that can be scraped off and examined.

Black algae is a blue-green color and it is a type of cyanobacteria.

JamesW · Mar 15, 2025

In my opinion, it is probably copper.

Can you show the system?

If you have cartridge filters, can you pull them out and show them before and after cleaning?

Bperry · Mar 15, 2025

krista.l.adams17 said:
I do have the Taylor test kit and I got similar results yesterday. Also, I feel like the low chlorine would make sense to me if it wasn’t for the fact that this staining has existed since we bought the home in August. I’m just not sure how to remove it from here, which is why I consulted this group. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Post up results from your test kit.

krista.l.adams17 · Mar 15, 2025

Bperry said:
If we believe those test results you have no chlorine in the water so algae would be a likely candidate. You probably didn’t need to raise the alkalinity as pool stores report an adjusted alkalinity to sell you junk you don’t need. Would recommend you don’t trust any of their testing and get your own test kit.

See here:

Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared

What pool test kit should I buy? Why shouldn't I use test strips? Our recommended test kits will pay for themselves in no time!

www.troublefreepool.com

I do have the Taylor test kit and I got similar results yesterday. Also, I feel like the low chlorine would make sense to me if it wasn’t for the fact that this staining has existed since we bought the home in August. I’m just not sure how to remove it from here, which is why I consulted this group. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Bperry · Mar 15, 2025

krista.l.adams17 said:
I thought if the puck lifted the stain it was basically guaranteed to be organic staining not metal. Is this incorrect?

If we believe those test results you have no chlorine in the water so algae would be a likely candidate. You probably didn’t need to raise the alkalinity as pool stores report an adjusted alkalinity to sell you junk you don’t need. Would recommend you don’t trust any of their testing and get your own test kit.

See here:

Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared

What pool test kit should I buy? Why shouldn't I use test strips? Our recommended test kits will pay for themselves in no time!

www.troublefreepool.com

pb4uswim · Mar 15, 2025

Newdude said:
FC, TA and Ph don't take that much mixing. Salt, calcium and CYA can need a full day to mix.

And besides, you just want to prove there is chlorine in there. A 12 reading can be off by 3 and mission accomplished either way.

The liner looks like it fared well.

That’s how I see it. I stuck my arm in as deep as I could and got a sample. I was at about 3ppm chlorine and 7.2ph. Maybe not accurate but it tells me that there’s probably not much time before the chlorine runs out. That’s why as soon as I can, I’m going to get the pump running and feed it some chlorine. With a sheet of ice on top and the cover shading the water, I think I have a bit more time but I don’t want to push it. I had to slam last year at opening and would like to prevent that this year.

krista.l.adams17 · Mar 15, 2025

JamesW said:
Can you show the system?

If you have cartridge filters, can you pull them out and show them before and after cleaning?

I thought if the puck lifted the stain it was basically guaranteed to be organic staining not metal. Is this incorrect?

JoyfulNoise · Mar 15, 2025

It could just be some organic junk that got embedded into the porous coating. There’s no way to remove it without mechanically sanding down the upper layer. The refinish kit would allow you to redo the coating and hide all that stuff but that kind of work requires a good bit of labor and attention to detail to get it right. Doing it may not be worth your time and effort.

I’d fill the pool when it’s ready and just enjoy it. Those spots will likely go unnoticed by anyone else other than you. If you can submerge that step in pool water, the stains might lighten on their own if they’re organic and under chlorinated water.

Newdude · Mar 15, 2025

I did about 25 tours when we sold because the realtor wasn't allowed on the property at the tail end of the lock downs. I couldn't get over that half of them were entirely indifferent about the pool. 'Oh ok, it has a pool. Guess we'll have to figure that part out if we like the house'. They'd go take a momentary look, say 'Yup, it's a pool', and move on. For that half, no pool wouldn't have mattered, and may have even helped. Others probably wouldn't even consider it because of the pool.

JamesW · Mar 15, 2025

Can you show the system?

If you have cartridge filters, can you pull them out and show them before and after cleaning?

JamesW · Mar 15, 2025

Two-Year-Old Pool Major Discoloration and Bleaching

Hi, Everyone! New to the forum and to pools in general. Closed on a house with my first pool! Yay! Although it's only two years old it has major discoloration (light and dark spots). General home inspector thought it was algae but the water is so clear. Here is what the prior owners...

www.troublefreepool.com

White stains expanding on gunite pool - Please Help

Hello, My pool was built back in June, 22 by A&S. It came with the house we purchased. It is a gunite pool. I observed white stains a couple months back, and they are expanding. I have a high Ph problem due, not sure because it is a new pool or just swg. I am really note sure if these...

www.troublefreepool.com

Newdude · Mar 15, 2025

With them both on sale right now, Its $1.20 more a lb than the puritech.

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