Stain Stain Go Away

[Hockeykid]

Hi

I have an above ground pool and have a stain on the floor liner that will not go away. I have been trying everything and even went to the local pool store.

Sequence of events:
Opened my pool and vacuumed it and notice a brownish stain.
Tried brushing, no luck.
Tried Shock, no luck
Tried algaecide, no luck.
Bought some PH up and reshocked, no luck.
Went to the pool store and bought Phoenix Stain Out, no luck.
Back to the pool store and brought a sample of water. They tell me I have some metals in the water and sold me Phoenix Stain Erase. One bottle of 32 oz. The directions say you need 1 quart pet 10,000 gallons. My pool is around 18,000. I wondered why they only sold me one bottle. Given I spent $30 on the one bottle and was already home I figured I’d give it a try. I fist soaked a sock in the chemical and then trying rubbing it in the stain thinking it would be more concentrated. That didn’t do anything so I proceeded to empty the entire bottle, end result was no luck
Tried rubbing a Lemmon In it (vitamin C), no luck.
Tried rubbing a Vitamin C tab on it, no luck.
Tried leaving a chlorine tab in the stain for a little bit and rubbing it with the tab, no luck.

I cannot seem to find any other solutions online and I don’t know if I have a lot of confidence left in the local pool store As they already seem a little unsure.

I added some pictures if the stain and of the test strip results. Note that I just added shock before I took the water test.

Thanks!

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Not quite sure what teh stain is yet, but I can confirm a few things you can do:
- Stay far away from the pool store. They are selling you junk and wasting your money.
- Get your own TF-100 (link below) or Taylor K-2006C test kit. That's #1. See Test Kits Compared. I recommend the TF-100. Test strips are horrible, and pool store testing isn't too far behind. Your own testing is much more reliable.
- Once you do get one of those test kits, please post a full set of results. MUCH more accurate.
- Just about everything your tried was probably wasted effort until you mentioned the Vitamin C tablets. Did you take a tablet (or several crushed in a think sock) and actually rub it or leave it on the stain? Did it get lighter or darker at all?
- Do you have any dry acid? You can try the same thin sock test with that as well, just don't leave it sitting in one spot too long.
- If a chlorine tab, Vitamin C, or dry acid does not show a reaction, something is odd. You might need to purchase Jack's Magic ID Stain kit for help.
- Are you on a well?
- You've added algaecides before? Are they copper based?
- How do you normally chlorinate your water?

Also take a moment to update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. It will help us later.

 

[Hockeykid]

Thank you for the quick reply! I’ll buy the better test kit and give it a try then repost. Local Store didn’t have these kits so I’ll have to buy online. Do you guys sell products, it didn’t appear so online? I have been a minimalist for years; PH I upper when I open the pool and chlorine throughout the season, always had clear water. Past 2 years I got a little lazy a couple times and had algae and needed some algaecides. I updated my signature on the website as well.

I can retry the Vitamin C. I used my kids gummies version so I’ll need to buy some or not sure if I can use an Airborne tab.

Town water and sewer, I am not on a well.

I have used some algaecides. Copper is listed as an ingredient. (In The Swim Super Algicide)

I use granular shock (once a week). I empty into the skimmer. Then chlorine tabs for daily maintenance. I am on a sand filter.

 

[Hockeykid]

Thank you for the quick reply! I’ll buy the better test kit and give it a try then repost. Local Store didn’t have these kits so I’ll have to buy online. Do you guys sell products, it didn’t appear so online? I have been a minimalist for years; PH I upper when I open the pool and chlorine throughout the season, always had clear water. Past 2 years I got a little lazy a couple times and had algae and needed some algaecides. I updated my signature on the website as well.

I can retry the Vitamin C. I used my kids gummies version so I’ll need to buy some or not sure if I can use an Airborne tab.

Town water and sewer, I am not on a well.

I have used some algaecides. Copper is listed as an ingredient. (In The Swim Super Algicide)

I use granular shock (once a week). I empty into the skimmer. Then chlorine tabs for daily maintenance. I am on a sand filter.

 

[mknauss]

TFP does not sell test kits.
We recommend the TF100 from TFTestkits.net. Or you can get a Taylor K2006C (the C matters) through Amazon or other online vendors.

 

[Hockeykid]

So maybe it was a little impatience on my part. The stain has started to disappear. I’m guessing it’s due to the super eraser. I previously assumed if I put the chemical on a sock and rubbed the stain that it would show signs of coming off. I guess you just have to give it time and let it do it’s trick. Only problem is that it’s not totally gone and the pool store should have indicated that I would need more (it’s right there on the instructions that 2 quart 10k). Looks like I’ll have to buy some more, $30 a bottle stinks though.

I the meantime I had also bought some Vitamin C tab and tried rubbing the stain with them (crushed and in crushed) and let it sit in the stain. It didn’t touch the stain one bit.

where the stain Is lightning it appears the liner has faded a little. Is this a coincidence or a result ofa metal stain?

Hopefully soon I’ll be back in business and will get my socks back where they bel

 

[Texas Splash]

Okay, so we can rule out iron. Did you ever get a chance to try the dry acid test in a sock? Don't leave it one spot too long, kind of rub it gently and move it around. I wonder if the stain is copper since you have used copper products in the past. As to why the liner would be fading in some places, that's hard to know. Once you get your TF-100 (link below) or Taylor K-2006C and post a full set of results, we might know more. It's not in your signature, but just to make sure .... do you have a heater?

 

[Hockeykid]

Is the dry acid found in pool stores and called dry acid? I never seen that, or noticed it at least.


No, I do not have a heater.

I’ll post test results when I get them.

 

[Texas Splash]

Yes, the pool store will have it. Dry acid (sodium bisulfate) may also be found in some other store pool sections by other marketing names (i.e. pH Minus).