AA Treatment for iron staining question about CYA levels

[Sean_T]

Hi everyone,

I live in southeast PA and am getting prepped for opening the pool in May. We have some iron staining on our pool steps and on some of the walls. I did a small spot treatment test last year to confirm. I have read the Ascorbic Acid Treatment - Further Reading article many times and am considering it when we open the pool. A points for context:

• Pool has a SWG
• When I open the pool, the CYA levels have always dropped from 80 to 20 ppm or even zero, but pool is clear.

The article says that after the AA treatment, to start bringing up pH and then bring up chlorine:

• You can start to bring up your chlorine. You want to do this slowly. It will take a lot of chlorine - preferably using liquid chlorine only at this time, and try to take it up to your minimum chlorine for your cya according to the Chlorine/CYA Chart.

My questions:

1. Once the pool is open, can I get started immediately by adding the Polyquat 60, bypassing the SWG and starting the AA treatment? Or, assuming my annual trend of low to zero CYA, should I add stabilizer first? If so, how much? I would normally raise it to 80 ppm.
2. As mentioned above, the article says after the AA treatment, the pH can be brought up and then the chlorine according to the Chlorine/CYA chart. If I don't bring up the stabilizer immediately when I open the pool to SWG recommended levels, what should I bring the chlorine up to?

I hope this makes sense. Thanks for your help.

 

[Texas Splash]

Sean ..
1 - Make sure you have a CYA of at least 30 ppm. With a low (or no) CYA, the chlorine will be exceptionally too strong.
2 - Slowly increase the FC to balance with the CYA of 30 as if it was a non-salt pool. Evaluate staining removal progress and make corrections if necessary. Once you are happy with the results and ready to start the SWG, increase the CYA and balance according to the FC/CYA Levels.

 

[borjis]

What texas splash said.

I just started my AA treatment. Same situation, cya normally 50 in season (no swg) but 20-30 on opening day (we get tons of rain each year.)

I keep it at 30 ish until swimming days begin.
And kept it there during the AA.

Good luck!
Your liner will look brand new!

 

[Sean_T]

Sean ..
1 - Make sure you have a CYA of at least 30 ppm. With a low (or no) CYA, the chlorine will be exceptionally too strong.
2 - Slowly increase the FC to balance with the CYA of 30 as if it was a non-salt pool. Evaluate staining removal progress and make corrections if necessary. Once you are happy with the results and ready to start the SWG, increase the CYA and balance according to the FC/CYA Levels.

What texas splash said.

I just started my AA treatment. Same situation, cya normally 50 in season (no swg) but 20-30 on opening day (we get tons of rain each year.)

I keep it at 30 ish until swimming days begin.
And kept it there during the AA.

Good luck!
Your liner will look brand new!

Thanks, guys. Much appreciated.