Stains appeared just today??

[EmilyOTR]

My pool is sparkling, clear and perfectly balanced. Yesterday no stains and this morning, stains on the bottom of the deep end. Any ideas how this happened overnight? I do have an oak tree that is constantly dropping things, but I keep my polaris running nearly all day in May, it's off overnight but I don't think stains could appear from stuff sitting for a few hours? Plus, my pool was relatively clean this morning. Oddly, I had similar looking stains on my top step yesterday but they brushed right off. these didn't.

 

[mknauss]

Looks like something organic sat on the spot. If you have a trichlor puck set it on the spot for a few minutes and see if the spot goes away.

 

[EmilyOTR]

if that's the case, I could also dump some chlorine in, and that would do it? Our Michigan weather has been horrible and I doubt anyone is getting in today and there are several of these.

 

[mknauss]

Not really, as the puck on the stain is primarily meant to give clues on what it is. If it is organic, then you would maintain your FC in the 10% of CYA range to eliminate the stain over time. May take days, or weeks. If it is metal, then there are other treatments.

 

[EmilyOTR]

Not really, as the puck on the stain is primarily meant to give clues on what it is. If it is organic, then you would maintain your FC in the 10% of CYA range to eliminate the stain over time. May take days, or weeks. If it is metal, then there are other treatments.

how long do you suggest leaving it on the stain to see?

 

[mknauss]

10 minutes or so.

 

[EmilyOTR]

Well, 10 minutes with a puck and it's gone. Can I just move it around 10 min on each spot? I'm a little concerned about the CYA since mine is at 80 right now.

 

[mknauss]

Just keep moving it around to remove the stains.

One puck will increase your CYA by a non-measurable amount.

 

[EmilyOTR]

thank you so much for the help!

 

[EmilyOTR]

so ever since this happened, every morning I wake up to new stains, and I spend the day pushing this puck around. this is our 3rd year with the pool and I've never had this happen before?

 

[mknauss]

Do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test tonight. You may be having an algae issue.

 

[EmilyOTR]

Ok I will. I think it's really unlikely but I'll do it! Can you have algae in a perfectly clear, perfectly balanced pool?

 

[EmilyOTR]

so I did the overnight test. I had last night and I tested twice this morning and got 5.5 and 6. also, stains again this morning. I mean they are right in one spot where a tree hangs over, but again, they are not something I have ever had before,

 

[duraleigh]

If I am interpreting your pictures correctly, I see those little black spots as the issue. That is something that has fallen into your pool. (probably from the overhanging tree)

If you cannot brush it away easily, a stainless steel brush will probably remove it and then a normal level of chlorine will clean up anything you missed. You could increase your chlorine level temporarily if you wish but I don't see the need.

 

[EmilyOTR]

it's the rusty colored spots. there is something from the tree causing it yes, but I brush the debris away and it leaves a stain. EVERY SINGLE DAY. this morning I had more than ever. there are probably 15-20 tiny stains, and I'm going to move that puck around all day to remove them. it's tiring. I'm leaving for 5 days on Saturday. what will I come home to? I have a normal level of chlorine now, it's a 6.

 

[EmilyOTR]

here is some of them from this morning.

 

[Texas Splash]

I'm going to move that puck around all day to remove them. it's tiring.

Well, it sounds like you're getting hockey practice in early this year. Since you have a SWG, you're pool probably does well on the SWG target range of 5-6. But for these magical things that are dropping from the trees, you may need additional chlorine for a while. Have you considered supplimenting the SWG with a boost or two of regular bleach? Try bumping your FC level up to the 8-10 range for a couple days to see if it helps, just to get you through this period where junk is falling.

 

[EmilyOTR]

Well, it sounds like you're getting hockey practice in early this year. Since you have a SWG, you're pool probably does well on the SWG target range of 5-6. But for these magical things that are dropping from the trees, you may need additional chlorine for a while. Have you considered supplimenting the SWG with a boost or two of regular bleach? Try bumping your FC level up to the 8-10 range for a couple days to see if it helps, just to get you through this period where junk is falling.

Ok, thanks, I will try that.

 

[duraleigh]

If the debris is brushing away and leaving a stain behind it is likely tannic acid and chlorine will take care of it. I don't like the idea of a puck sitting on your pool surface for any length of time. Just brush the stain and let the chlorine take care of it. You may have to brush it more than once but I like that better than letting the pucks stay on too long.

 

[EmilyOTR]

Ok the puck has been in there for a couple of days. I'll get it out.